Wristbands for Charity – How to Use Them to Generate Awareness

Through the years, wristbands have become more popular. That's because they really are a cost-effective marketing tool. They are used by businesses and organisations, including charities.

Wristbands come in a range of materials: silicone, Tyvek, fabric, and more. They are also customisable. You can have the name of your organisation, slogan, and other important details on them. They are easy to make, so delivery turnaround times are usually short.

If you have a charity and are planning a fundraising and or awareness campaign, consider using wristbands. To get you inspired, below are examples of successful charity and awareness campaigns that used wristbands:

Live Strong (2004)

livestrong wristbands

A discussion on the benefits of wristbands for charities wouldn't be complete without mentioning the Live Strong campaign. The project was led by world-renowned cyclist Lance Armstrong in partnership with Nike. The awareness campaign raised funds for the NGO, which supports people with cancer. The wristbands were yellow and featured debossed letters spelling out “LIVESTRONG.” They sold over 87 million silicone wristbands.

Stand Up Speak Up (2005)

French pro football player, Thierry Henry, launched the Stand Up Speak Up campaign in January 2005. The movement was organised in partnership with Nike. It was sparked by reports of racist incidents in football across Europe. With Stand Up Speak Up, supporters of the project hoped to raise awareness for and beat racism in football. The wristband used for the project featured one black band intertwined with one white band. The phrase ‘Stand Up, Speak Up’ was debossed on both wristbands. The project sold approximately five million charity wristbands across Europe. About six million euros were raised for the project.

Make Poverty History (2005)

make poverty history wristbands

Make Poverty History began in Great Britain and Ireland. It was (and still is) a global movement focussed on issues related to the UN’s 8th Millennium Development Goal. White printed Tyvek wristbands were used to raise awareness for the project. In the UK alone, eight million people bought and wore the wristbands. This figure does not account for the other countries that joined the movement. These include: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, South Africa, the UAE, and the USA.

AIDS – Keep a Child Alive

The non-profit organisation Keep a Child Alive (KCA) was founded in 2003 by Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys. It provides treatment and support to African children with AIDS. Like other AIDS charities, KCA adopted the colour red for their campaigns, including their wristbands. Since it started, KCA has raised millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS treatment. KCA operates care homes, wellness centres and treatment clinics for infected children in some African countries.

Campaigns for ongoing support

Aside from one-time events or campaigns, you can use wristbands to keep your charity’s cause alive and top-of-mind. In fact, other non-profit organisations continue to get support, raise awareness for their causes, and generate funds through wristbands.

  • Alzheimer’s Society
  • Nowzad Charity (animal rescue)
  • Help for Heroes
  • Autism Awareness
  • Red Nose Day
  • No Excuse for Abuse (Our Watch)

These are just a few examples of charity wristbands that continue to make a difference. You could even have your wristbands customised for events, projects and people that donate.

Slogan ideas for your wristbands

Stuck for ideas when it comes to your movement or organisation’s slogan? Consider the following ideas:

  • Spread hope.
  • Time to make a difference.
  • Give for the future.
  • Little steps. Big changes.
  • Do your bit.
  • People matter.
  • Give so others can live.
  • Help put food on the table.

The slogan you use will depend on your cause or project. To come up with good ideas, spend a few minutes brainstorming. You can also try browsing through famous slogans. Soon, you’ll be inspired and come up with great slogans of your own.

A wristband for every cause

There are so many ways you can promote your organisation, generate awareness for your cause, and raise funds. However, wristbands are certainly one of the best options you can use. They are easy to customise, reasonably-priced, and can last for years.

You can use them to symbolise, to remind people, or to raise funds for your charity. They can be worn by anyone, and anytime, too. This way, you’re keeping your charity alive for the long-term.