Want to raise funds for your non-profit online?
The WhatGives!? PayPal Donation Widget is the perfect tool for any non-profit looking to thrive in the Web 2.0 world...
Why do we spend so much time on social media? How does the way we’re using the internet affect what influences us as a culture? What is the point of blogging if anyone can make a blog? What is the difference between communicating on Facebook and Twitter? How do you create momentum and get attention with so many people fighting for it?
Whether you’re just diving into the social media waters or you’re already in the deep end, you’ve probably either asked or been asked these questions. Social media is new and we’re all still learning – that’s why it’s imperative that we ask these type of questions to better understand its potential.
Paul Gillin is one of those people who “gets it”. He is the author of The New Influencers and a long-time technology journalist. WhatGives!? got to spend some time with Paul at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, picking his brain on how social media shifts influence to the individual, the importance of relationships, and how the “little guys” can get noticed.
One of the most interesting aspects of social media is how easy it is to form relationships. Paul emphasizes, saying “one of the great ways non-profits can use these [social media] tools is to find people that are interested in hearing about their cause. Together you can form grassroots communities that may not even met each other, but share a common passion and are combining their energies to republish each others material, promoting each others material, and create a cause very quickly right out of that.”
Do you agree that social media has that much power? Has it been easier to find people to support your cause via social media then let’s say, outside of a grocery store? What implications does that bring for your non-profit? We’d love to hear your opinion.
Online shopping with a cause has been picking up significant momentum recently, and we couldn’t be more pleased. Companies such as SocialVest, igive.com, and Shop for Goodare just a few of the cause-filled consumer sites that have popped up on our radar, and we’re expecting a slew of similar ventures to surface in the next year. Being huge proponents of the potential power of capitalism and activism, we’re always on the lookout for enterprises working with brands and nonprofits to make a difference. The new one-to-one cause marketing platform Endorse for a Cause (EFAC) fits that bill to aT. WhatGives!? Read more »
As we reported last week, more than 17 million people have been affected by the Pakistan floods, and eight million of them require immediate life-saving aid, according to the United Nations. After the first accounts of the natural disaster, there seemed to be little media attention and support rallying for the devastated country. Fortunately, a group of renowned artists and cultural influencers are raising their voices to help Pakistan NOW – not later – and forming the relief and recovery initiative, you guessed it, Pakistan NOW.
Starting today, August 31st, a number of prominent and compassionate figures including Alyssa Milano, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, P. Diddy, and others will put into motion a committed “social media wave” to bring light to the UN’s efforts in Pakistan. The social media wave will be a week-long drive with daily messages about Pakistan promoted by celebrities via Twitter and Facebook. Each day, the individuals involved will focus on engaging their fans, followers, and the public, and connecting them to the UN or other organizations making a difference.
Here’s to hoping that the number of celebrities and humanitarian organizations in support of Pakistan will continue to rise. Milano, who is a Unicef Ambassador, made this PSA for the U.S. Unicef Fund.
Any funds raised by Pakistan NOW will support the United Nation’s work in Pakistan through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), a humanitarian funding mechanism established by the United Nations to enable more timely and reliable assistance to victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. The CERF was created to ensure that funds are available immediately in response to disasters and emergencies. The Fund provides an easy and centralized way to support the UN’s life-saving efforts in humanitarian crises around the world. Whether in response to a headline disaster or a forgotten crisis, the CERF permits the UN to respond rapidly and equitably to save lives.
Starting today, you can use your voice online to spread the message about helping PAKISTAN NOW. We talk a lot about “social media for social good.” It’s time to walk the walk.
You can learn more about the how to help Pakistan NOW here and you can donate to the cause here.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been on the hunt for a new volunteering job. My requirements are simple: I want to work with kids, and I want to have a regular schedule.
Long story short, my search has been disappointingly unsuccessful.
The WhatGives!? crew and our readers will be shocked to read this. I’m a passionate advocate for doing good online, and am always the first to turn to the internet and social media for things like this. I mean, helloooooooooo, why wouldn’t you? WhatGives!? Read more »
With cause marketing campaigns working their way into brand-driven content consumed across multiple media platforms, it was only a matter of time before the social gaming industry jumped on the charitable bandwagon. The social entertainment network Meez, which combines avatars, games, and communities within a virtual environment, is using its influence on youth to positively affect change in the real world.
Through the creation of teen-oriented cause campaigns that reward users for taking online and offline action, Meez is building supportive communities for participating non-profits organizations, such as the American Heart Association and DoSomething.org. WhatGives!? Read more »
Angelina Jolie recently gave $100,000 to help victims of the recent floods in Pakistan out of concern that compassion fatigue might slow donations to relief organizations.
The Washington Post quoted her as saying she understands “it is getting hard for people – they see Haiti, they see these other events … and they get exhausted by the time another big one rolls around.” But she said Pakistanis face “mass death, mass displacement, and this situation is going to get worse.”
It is hard to keep an open heart (and wallet) when so many devastating events have happened one after another this year. But that is also an easy excuse to check out.
The gross national income per person in Pakistan is $369.70. About a dollar a day. In these kinds of posts people usually compare stuff to a cup of coffee or something. But, jeez, a buck? Even mini-mart coffee costs more than that. A small donation goes a long way. (Of course, they have to rent helicopters to deliver a lot of the materials needed, so no one’s gonna turn down a large donation. Just so you know…) WhatGives!? Read more »
During this week of the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, CitizenGulf’s National Day of Action — promoted by Gulf Coast Benefit — is hosting a nationwide series of fundraising meetups to benefit Catholic Charities of New Orleans. Proceeds will go directly to education for the children of fishermen hit hard by the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. WhatGives!? pal, Andy Sternberg is one of the organizers of the gathering in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening and asked us to help spread the word.
No, he’s not @common_squirrel, but he is a fan. And since founding Craigslist in 1995, Craig Newmark has been Run, Run, Running at a pace that no squirrel can match. Most recently he’s been zipping back and forth across the US, supporting Web 2.0 innovations in government and public services. The general idea being that the technology revolution that created more frictionless marketplaces can reduce friction, waste and inefficiency in government.
But there’s an even bigger idea he’s chasing: global collaboration. Craig talks about the rate of change in technology and connectedness in the last 20 years, and foresees a time when billions of people are connected to, and helping, each other.
For all the big vision, the man from Craigslist has some very practical advice for community organizers. He describes himself not as CEO or Founder, but as a “Customer Service Provider”. And that attitude seems to be key to his success. WhatGives!? Read more »
Quick question: What do you think about when you see the word “Homeless”? Keep it in mind. I’ll ask again in a minute.
Most of us are in the dark about the state of homelessness in the US. Today, the lights come on, thanks to YouTube and a pretty remarkable guy.
Our buddy, Mark Horvath is in the middle of a tour of 28 US cities, chronicling the condition and stories of homeless people as he goes. His blog Invisiblepeople.tv chronicles what most of us might find hard to watch, let alone believe. I’ve said before, it’s powerful stuff. Some of it can be hard to watch, like a recent interview with an outreach worker about human trafficking in America.
In a time of crisis, every second used to facilitate recovery is of the essence. Every muscle of energy must be deployed. And every instinct must be accounted for and present. The people who give this of themselves and bestow their good will upon others during emergencies are humanitarians.
Have you hugged your local humanitarian lately? If not, get ready to this Thursday, August 19th. For the second year in a row, the United Nations is celebrating World Humanitarian Day, a day to honor humanitarians across the globe, and to pay homage to the seventh attack of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, which killed 22 people, including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and injured hundreds of others. WhatGives!? Read more »
