Jade Sims could not ignore the calling. Although she was a daily blogger, she felt compelled to do something beyond the usual with her blog. And she knew there was a community out there of talented crafting people who would be interested in donating their time and skills to help others in difficult circumstances. The crafters just needed some organization and direction. So,  Jade Sims stepped out of her regular blog  and created Craft Hope.

In just one short year, Craft Hope changed from a blog to a global community that spreads its message of crafting for charities by linking crafting folks to a specific cause. The first project in January 2009 brought crafters together to make 27 pillowcase dresses for an orphanage in Mexico. Now, it collects thousands of handmade items regularly for charities around the world. For example, immediately after the Haiti earthquake, Craft Hope (Jade Sims now assisted by Sarah Jackson and Marjorie Dolley) gathered together to open an online Etsy shop. (Etsy is an online global marketplace for handmade items.) Artists from around the world donated their items to the shop, and 100% of the proceeds benefited Doctors Without Borders in Haiti. “In just over a month, we raised $33,000,” Sims says. “All this happened because we created a button for people to put on their websites which would take you directly to the shop. People could donate items, and others could shop to support this cause.”

So, how does a blog in the already heavily competitive blogosphere get noticed? Every two months, Craft Hope puts up the information needed for a specific charity on its blog, and then through the power of social networking, the information spreads immediately. Craft Hope actively engages people through:

• Twitter:  A simple tweet about the newest project gets retweeted among Craft Hope participants.



• Flickr:  As crafters finish projects, they post about it on Craft Hope's flickr account.  "People love to post up photos their finished products on flickr," says Sims.



• Facebook:  With more than 1,200 fans, the Craft Hope Fan Page lets crafters ask questions about current projects, share information, etc.



• Badge:  Craft Hope created a small, colorful HTML badge that crafters can copy and use for their blogs, Facebook accounts, websites, etc.  "Simply by other people blogging about it and putting our button in the sidebar, we have had such an overwhelming response." More than 3,000 blogs have posted the Craft Hope badge so far.

Good customer relationships aren’t limited to the world of for-profit businesses. In the world of nonprofits, relationships with volunteers is as vital as the mission itself.  And Craft Hope  does more than just post the information. Sims, Jackson, and Dolley also put in serious time to answer the questions and interact with fellow crafters on Craft Hope’s forum and Facebook Fan Page; answer email; communicate with the people running the charities; and keep enthusiasm alive by blogging regularly about the project and its status.  Plus, in August 2010, a project-based Craft Hope book hits the shelves.

So, what advice does Sims give to other people wanting to start up (or promote) a nonprofit charity organization?

• Get involved with online communities:  "By simply engaging in online communities, you are able to reach a far more global audience than traditional marketing, and it doesn't cost a dime."



• Have a passion:  "It's really important to believe and be passionate about what you are doing."



• Create relationships:  "I believe time is one of  the most precious gift you can give another person."

The strength of Craft Hope comes from this passion. "It's not about donating money; it's about taking your time to make something handmade for someone who never otherwise would receive such a beautiful gift."