Turning Pop Hits into Helping Hands: The Impact of ABBA's 'Chiquitita' on UNICEF

Case Study: Turning Pop Hits into Helping Hands: The Impact of ABBA's 'Chiquitita' on UNICEF 

Problem

Millions of children worldwide lack access to clean water, nutritious food, and education. Traditional fundraising methods are moderately successful in raising funds to support these children.

Solution

In 1979, ABBA and UNICEF formed a unique partnership. ABBA donated the rights to one of their hit songs, “Chiquitita,” to fund UNICEF's education programs on an ongoing basis. Anytime someone purchases or streams the song on Spotify, iTunes, or YouTube, the royalties are donated to UNICEF. 

Impact to Date

Over $5 million USD in proceeds have been raised since the campaign’s launch. Since 2014, the funds have been directed to UNICEF's Guatemala education programs, where two children die each day due to violence.

Why is this Innovative?

This innovative fundraising tool combines the power of music with philanthropy to create cool ways for fans to support a good cause. By leveraging ABBA's global fan base and the popularity of "Chiquitita," UNICEF can reach a larger audience and raise more funds beyond traditional ways.

What Needs to Improve

While the partnership between ABBA and UNICEF is successful, there is still an opportunity to make a larger impact. 

• First, UNICEF partnerships could expand to include other artists and songs, allowing for a broader donor base.

• Second, artists, UNICEF, streaming outlets, and NGOs could make efforts to market and engage with fans to encourage greater participation.

• Third, transparency in reporting how UNICEF uses the funds could inspire even more donor support.

Sources:

https://www.unicef.org/partnerships/abba-and-unicef