Giving Change, Changing Giving

Have been on airplanes and in nonstop meetings, most without wifi, hence lack of posts.
Am working on thoughts about relationships between online giving marketplaces (DonorsChoose, GlobalGiving, Kiva) and how (if) they are changing giving. Also pondering (and pursuing research leads) on links between charitable giving and civic engagement…(e.g. activism, participation, etc.) post will come…
In meantime, [...]

Using web2.0 for change

I posted yesterday about the limits on using social media tools to change philanthropy. The reasons are not the new ones about access or familiarity about the tools, but the old ones about the insulation of institutional philanthropy from public stakeholders.
I think the changes that will be wrought by new technologies on philanthropy and public [...]

YouTube, Blog, SecondLife Davos

If you don’t want to spend the carbon credits to get to Davos (never mind the money) you can catch a good bit of the World Economic Forum at:
The Davos blogs
The Blog Aggregator
On GoogleVideo
On YouTube
On the wiki
Via Webcasts and podcasts
And in SecondLife
There are plenty of chances to join the conversation, yell at the panelists, voice [...]

Videogame advocacy

Ian Bogost looks at the use of videogames for politics, advocacy, and activism in a wonderful essay on First Monday. There is a whole movement out there, called Serious Games, that is trying to foster “non-entertainment” games. And they’re not just for kids anymore! Games for Change is the go-to place for more information on [...]

A generational shift to social justice philanthropy?

Resource Generation and NCRP are set to publish “Creating Change Through Family Philanthropy: The Next Generation” by Alison Goldberg and Karen Pittleman. The book argues that the next generation of philanthropists needs to address social inequity, if only for their own sake. Pre-release materials claim the book will show them how to do it. Guess [...]

Tools are good. Free tools (may be) better.

The folks at grassroots.org are working on a toolbox for nonprofits. They’re in the prototyping stage so click here and go help them out.
Tags: philanthropy, socialchange, technology, activism, web2.0

Tech solutions to social problems

Here’s a list of cool technologies that address real social problems. Its inspired by a list in Fortune, December 11, 2006, called “Tools for better living.” Your additions are most welcome.
Requirements:1) Must be a device that meets a need for a large number of poor people2) Must be affordable by those people3) Must function in [...]

Microlending. Good for them but not for us.

Wednesday’s WSJ ran a story titled, “Silicon Valley Moguls Support Microlenders, Just not in the US,” in which the profitability of social good ventures is highlighted as the central question. Because of higher costs and legally-required lower interest rates, US-based microlending programs can do a lot of good, but they can’t do it at a [...]