The hardest working mustache in nonprofits

So I’m growing a mustache—for cancer.

Participatory fundraising has become popular for very good reason. We run races, we walkathon. And—around here anyway—we grow mustaches.

Movember = Mo(ustache) + (No)vember

Movember is just like a walkathon, but with facial hair. Enterprising mustache growers sign up, then fundraise for the cause. In the US, that’s cancer research: both the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Livestrong benefit from donations.

Movember has spread to the English-speaking world from Austrailia. (Where mo is a common shorthand for mustache.)

For a nonprofit, offering supporters an activity strengthens bonds with the cause. Folks tend to give more. And people reaching out to friends is great way to fundraise and increase awareness at the same time.

Movember started for me when @Kivie sent the challenge around on Twitter the other day. (Odd how these sorts of gauntlets get thrown down by those who cannot actually grow mustaches.)

A mustache? I’d never grown one before. But my dad had one back in the 70s. And a friend’s dad is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer right now.

A mustache! Why not? I had no idea it would look so silly, or be such a topic of conversation. “My mustache fights cancer” turns out to be a pretty good opener.

So we pulled together a team, named it “Itchy Lips”, cranked out a logo and a team blog.

A week and a half in, our mustaches have turned out to be itchy. And rather funny.

So if you’re looking for funny new mustaches, swing on by Itchy Lips. And while you’re there, see how you can get involved to help cancer research, or even better, join us and grow your own.