How to help

General Readers & Book Clubs
Students

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General Readers & Book Clubs

These are just some ideas to “just get started,” as Jacqueline’s mentor once told her. If you have ideas you'd like to share with others, please post them on the forums and groups on this site!

Donate

Help us find and help more businesses that serve the poor. Each dollar counts and because of our approach, each dollar goes further. Give through our website

Join our Community

Register here on this site to meet other Blue Sweater fans and supporters of Acumen Fund from all over the world – who knows, some may even be in your neighborhood.

Be entrepreneurial! Come up with your own creative idea to raise money and help.

Are you up for hosting a blue bakery-themed bake sale? Do you have plans to run a marathon, climb a mountain, or skydive? Have a birthday, anniversary or company party coming up? Use the opportunity fundraise for Acumen Fund and get more of your friends involved.

Inspire other Acumen Fund supporters by sharing your ideas and photos from your activities on a Blue Sweater group page

Give The Blue Sweater to a friend

Buy the Blue Sweater here or at your local bookstore and give it to a friend. All proceeds from the book will support the work of Acumen Fund and other poverty-fighting organizations.

Students

If the book inspired you to do something to help, here are some starters for how to spread the message on your campus and raise funds for Acumen’s work. These activities can also help you build skills (relationship-building, fundraising, organizing) you’ll use throughout your life. We encourage you to be creative and entrepreneurial – these suggestions are only the beginning.

1. Bring the book to your campus

   • Common Book Programs:

     Does your school assign a common book for all incoming freshmen?

     • Find out your school’s process for selecting common books and reach out to the primary contacts, using the materials in this packet to advocate for the book.
     • Make sure to contact Wei Wei Hsing (whsing@acumenfund.org) to let us know how we can help you make the case and keep us updated.

     If you can help make The Blue Sweater the common book at your school, it would be a HUGE win! It is such a huge win that we will reward the first student who succeeds at making The Blue Sweater the common book choice on their campus with a personal, 30-minute web conference with Jacqueline. There is also a possibility that Jacqueline can come speak on your campus as a common book author, subject to scheduling constraints.

   • Libraries and Bookstores:

     Make sure the book is stocked in your campus library and bookstore. We’ve heard from students that in most cases all you have to do is ask for bookstores and libraries to carry copies, and they’ll place an order.

   • Classes:

     Give or recommend the book to professors and department heads who teach relevant topics—whether it’s Social Entrepreneurship, Global Development, Gender Studies, Leadership, Africana Studies, or others.

   • Other ideas to get the word out:

     • Write a book review for your school paper
     • Write a review on Amazon.com’s The Blue Sweater page
     • Use social media—Tweet or blog about the book
     • Buy copies to give to friends and family as holiday or birthday gifts
     • Buy copies to give to professors and administrators
     • Host a book club or book discussion using the questions below to jump start the conversation with other students
     • Set up a table at school conferences and events to raise awareness about Acumen. Enlist your school’s bookstore to help sell books at your table.

2. Fundraise on campus for Acumen Fund

   Do you have plans to run a marathon, climb a mountain, or skydive? Have a birthday or dorm party coming up? Use the opportunity fundraise for Acumen Fund and get more of your classmates involved. Then, inspire other supporters by sharing your ideas and photos from your activities on the "Students for the Blue Sweater" group on this site. Here are some ideas to get started:

   • Host a photo exhibit or organize an art auction
   • Organize a benefit concert
   • Partner with local businesses to host fundraiser events
   • Start an on-campus social enterprise

3. Donate to Acumen Fund

   Jacqueline and Acumen’s work would not be possible without your help. Even small contributions are appreciated. Every dollar counts and because of our approach, every dollar goes further. Give through our website