Celebrity Videos -- Charity Do's and Don'ts

Here is a Chronicle of Philanthropy article on the Do's and Don'ts of Charity Videos, with two examples that remind us that strategic planning of the message is important, yet can easily be forgotten when a celebrity agrees to do a video for your cause.

• An Angelina Jolie video on refugees tells viewers to remember the refugees -- a weak message.
  
• An example of a strong message is a video with celebrities like Danny DeVito who tell viewers NOT to give (to a school) unless, that is, you care about little things like your children. The video includes links to make it easy for viewers to donate, and ends with a "thank you."

What would you have a celebrity say to promote your project, cause, or institution? That might be a useful role-playing exercise. It could be a game called "If I were a STAR, this is what I'd say and how I'd say it."