With the new year on the horizon, its time to celebrate the year gone past by sharing some of the best and brightest campaigns on IndieGoGo. These are campaigns that have knocked it out of the park with their GoGoFactor, fundraising goals, or overall idea and execution. We began with the best Creative, Cause and Entrepreneurial campaigns. Today we will finish the week by sharing with you the Best of the Rest – these are campaigns which fit into other categories we feel should have been highlighted this year. The diversity and quality of campaigns this year is truly amazing – we are so proud of everyone helping to raise funds through IndieGoGo! Now…enough from us….on to the Best of the Rest Campaigns of 2011:
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FUNNIEST VIDEO:
As this hilarious video shows, Atlanta's Dillon needs money to record his newest Rap EP… or else! Good thing his IndieGoGo campaign went so well – he raised well over his goal and his catchy album has dropped.
Runner Up:
Searching for the Scary: Big Foot: The Final Frontier
Everyday, thousands of bigfoot go unseen, and Griffin Prall wants to make jokes about that. Check out his hilarious pitch video!
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COOLEST PERKS:
This campaign offers a burlap tote-bag, a hand-sewn heirloom blanket, or a photography session! The bonus: the money goes towards the start-up costs of creating a social enterprise that will transform the lives of marginalized "untouchable" caste women in India.
Runner Up:
Colleen Wainwright wanted to do something different for her 50th birthday – she wanted to help open the doors of opportunity for girls everywhere. She managed to use IndieGoGo to raise over $61,000 for the Write Girl organization, an outstanding LA based nonprofit that benefits teen girls by helping them develop their writing skills.
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MOST ECO-FRIENDLY:
OlyKraut is a small artisan company that builds the local economy and conserves its ecology by making raw-unpasteurized lacto-fermented gourmet food using produce from local farms. They are fundraising on IndieGoGo to help them grow and meet demand.
Runner Up:
This French/American couple is raising funds to hold art exhibitions that teach about organic food production. They will also be working with suburban residents who desire an intimate connection with their food and how it can be organically grown.
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"I CAN"T BELIEVE THEY ARE REALLY DOING THAT!":
This campaign is raising awareness for eyesight related disabilities by setting a world record for the first visually impaired person to trek from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. The 580 mile trek through one of the worlds harshest environments directly benefits two charities.
Runner Up:
Through IndieGoGo, CJ Mitchell raised money for the first ever publication devoted to the work of Ron Athey, an important figure in the development of body art and extreme performance art since the 1980s.
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FUNNIEST FASHION CAMPAIGNS:
The leaderless, decentralized, Occupy Wall Street protesters quickly became one of the years game changers. This campaign raised money to keep the protesters looking sharp by sending them suits as well as "progressive tailors, radical barbers, and tactical image consultants."
Runner Up:
First they had an incredible appearance on American Idol - now, they've come to IndieGoGo. This suit allows anyone to become their own transformer!
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MOST INNOVATIVE:
Light is one of the contemporary world's most important resources – yet many communities around the world only have access to it through unhealthy, expensive, or impractical means. LuminAID, developed by two students, makes portable light affordable, sustainable, and available for everyone. These amazing campaigners raised over $50,000 to get their portable, solar rechargeable, lights produced. They’re now being distributed to in-need communities all around the world!
Runner Up:
BeatJazz is a new way to combine improvisation, dance, and musical performance. It promises to provide a way to create the best live music experience ever!
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BEST SOCIAL IMPACT:
Pastor Marrion P'Udongo is a man who's dedicated himself to saving and nurturing the lives of people in Congo. A community of supporters raised over $48,000 to help pay for his hospital bills – helping keep him healthy to continue defending human dignity.
Runner Up:
This is What a Feminist Looks Like
In 2010, a queer student group and a feminist club teamed up at Harvard University to raise awareness on gender equality, creating the Feminist Coming Out Day. In 2011, they came to IndieGoGo aiming to send the concept to high schools and colleges across the United States. It worked!
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BIGGEST TEAR-JERKER:
After trying to get pregnant for many years, the Haley's realized that they would need IVF treatment to have a child; something that their insurance didn't cover. Since they couldn't afford the procedure, they started a funding campaign on IndieGoGo to help them achieve their dream of having a baby. The update: she's now pregnant!
Runner Up:
This powerful and award-winning documentary follows the recovery of two elephants that lost their legs after stepping on a landmine.
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BEST IDEAS FROM KIDS WHO CAN'T VOTE YET:
5th Graders are trained to cut hair and then give free haircuts for two days – resulting in combination charity, education, and quirky performance art.
Runner Up:
This thoughtful girl is raising money to get her family to the Awesomeness Fest in Hawaii. We love her enthusiasm!
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BEST ART EDUCATION:
Dr. Bob's Sound School- Bob Moog Foundation
This program, done through the Bob Moog Foundation, follows music pioneer Bob Moog's footsteps. It exposes children and adults to interactive educational experiences at the intersection of science, technology, history, and music.
Runner Up:
SESSIONS LA is a music writing, production, recording and a DJ program for youth and young adults in Los Angeles. This year, their traditional source of funding had come to an end and cannot be renewed. Through IndieGoGo, their team has been able to keep the program alive!
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BREAKOUT SMALL BUSINESS:
After being laid off in 2008, Ian Gaffney and Samantha Abrams started a small business producing delicious vegan, raw, and allergen-free foods. They had grown quickly and needed to build capacity to expand. They started an IndieGoGo campaign to reconfigure their infrastructure, re-brand, and repackage their product. They now operate in over 25 U.S. states and are still growing!
Runner Up:
Using IndieGoGo, Karen Freer has raised enough money to launch her amazing small business: Free Bread. The business provides artisanal, delicious and fresh wheat-free bread rolls to customers with wheat allergies and was featured in CNBC's 15 promising start-ups.
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BEST HOLIDAY CHEER:
Spread Spark & Hustle Holiday Cheer
The close-knit Spark & Hustle community used IndieGoGo to raise over $12,000 for the women and families that need help this holiday season.
Runner Up:
This award-winning series of videos for young viewers is using IndieGoGo to fund their adaptation of Dickens' The Christmas Carol.
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BEST TECH TRENDS:
3D-PRINTERS:
In a year full of 3D Printers, eMAKERshop made these portable 3D printers accessible and affordable to the general public for the first time. Because of their innovative design and proven track record they raised over $150,000!
Runner Up:
After proving themselves with the eMaker Huxley, the team introduced a few design improvements and launched another campaign.
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MOST UNIQUE SMARTPHONE/TABLET ACCESSORIES:
This video accessory gives your smartphone the capacity to follow your movements – kind of like a robotic tripod. After being rejected by Venture Capitalists and banks they decided to fundraise through an IndieGoGo campaign. Now called the Swivl, this successful campaign has blown-up and will begin selling in Apple stores soon.
Runner Up:
This iPad stylus simulates the function and feel of an expensive quality fountain pen, helping make the iPad more useful to artists, engineers, and everyone else.
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MOST UNIQUE APPS:
This unique and innovative campaign used IndieGoGo to crowdfund the world's first mass market and modern meditation mobile app. The app is now available in both the Android Market and the Apple App Store.
Runner Up:
This app makes it possible to plot your run/bike route natively on your phone.
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TEETH CAMPAIGNS TO MAKE YOU SMILE:
Jeffery Self Needs a New Tooth
When Jeffery Self chipped half his tooth off one weekend he didn't have the means to replace it. After starting an IndieGoGo campaign and reaching out to the internet community, he quickly funded more than enough money to get it it replaced! In fact he raised money so fast he had to end his campaign early.
Runner Up:
Jessica Tanzer is raising funds on behalf of her good friend Charlotte Malmlof who wants to replace her three front teeth which were lost in a bicycle accident. Thanks to the IndieGoGo campaign – she really did get her front teeth back for Christmas!
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MOST TOUCHING FIRE RELIEF CAMPAIGNS:
This family lost everything in a tragic fire a few weeks before their second child was due to be born. They are currently using IndieGoGo to raise money to help with moving costs and the cost of a new bed, crib, clothing and toys.
Runner Up:
When Dan Friesen's apartment building went up in smoke, he lost all of his possessions. Through IndieGoGo, they were able to take this tragic event and, through the generosity of those who contributed, help Dan get some of his stuff back!
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ALSO SEE:
Year in Review Part I: Best Creative Campaigns
