Facebook Check in’s for Charity? Do they work?

Back in November, Facebook announced the launch of Facebook Deals, which offers customers special promotions when checking in to participating businesses through Facebook Places. REI is proud to have been one of the businesses to help launch the new service and to help local non-profits at the same time.

Through November and December, for every customer that checked-in at an REI store through Facebook Places, REI donated between $1 and $50 to a local non-profit partner. Nationwide, REI committed to give away $100,000 to select local non-profit groups through Facebook Deals. For the Austin and Round Rock market, the non-profit we selected was Hill Country Conservancy.

The program successfully wrapped up late in December and just last week REI announced the results. We are excited to announce that via the Facebook Deals program, the REI Austin and Round Rock market had over 1,400 customers who checked in and raised $8,191 for Hill Country Conservancy (HCC). “It was incredible to see the level of customer participation and engagement at our stores surrounding this promotion,” said Ky Harkey, Outreach Specialist for REI Downtown Austin.

This program was not only a success nationwide, but especially successful here in the Austin/Round Rock area.

The success of this campaign proves that nonprofits can turn relationships through social media into action and dollars,” said Harper Scott, director of communications for Hill Country Conservancy (HCC). “REI and HCC promoted this program to our local community through Facebook and Twitter and, in a month, our online fan base raised nearly $8,200 for Hill Country Conservancy, and they were excited to do it. We also secured several new fans of HCC through the campaign.”

Huge thanks goes out to both HCC for their great work and passion and each of our customers who checked-in at our local REI stores through Facebook Places to help support HCC! You can find and follow REI Round Rock on Facebook at facebook.com/REIRoundRock and on Twitter @REIRoundRock.

Thanks to Todd Callaway, REI Round Rock for the great guest post!