Social Networking For Social Causes - WashBiz Blog

Social Networking For Social Causes - WashBiz Blog: "Social Networking For Social Causes

Can the world of Web 2.0 startups -- the jeans and t-shirts, the funky furniture, the social networking and viral marketing, the desire to make millions with the Next Great Idea -- transform the world of philanthropy?

That's a question we ask today in a story about a District startup called Razoo and other efforts."

Democratizing Online Giving - Forbes.com

Democratizing Online Giving - Forbes.com: "One area that is particularly popular is online giving. Nearly $7 billion was donated online last year. That’s still a small percentage of overall giving (about $220 billion for individuals), but it’s doubling every two years, according to Network for Good, one of the Internet’s leading charitable exchanges."

Charities fail to cash in on rising Web visitor figures | Precision Marketing

Charities fail to cash in on rising Web visitor figures | Precision Marketing: "Charities are failing to secure extra donations online, despite the fact that the number of people visiting not-for-profit websites has leapt by a third in the last six months."

Foundation Testing Potential of Philanthropy via Internet - New York Times National Feed - GainesvilleSun.com

Foundation Testing Potential of Philanthropy via Internet - New York Times National Feed - GainesvilleSun.com: "Foundation Testing Potential of Philanthropy via Internet 12:00 am, December 13, 2007

The Case Foundation is embarking on an effort to test the potential of citizen-led philanthropy via the Internet. Continue to 2nd paragraph The Case Foundation is embarking on an effort to test the potential of citizen-led philanthropy via the Internet. Starting at 3 p.m. on Thursday, readers of Parade magazine and members of the Causes section of the Facebook Web site can enter a contest to win a total of $500,000 and $250,000, for their favorite charities, provided by Case."

Finally! Ordnance Survey lets people do mashups with its maps | Technology | Guardian Unlimited

Finally! Ordnance Survey lets people do mashups with its maps | Technology | Guardian Unlimited: "Normally we keep stuff about the Free Our Data campaign to its own blog, but some things are worth mentioning here too. Such as Ordnance Survey, the UK's mapping agency, which today announced that it is launching its OpenSpace project for wider use. This ties in with our story in today's Technology section - though the key thing is, of course, that mashups in this way will only be available to nonprofit organisations."

PC World - Ask.com Allows Users to Erase Search Queries

PC World - Ask.com Allows Users to Erase Search Queries: "n what's likely to be seen as a privacy-friendly move, IAC Search & Media's Ask.com search engine Tuesday announced a ew feature called AskEraser that deletes a user's search activity data from the company's servers. When enabled by the user, the feature will completely delete search queries and associated cookie information from Ask.com servers -- including IP addresses, user IDs, session IDs and the text of queries made, according to the company. In most cases, the deletion will take place within a few hours of the time a search is completed, the company said."

More people are visiting charity websites, according to research - Third Sector

More people are visiting charity websites, according to research - Third Sector: "The proportion of people visiting charity websites has leapt by a third in the past nine months, according to research by think tank nfpSynergy. It found that the proportion of people who said they had visited a charity website in the past six months rose from 23 per cent in February to 30 per cent in October. The figure almost doubled in the past five years, from 16 per cent. The findings come from nfpSynergy's regular survey of 1,000 people over the age of 16."

FT.com / Partnership Publishing - Giving in the internet age

FT.com / Partnership Publishing - Giving in the internet age: "Giving in the internet age By Sarah Murray Published: December 10 2007 17:26 | Last updated: December 10 2007 17:26 This year, some people will be receiving rather unusual Christmas presents. Among the gifts will be goats, condoms, agricultural fertiliser and schoolbooks. The gifts – which can be purchased on Oxfam Unwrapped, part of the UK-based charity’s website – are not delivered to the friends and family of the giver, but to needy communities in the developing world.

Oxfam Unwrapped is just one example of how the internet is changing philanthropy. Not only is it giving individual donors an easy means of sending money or gifts to remote parts of the world. The web allows the rapid spread of information about pressing social and environmental problems. Moreover, it is providing a forum for the exchange of knowledge and ideas between charities and non-profit groups, facilitating a more “open source” approach to coming up with solutions to seemingly intractable problems."

JewishJournal.com

JewishJournal.com: "Viral philanthropy, in contrast, allows the average individual to decide how to present the appeal to other Internet users. For instance, people can solicit donations through their blogs or their Change.org profiles, or download an application allowing them to join groups on Facebook.com intended to raise money for a particular cause. These e-philanthropists can also go to such sites as Networkforgood.org to create 'charity badges' that can be posted on Web sites, blogs or profiles on social networking sites. The badge displays a snippet of information about the charity, the amount of money raised and a tab to send a donation to the organization. But at this point, the buzz surrounding viral philanthropy is greater than the substance, said Michael Nilsen, director of public affairs for the Association of Fundraising Professionals: 'It's one of those things that are being talked about a lot.'"

Seacoastonline.com: Lend a Hand: Help nonprofits with technology needs

Seacoastonline.com: Lend a Hand: Help nonprofits with technology needs: "Many local nonprofit agencies depend on volunteers with general IT, Web site design, and database experience, as well as donated computers and printers to help keep their organizations running in today's wired society. This week's column features a few IT-related opportunities for you to lend a hand to agencies serving our community. Laptop computer and printer needed Project Linus, established in 1995, now has more than 400 chapters throughout the United States. Project Linus provides new blankets, all handmade by volunteers, to children in crisis. Last year N.H. Seacoast Project Linus donated more than 1,000 blankets to children in local hospitals, schools, homeless shelters and foster care. Donations of a new laptop computer with Microsoft Office software and a printer are greatly needed at this time"

'Sector's Facebook' launched - Third Sector

'Sector's Facebook' launched - Third Sector: "Sector's Facebook' launched By Indira Das-Gupta, Third Sector Online, 7 December 2007 MyCharityPage, a new website billed as the sector's answer to Facebook, is being launched to enable charities to network with one another, engage supporters and fundraise more effectively. The website encourages users to build profile pages explaining their fundraising activities. Each user is given their own URL so that friends and supporters can visit their web page directly to make donations. As with Facebook, users can also write blogs, upload photos and videos, add friends to their profiles, send private messages to other members and create and join groups."

Nonprofits benefit from Web surfers : Business : Ventura County Star

Nonprofits benefit from Web surfers : Business : Ventura County Star: "t's hard to break the Google habit. Most Web surfers go automatically to the site when wanting to search something out — or move up to the Google search tool at the top of the browser for even quicker access. But there are sites cropping up these days that not only return solid search results, but also leave the searcher with some warm-and-fuzzies."

Business: Web networks transforming philanthropy | people, online, smith - Gazette.com

Business: Web networks transforming philanthropy | people, online, smith - Gazette.com: "Charities are able to reach a new pool of good Samaritans on the Internet By AMY HOAK MARKETWATCH December 3, 2007 - 10:44PM CHICAGO - GeorgeAnne Smith was one of the lucky ones. The San Diego resident and her family weren’t displaced by the wildfires that ravished the area in the fall. But the 42-year-old accountant wanted to help those who their lost homes, giving them comfort in the form of handmade blankets made by her and others throughout the country. She organized a drive for 8-inch squares that would be pieced together as blankets for people who lost everything in the fires. Requests were posted on Web sites including Ravelry.com, an online knit and crochet community, and the blog 25 Things for Charity (www.25thingsforcharity.blogspot. com). Smith is a member of both."

Asia's richest man takes Facebook stake - Technology - BrisbaneTimes

Asia's richest man takes Facebook stake - Technology - BrisbaneTimes: "Li, 79, will receive a 0.4 per cent stake in Palo Alto-based Facebook in return for his investment, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity. The cash is coming from Li's personal foundation, the person said. The billionaire's business interests, anchored by the Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa, are not involved."

One Laptop Per Child orders surge - The Boston Globe

One Laptop Per Child orders surge - The Boston Globe: "Despite slower-than-expected sales and tough competition from commercial rivals, the One Laptop Per Child Foundation of Cambridge is enjoying a surge of new orders."