Omaze
File:Omaze logo.png | |
Formation | September 2012 |
---|---|
Founder | Ryan Cummins & Matthew Pohlson |
Purpose | Charity Fundraising |
Headquarters | Culver City, California, U.S. |
Key people | Matthew Pohlson (CEO), Ryan Cummins (Vice Chairman) |
Website | omaze |
Omaze is an American for-profit fundraising company which partners with charities in fundraising events. Omaze's events feature prizes, such as material goods, property, or celebrity experiences, usually with one grand prize and several lesser prizes. In order to enter the draw for the prizes, financial contributions are encouraged, with 80% of the money going to the partner charity and Omaze receiving 20%.[1][2]
The company was founded by Ryan Cummins and Matthew Pohlson in July 2012,[3][4][5] is privately owned, and is based in Los Angeles, California. The company has raised over $130 million[6] for over 350 charities,[6] including UNICEF,[7] After-School All-Stars,[8] Julia's House,[9] Product Red,[10] and Make-A-Wish Foundation.[11]
Contests
Omaze will typically launch a sweepstake that offers a grand prize or experience, with a promotional video endorsed by a celebrity. Entrants are encouraged contribute financially to the cause, with the amount given proportionally determining the number of sweepstake entries that person receives: a person donating $100 is ten times more likely to win than a person donating $10.[12] Participants may also select an "enter for free" option to receive a fixed number of entries at no cost.[13]
Omaze released their first sweepstakes in July 2012, with the winner becoming a judge on Cupcake Wars and all entries supported Team Rubicon.[14]
In December 2015, Omaze partnered with Star Wars where people donated $10 to be entered to win the opportunity to visit the closed set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The experience raised more than $4.26 million to benefit UNICEF.[15] The experience launch video was a 2016 Webby Award Honoree.[16]
Omaze has offered promotional experiences endorsed by the following brands and celebrities:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger [17]
- Shania Twain [18]
- Star Trek[19]
- Katy Perry[20]
- Robert Downey Jr.[21]
- Idris Elba[22]
- Chris Evans[23]
- Miley Cyrus[24]
- Matt Damon[25]
- Ben Affleck[26]
- Channing Tatum[27]
- Chris Pratt[28]
- Game of Thrones[29]
- Rooster Teeth [30]
- John Legend[31]
- Jennifer Lawrence[32]
- Breaking Bad
- Post Malone [33]
- Sam Heughan
- Josh Duhamel
- Benedict Cumberbatch[34]
- Emilia Clarke[35]
- Chris Hemsworth[36]
- Casey Neistat[37]
- Megan Fox[38]
- Brian Austin Green[38]
Model
Omaze is a privately owned, for-profit company which has two models to raise funds for charities. When someone contributes $10 for the chance to win a celebrity experience (set visit, dinner date, tickets to a premiere, etc.), $6 is donated to charity, $2.50 on average goes towards marketing expenses and credit card fees, and Omaze nets the remaining $1.50. A $10 contribution for the chance to win a prize-based experience (like a car, vacation or tuition) breaks down as follows: $1.50 is donated to charity; $7 typically goes to sourcing and shipping the prize, covering the winner's taxes, marketing the experience, and processing credit card fees; and $1.50 goes to Omaze.[39]
The company launched its first campaign in the United Kingdom in 2020.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Celebrity-backed charity platform launches in the UK — with a £1m house giveaway". Sifted. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ Pohlson, Matt (2020-09-09). "Purpose At Work: How Omaze Reinvented Philanthropy To Unlock Exponential Growth And Impact". Forbes. ISSN 2609-1445. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
- ^ Jansen, Monika (August 22, 2011). "Win Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences that Raise Money for Charity at Omaze". Tech.Co. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ Milzoff, Rebecca (February 14, 2013). "Celebrity Charity Auctions: Six Winners' Stories". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ Shontell, Alyson (July 23, 2012). "Omaze Raises $1 Million So Regular People Can Experience Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunities For $5". Business Insider. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ a b BERNSTEIN, JILL (2020-03-10). "Meet the for-profit business model that's raised over $130 million for charities". Fast Company. ISSN 1085-9241. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
- ^ Cummins, Ryan (2015-12-16). "How my organisation is helping Star Wars become a force for change". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ^ "Arnold Schwarzenegger Wants You To Blow Sh*t Up For Charity". Tubefilter. 2015-05-15. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ^ "Robert Downey Jr raffle raises £1m for Julia's House hospice". BBC News. 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ^ "U2 Offer Private Concert, Make Song Title Puns for Charity". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ^ "Stan Lee Tribute Event Announced". Marvel. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ^ Conway, Jeff (3 December 2020). "Omaze Promotes Optimism This Holiday Season With The Help Of Charlize Theron, Ben Affleck And Matt Damon". Forbes. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ "Official Rules". Omaze. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
- ^ "Omaze Contest: Be A Backstage Judge On Cupcake Wars!". Omaze Contest. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ^ Cummins, Ryan (2015-12-16). "How my organisation is helping Star Wars become a force for change". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ^ "2016 | The Webby Awards". webbyawards.com. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ^ "Have Arnold Schwarzenegger Be Your Life Coach". Omaze.
- ^ "Sing a Duet on Stage with Shania Twain". Omaze. Archived from the original on 2018-02-02.
- ^ "'Star Trek Beyond' Partners With Omaze for New Charity Campaign (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "David Lynch Foundation and Katy Perry Launch Omaze Campaign". BlackBook. 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Robert Downey Jr. Charity Contest Offers Trip to 'Avengers' Set". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Watch Idris Elba Get Hilarious Dating Advice From Kids". Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Chris Evans Wants to Play Escape-the-Room with You (for Charity!)". Nerdist. 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Watch Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys Photobomb 'Voice' Fans". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Matt Damon Spy-Pranks People for Charity". Nerdist. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Matt Damon and Ben Affleck argue over who's better friends with Tom Brady for charity". For The Win. 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Channing Tatum goes undercover as Elvis Presley in elevator prank". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Omaze contest". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Game of Thrones Teams with Omaze and RED for Charity Set Visit". Comicbook.com. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Get Lunch with the Rooster Teeth Family & Be VIP at RTX". Omaze. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
- ^ "John Legend Is Now Singing at Dog Weddings". Time. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Jennifer Lawrence Needs a Drinking Buddy—and It Could Be You". E!. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Post Malone goes 'undercover' in a record store prank". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
- ^ "Meet Benedict Cumberbatch & Attend the Avengers®: Endgame Premiere". Omaze. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
- ^ "Be Emilia Clarke's Hand of the Queen at the Final Game of Thrones Premiere". Omaze. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
- ^ "Be Chris Hemsworth's VIP Guest at the Men in Black®: International Premiere". Omaze. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
- ^ CaseyNeistat (2019-05-30), Top of the Line Tesla 3 + $20,000.00, retrieved 2019-07-17
- ^ a b "Brian Austin Green on Instagram: "Want to save the Amazon and win a new Tesla Model S Performance with $20,000 at the same time? I'm excited to co-host the @PUBGMOBILE…"". Instagram.
- ^ "What is Omaze? About Us & How We Help People In Need". Omaze. Retrieved 2019-06-30.