HOW TO: Give Back With Social MicroFunding in 2009. Leslie Poston is a writer, social media guide and tech junkie, as well as the founder of Uptown Uncorked.
This is part of her Real World Change 2.0 series. If you've been watching the web the last few weeks, especially Twitter, you've seen a rapid rise in a new trend: microfunding for charities and causes. The last few weeks have seen charities leveraging microdrives on a global scale via social networks like Twitter using third party donation tools. This is nothing new, Beth Kanter has been tapping the social media universe for charity for some time on behalf of organizations like the Sharing Foundation, and Mashable's own Pete Cashmore led the "well that Twitter built" campaign not too long ago.
As the idea of simple, fast microgiving takes off, more and more charities and causes are seeing the benefits of this new way to help. The most recent campaign, and one that is doing wonders to drive awareness, is the WellWishes Twitter campaign using TipJoy and Twitter. DIGITAL CHARITY TOOLBOX: 50+ Ways to Get Your "Give" O. Qui Diaz is director of strategy at Livingston Communications and specializes in social media for social causes. She proclaims ‘the good’ on her blog, Evange.List. As the economy goes, so goes giving to causes that need donor dollars to keep doors open. While we bemoan sacrifices of luxury goods, our global social sector is faced with shortening the line or thinning the soup – neither of which are acceptable options. Because charities are rising to the challenge to engage us online, it’s a breeze for us – the cash-strapped consumers – to meet them halfway.
Why not buy gifts that give back when shopping online, or take a minute to sign and forward a Facebook petition? If you have a few dollars – or minutes – to spare in the next couple days, kick it to one of the digitally-adept causes listed below. Know of other “giving” opportunities with a social or digital play? Free! YouTube Project 4 Awesome - Today Only! Map Your Play - More than 15,330 playspaces are already mapped on KaBOOM! ' 26 Charities and Non-Profits on Twitter. Lon S.
Cohen is a writer and Director of Communications at @ALSofGNY. He is @obilon on Twitter. What is it about social media people that make them just so darn generous? Every day I read my Twitter stream and come across one or two people who are creating awareness or trying to raise money to help one cause or another. Step back and you can certainly see how it makes sense. It’s no small wonder then that non-profits abound on Twitter. As Director of Communications at @ALSofGNY, I have embraced the benefits of Twitter. 1.
Name: @the1010projectWebsite: the1010project.orgMission: "The 1010 Project is a nonprofit organization that provides income-generating grants to indigenous development partners in Kenya and raises awareness in the United States on behalf of the global poor. " Denver is a long way from Kenya. 2. Name: @AmericanCancerWebsite: cancer.orgMission: "The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization. " Twestival Raises Over $250k and Counting. Mashable has partnered with Twestival to promote the world's largest Twitter fundraising drive.
Here, Amanda Rose, the global organizer of Twestival, discusses the results of the fundraiser and next steps. On January 8, 2009, a tweet went out asking other cities to join in hosting a Twestival on February 12th with the aim of bringing local Twitter communities together offline and raising money for our cause charity: water.
In less than a month, close to 1,000 volunteers hosted events in over 200 cities around the world. In all, more than 10,000 people attended. The global total is slowly rolling in from city organizers. Here's what that $250K looks like: $83K in Uganda33 projects, average cost $2,5008,250 people served $83K in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia15 projects, average cost $5,500Average people served per project: 451So, 6,700 people served Total: 55 water projects. 3 countries. The donations from Twestival will be distributed evenly over three countries; Ethiopia, Uganda and India.