Case Study: Coalition for the Homeless achieves 20,000+ toy donations and increased NYC awareness with Upfluence

Coalition for the Homeless Gifted Campaigns to Raise Awareness.

The Coalition for the Homeless, the nation’s oldest advocacy and direct service organization helping homeless individuals and families, needed to boost awareness, mobilize community support and drive donations for people in shelters while also supporting job-training participants. Since 2018 the Coalition for the Homeless has partnered with Upfluence—an influencer marketing agency that also provided internships, hires and in-kind donations—to amplify outreach and support their First Step job training program.

Upfluence gifted pro‑bono creator campaigns (including the Right to Shelter and the 2023 Christmas Toy Drive), executed an Instagram Stories activation with 12 committed creators, and supplemented the effort with internships, hires and material donations. The campaign-driven strategy by Upfluence helped collect more than 20,000 toys for children in shelters, sustained a seven‑year partnership and earned a 2022 Corporate Partnership Award nomination, delivering clear, measurable impact for the Coalition for the Homeless.

Coalition for the Homeless

Katie Mack

Director of the First Step Job Training Program