Nanette Alexander points Smartmobs readers to the website www.changingthepresent.org to look at.
She writes: “This is a nonprofit donation marketplace. There are a couple of things that make it worth watching. One, it is good way of giving dollars because you can decide where the money is going and two, they are building a social networking component to it. Right now, people can build profiles, wishlists, registries…essentially create an identity as an individual philanthropist. I imagine that in the future, the full networking capability will be added”.
Comments
@ 08:38
Another company that helps people support non-profits through online social networking is Firstgiving.com. Firstgiving is a website that helps anyone create a free personalized fundraising page for any non-profit registered with GuideStar (a registry of nearly 2MM non-profits). Firstgiving can be used as a supplement to social networks that you are already on like MySpace, Facebook, etc. You are provided with tools to contact your online community (via blog or social networking site) with a widget or a fundraising badge. Another advantage of Firstgiving is that any funds raised are sent directly to the non-profit so no one has to worry about where the funds are going or how they are getting there. It’s a great way to mobilize your online community for a cause that you are passionate about.
@ 08:58
Thanks for the kind words. I’m the CTO responsible for building the site. Indeed, we’re working on greater networking capabilities: blogs, drives (small giving communities–we launched drives this week), and will add photos and videos this week. You can give to any nonprofit that has filed a tax return; you can also see what our advisors have to say. Our advisors include some of the most important philanthropists of our time–heads of foundations including the Lance Armstrong and Rockerfeller foundation, prominent members of nonprofits including FirstBook, Save the Children, UNICEF, and Amnesty International. What you see is only the beginning. If you like the idea, create a profile and invite five of your friends, and have them do the same!
We, too, provide banners and buttons that you can use with social networking sites.
@ 10:52
By the way, you can see the new Drives feature at http://changingthepresent.org/. Go find your favorite gift, and create a drive.
@ 13:10
Clarification:
The comment from Bruce Tate above is about http://www.ChangingThePresent.org