The VerticalResponse Featured Non-Profit is our way of celebrating our non-profit customers for the work they do for their communities and their excellence in using email marketing and social media for their communication and fundraising efforts. As the holiday shopping (and marketing!) season is in full swing, we decided to highlight Slavery Footprint, a VR non-profit customer working to raise awareness about the role forced labor plays in bringing us many products we use in our everyday lives. The organization created an online lifestyle survey and mobile app that allows the consumer to visualize how their consumption habits are connected to modern-day slavery. It also provides them with an opportunity to have a deeper conversation with the companies that manufacture the goods they purchased. Since launching the website in September 2011, over 1 million individuals have calculated their Slavery Footprint.

Based in Oakland, California, the Slavery Footprint team works to engage individuals, groups, and businesses to build awareness for and create deployable action against forced labor, human trafficking, and modern day slavery. In addition to creating and developing the online tools, the organization is also engaged in off-line community education and mobilization programs.

Free is the New Black

This Black Friday, Slavery Footprint is asking individuals to use their wallets to advocate for the 27 million slaves globally who have worked in dangerous, cruel conditions to make our holiday purchases possible. You can do this by using the Free World App (available on the iPhone and Android) to "check in" as you shop and send letters to your favorite brands, asking them to investigate their supply chains. To make this deal even sweeter, Slavery Footprint has partnered with Nomi Network, Raven + Lily, and Trade As One to reward the 3 individuals who earn the greatest number of Free World points on November 25th with fair trade and ethically made gifts. For more details about Free is the New Black, visit the Slavery Footprint Tumblr page.

Slavery Footprint uses VerticalResponse email marketing to communicate to their supporters and recently has begun using surveys to correspond with students interested in participating in the Slavery Footprint Campus Challenge. Slavery Footprint social media manager, Elisabeth Copper, had this to say about using VerticalResponse surveys: "It streamlined the communication process for both our staff and students and made possible the effortless collection of large amounts of data. As a result, we had more time to dedicate to cultivating our long-term relationships with Challenge participants."

Slavery Footprint's use of email marketing, suveys, and social media tools to communicate with and rally support from their community exemplifies the best of VR's non-profit program. Check out Slavery Footprint's introductory email here and learn more by visiting SlaveryFootprint.org today!