Using Social Media for Social Good: Other Side’s contribution to charity

15 December 2008 in Outreach by Kate | View Comments

[Update: We have ended our charity run! Thank you for everyone who participated.  To see which charity will receive a donation, please go here]

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

1 Thoughtful Comment from You = 1 Other Side Dollar to Charity

Kiva Microfunds
Image via WikipediaWe

As I mentioned last week, we’re going to be doing our own social contribution for the holiday season, and we need your help!  This requires no monetary commitment, only participation.

The Play:

  1. Add a comment below with what organization or cause you’d want us to donate to.  If you’d like to offer your reason for doing so, that would be great.
  2. Next week, we will tally up the number of comments we receive.  Each comment is then worth $1.
  3. This total will be divided in two equal parts, representing two equal donations.
  4. We will choose, at random, one of the commenters causes and donate one portion to that cause.  We’ll also ask that commenter if they’d like to describe their personal reason for donating to the cause (you can choose not to if you’d like).
  5. The other portion of the total will go towards Kiva, and organization that I donate to every year.
  6. If you’d like to donate more than a comment (a dollar amount to one or both chosen charities), by all means, feel free to either use the TipJoy button below or contact me here. (The comment will still be chosen randomly for the charity!).

Why Kiva?

I’ve always been drawn to microfinancing and it’s various forms for many reasons.

  • It offers an opportunity to people who have external barriers placed on them that prohibit their ability to make a living for themselves and their family.
  • It works for the little guys.
  • Most importantly, to me, is that the process works to instill a sense of independence in the recipients that comes from owning small businesses, being responsible and accountable for their actions.  This ultimately builds stronger, more motivated individuals, stronger families and communities, and more stable environments in a way that is much more permanent and long-term.

My mom, who is incredibly thoughtful and compassionate  in terms of giving back to the community in any way that she can, gave me a “Kiva gift” for Christmas two years ago.  I thank her for bringing it to my attention.

Disclaimer 1: Kiva’s model is a loan model, which means that eventually this donation will be paid back.  I assure you that it will be continually reinvested into the organization for various entrepreneurs around the world.  I will not personally profit from this.

Disclaimer 2: There will be a limit to the amount of money that we can donate, so, if by chance we get thousands of comments, we’ll need to bring down the donation amount :-) Hopefully everyone will still participate for the cause… and we’ll still need plenty of comments!

Additionally, please feel free to pass this along or Tweet about it!

So then, what’s your cause of choice??

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  • Ian
    World Wildlife Fund. Animals need our help more than people do!
  • Anjuli
    gift to any of kiva's grantees brings to life the concept of a gift that keeps on giving, not only in the sense of seeding a small business, but also building a better life for a whole family - warmer and fuzzier than slippers or a sweater!
  • sumit
    Awesome idea! Best of luck.
  • Matt Stratford
    Any of the charities mentioned works for me. Good Luck.

    Matt
  • Kate, this is the first I have heard of Kiva & I'm glad your blog has brought it to my attention! My organization most definitely is NAMI. (www.nami.org) 1 in 5 families in America are affected by Mental Illness. We have come a long way in the past 20 years to better understand, accept, and treat MI. However, there remains a strong stigma, lack of understanding, and serious shortage of quallity staffing/ funding at facilities across the country. Please at least take a moment to look at the "inform yourself" link on the NAMI website...I'm sure there is a NAMI walk in your local community to show your support for free. Breaking down the stereotype is half the battle.
  • Brad Dousevicz
    Hi Kate-
    Great idea, and it comes a great time considering many of these organizations are in need of donations more than ever this year. My organization is Camp Ta-Kum-Ta in Vermont. This is a camp for terminal and/or kids with cancer in Vermont. Emily and I became a volunteer sometime ago, and fell in love with the cause. It is a week long camp in the Summer for kids with cancer to just be kids. The staff is amazing, and every day is a different theme. They are hoping to purchase a new property on Lake Champlain, but need additional funds to make the grounds suitable for 60+ children! check out their website for more info- www.takumta.org.

    Happy New Year to all.
  • Hi Kate, Kiva is a great organization. A good friend of mine from college works for Kiva and has traveled all over the world for them. I appreciate your support of there special cause.

    Since having children, Gina and I are especially supportive of any Pediatic Cancer organization; such as The Jimmy Fund www.jimmyfund.org or St Jude's www.stjude.org.
  • I'll say Midwest Food Bank because they are creating efficiencies in the distribution of food to the needy by seeking large food donations, then distributing through hundreds of local agencies as well as to disaster sites. This kind of business-thinking is essential in these hard times to organize and centralize and create efficient processes.

    http://www.midwestfoodbank.org/

    Kiva is an excellent cause, too, so I'm glad to see that some money will go there. Thanks for doing this.
  • Kate--great idea. The cause I support is http://www.aces4kids.org/. Great model for mentoring and supporting inner-city youth.
  • What an interesting idea. I'd like to nominate MetroLacrosse as a worthy charity. I've worked with them before as a volunteer coach for youth lacrosse leagues across the Boston metro area.
    http://metrolacrosse.com/

    It's amazing how much influence you can make by introducing kids to organized sports, especially in areas where there's so much opportunity to get into trouble.
  • This is a great idea! So many great causes already listed. My vote is for the Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach (http://www.humanesocietynmb.org/).

    My husband and I have adopted 2 4-legged, furry kids from there, and they bring so much joy to us. The volunteers at this shelter are awesome.
  • kate:

    love this!

    my vote: green light fund

    i have been supporting this organization for the past two years and think their approach is brilliant! http://www.greenlightfund.org/html/approach.html

    this year's organization is youth villages; helping individuals transition from the foster care system to adulthood. more here: http://www.greenlightfund.org/html/org/YVTL.html

    thanks again and best of luck!
  • Wonderful idea Kate. Kiva is terrific. I also love Heifer.org and CharityWater.org (obviously :-) ).

    Happy New Year and thank you for doing this!

    Warmly,
    Laura
  • Hey Kate - Fantastic idea, well done. Ever since Blog Action Day I've been very impressed with the work of the Greater Boston Food Bank http://www.gbfb.org/ As always you continue to push the envelope with your blog and challenge us to do more...keep up the great work and Happy New Year!
  • Nancy
    This is an excellent effort and Kiva is a great choice. In 2009 we can all strive to do more to help others. I also support Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org) as I see it as a sustainable way to help people improve their own lives. Good luck Kate with all of Other Side's endeavors!
  • I don't have a favorite charity. There are so many people and causes that are worthy and need help. I'd love to help them all. I'll leave it up to you to made the difficult decision. Best wishes to All!
  • Hello, my name is Sarahlyn U. Argrow and I am the founder of an organization entitled AWWIN, Inc, a non profit 501(c)(3) organization designed to assist single working women and their children. Our organization has assisted more than four hundred families with the services AWWIN offers. The organization is a direct testament of the founder, Ms Argrow. We were able to assist a larger number of families with our Christmas After Christmas, a new and exciting entity of AWWIN. Christmas After Christmas will continue through the upcoming year as AWWIN will assist these families in 2009 to help them with their plight of moving out of poverty.
    We will do a follow- up every two months of the nine families to assist with the educating of their children, assisting the parents with finding better employment, seeking higher education, assistance with their day-to-day needs, etc.
    Please visit www.awwininc2.org for more information about AWWIN and the services we offer or to donate. No donation is too small.
    AWWIN is the presenter of the AWWIN, Inc Top Ten Working Women of The Year Awards and we are looking for assistance to expand to the Dallas and Houston areas in the upcoming year. We expanded to Atlanta in 2008. The annual gala will be held May 15, 2009 in Beautiful Savannah Georgia. We are in need of corporate sponsors for this event and donors for our silent auction items.
    Thank You and I hope You have A Very Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!
  • Rebecca Jasperson
    A simple act of kindness can affect the lives of so many....Kate, this is really touching, thanks for putting this out there. (As for my cause of choice, I'll suggest the salvation army. They do such a great job at bringing people together to help others.)
  • mike coughlin
    kbb! hook it up to st. jude's. down with baby cancer.

    or on a similar note, the ronald mcdonald house. they put my degenerate family while they were down at st. judes.
  • Hi Kate!

    I love what you are doing! I am working closely with Grassroots.org which is a non-profit that serves currently over 900 non-profits with web related services and consulting. Their goal is to give $10k worth of services to 10,000 non-profits for a total of $100M in services per year. I am very close with the executive director who is dedicated and committed to creating global impact and providing access to resources for change.

    Best,

    Karl
  • Hi Kate, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Kiva is a great organization. I first learned of them through our faculty teaching within the Morrisville State College Entrepreneurial Institute, and our interactions with CARE through the Morrisville College Foundation's Sheila Johnson Instiute (www.sheilajohnsoninstitute.org): my cause. The Limestone Pony Club (www.limestoneponyclub.org) was a close second because of its ability to develop leadership skills and character in our Nation's youth - nice job!!! :^)
  • The ability to reach those to whom the tiny amounts we can afford to donate mean so much is one of the things I love about the Internet. What you are doing here is really lovely and I hope it inspires many others. I would like to support Heifer International at http://www.heifer.org in common with some of your other respondents.
    Thanks for thinking of this idea!
  • What a great idea, Kate! I would like to suggest Jane Doe Inc, the Boston-based anti-domestic violence advocacy group we organized the first SM4SC event for.

    Cheers, and Happy Holidays!
  • Ellen Malloy
    Please donate to doctors without borders. We in America have a horrible health care system but we at least have the finest medical facilities and doctors in the world. Many in other countries, along with not having access to health care, don't even have the doctors and facilities that could provide care.
  • I don't have a specific charity that I'd prefer to see you use. I'm just thrilled that you're running this. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to seeing you next time I'm in town :)
  • I think you should donate to 2nd Harvest Heartland - a food bank - helping a lot of people this Christmas! You'd be amazed at how many meals you can provide for even a small amount of money!

    http://www.2harvest.org
  • johnincolorado
    great idea. i've heard good things about Kiva.
  • My vote is for World Bicycle Relief. They empower people in poverty and disaster areas.
  • My vote is for Berea Animal Rescue Fund. I'm a volunteer there. It's a tiny shelter in a suburb of Cleveland. We do our best to give these animals the warmth, shelter, and love they deserve. We are getting more and more animals and are running out of space and foster homes for them. Any donation would be helpful. Thanks! Happy Holidays!
  • Hey Kate,

    Good idea. We made 18 separate donations to the American Cancer Society this year in our clients' names. We also are offering free charity button design to anyone who wants one on their site. http://www.metropoliscreative.com/give_back.php. We've received a few requests already! (Need a charity button?)

    Mike
  • I vote for any of the causes that have been posted so far! Kiva is a great cause and I thank you for doing this.
    Best,
    Matt
  • 1. I love KIVA

    2. I love KIVA

    3. I love this blog :)

    4. I love this effort

    5. I am a supporter of Diabetes research (http://www.diabetes.org/)

    Great job with this - can't wait to see how it turns out
  • Haha, thank you Sean!
  • I wanted to give quick plug for Grassroots.org (http://www.grassroots.org/). The mission of Grassroots.org is to serve as a catalyst for positive social change by leveraging modern technologies and best business practices.

    Our ultimate goal is to adopt 10,000 nonprofit members, and to provide them each with an average of $10,000 of services per year at no charge (for a total savings of $100 million per year!).

    I am the Executive Director and encourage all of you to check it out. Also, please let the organizations you support know about our free services! We are a 501c3 organization.
  • rezit
    Great idea. My favorite charity is the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC - http://www.outdoors.org/) because it is close to my heart.
  • One cause I have donated to myself is Global Voices. They do a brilliant job aggregating the blogged voices of the unheard around the world, providing one of the best sources of independent information from those countries underrepresented in global media.
  • jon
    kate,dadio here. I have been supporting Hospice of Central New York since they helped
    us with Dad. We learned so much from the caregivers during that time of letting go of life. They helped us understand death and it's transitions. They were an important part of the process.
  • Hi Kate, in all the causes I support there is one that is particularly important to me: Le club des petits dejeuners (Quebec breakfast club) that serve hot breakfasts at school, before classes start, every single day of the school year in underpriviledged parts of Montreal (and province of Quebec). Basically, they serve up to 15,000 breakfasts each school day so those kids can start their day with good predisposition to learn.

    http://www.clubdejeuners.org

    Jacques Brisson
    Montreal, Quebec
  • Deb
    Hey Kate-

    Great idea! Is it too late for me to give my pick?

    You could probably guess mine...the Michael J. Fox Foundation (www.michaeljfox.org) - a cause very close to my heart.

    Thanks for doing this and inspiring me!
  • That's another good one.
    Thanks for the reminder.
  • I'd like you to donate to Fearless City, http://fearlesscity.ca which is a nonprofit in Vancouver's inner city, using mobile technology to bridge the digital divide and reclaim the promise of empowerment that was in the digital revolution all along. They put video- and livestream-enabled mobile phones and multimedia blogs in the hands of the most marginalized people in Canada, enabling them to tell their own stories and communicate with the rest of the world free of censorship or preconceptions.
  • The Battered Mothers Resource Fund - this all-volunteer non profit operates a nation wide hotline where moms can call to find a nearby shelter for herself AND her children.

    Since ten women die from domestic abuse every single day in the U.S. I think it's important that the hotline stay in operation - so those who want to escape with their lives can get help.

    Right now the hotline is in trouble because the director can no longer fund it from his own pocket. He had a heart attack, with complications, and can't work to support it.

    Get info at www.batteredmothers.org
  • Jill
    I'm also for the donating to the Food Bank - I live in the D.C. area and my family made the decision to put our money together and make a donation to our local foodbank. We take so much for granted this time of year, when many families can't even afford regular healthy meals, sometimes even one or both parents are working. This is truly a worthy cause, especially given our country's economic problems.
  • Meredith
    United Way of Lamoille County (VT):

    This is a charity I've made a commitment to in order to make a difference in my local community. I'm taking a Polar Plunge in Lake Elmore to raise money !

    The UWLC is hoping to start a transitional housing fund to provide temporary housing and budget education for those in need. What impresses me about this charity is their commitment to provide services that will make people self-sufficient again.

    Here in Lamoille County, the United Way focuses on the "three H's" of Heat, Hunger, and Homelessness. With a chilly winter ahead, I'm eager to help out my neighbors in need and focus my support locally.
  • Dave
    Best of luck to you guys!
  • Katie Despres
    What a great idea! My cause of choice is the Home for Little Wanderers (thehome.org) which helps at-risk children and their families.
  • I actually just recently heard of TheHome.org but think it's an awesome charity- so I'll second this one.

    Also- great idea for the blog- keep up the good work.

    Zach
  • George Thomas
    I'd like to suggest St. Jude Children's Hospital. I worked with them while in college and they do some fantastic stuff for kids down there.
  • Laurel Miltner
    I choose the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, because music education helps develop skills in several academic areas. And because for some children, it will be their calling.
  • Great idea you guys!

    I like The Trustees of Reservations - http://www.thetrustees.org/
  • I think what kiva is all about is helping people to help themselves on their way out of misery towards prosperity. Thast takes tripe support in education, finance and technology.
    One organization that I feel fits this concept quite well is offering simple technologies that within short time pay for themselves. Their cookstoves for example halve the expenses for solid cooking fuels and reduce indoor pollution as well. See for yourself at http://envirofit.org
  • CoCreatr
    Sorry, make that TRIPLE support, please.
  • G
    Kate -- Great stuff with this, the other side of your company; keep it up! Why not try to send some cash to some local schools through Kiva in whatever needy areas you're planning to send the money; presumably so-called third world countries. Education is costliest commodity out there, and we should all be invested in it. Thanks
    G
  • Beecher
    Hi Katie, Wonderful! I really like this idea. I love KIVA. My next thought is to pick a program close to home, so that pick would be the Martin Luther King Elementary School reading program. Volunteers partner in reading with first and second graders who are reading below grade level to build not only on comprehension and fluency, but also enthusiasm for reading.
  • Fiona D.
    I think you should donate to Heiffer. They've got a great program that deserves support.
  • Laura W.
    I have two favorite organizations. One is the Nature Conservancy. It's goal is to preserve land, especially unique areas. It does this by buying the land and getting it out of circulation so no one can build on it or disturb it in any way.

    My second one is Heifer International. Instead of giving hungry and poor people food, Heifer provides opportunities for families to raise food and create a living for themselves. It helps people to help themselves, not too different from Kiva. So a family might obtain a trio of rabbits from Heifer and in return, the familty agrees to provide some of the baby rabbits to another family so that they too can start raising rabbits. It's a win win situation.
  • I would say the Food Bank of Boston, or whatever local area you'd like really. They're doing a lot lately with delivering fresh produce, not just pre-packaged food, and are also very involved in the fight against obesity. There are families without food in our local communities and neighborhoods, and it's only getting worse.

    Remember, even if you can't give money, you can always volunteer your time.
  • Owen
    Great idea Kate, I hope you get many contributions. I would like the donation to go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/ they do research into helping kids with autism as well as trying to find root cause and cures.

    Good luck!
  • Justin Bartinoski
    Great idea Kate! No doubt the best thing about the holidays is sharing one's 'fortunes' with others.

    I've been affiliated with the Boston Scholars Program for the last 4 years. The mission is to provide scholarships & mentoring to Boston-area disadvantaged students that have been accepted to private high schools. Combining financial assistance & guidance thru the all-important high school years has proved to be extremely effective in helping these students reach their full potential. Most importantly, BSP is helping this group of 40-50 students build a strong educational platform for success at the collegiate level.

    http://bostonscholars.org/Home.htm
  • Hands On New Orleans. www.handsonneworleans.org/

    Why? Because there is still a lot of hurrican relief work that needs to be done in the New Orleans area.
  • I guess I am swayed by Beth Kanter, so I would say the Sharing Foundation, which benefits Children in Cambodia. (http://www.sharingfoundation.org/)

    Also, remember that giving money is only the first step in changing our world, just as voting was only the first step in changing our country. Get active, get involved, join a cause and fight for it. Nothing great has ever been achieve without compassionate people who turned their concerns into action.
  • Megan
    What a fantastic idea. The organization I support is The Steppingstone Foundation. I worked for the organization and continue to be in touch with several of my students. Steppingstone not only provides motivated inner-city students with a variety of academic opportunities, supporting them in their efforts to gain acceptance into exam or independent schools, but also fosters an extremely tight-knit community of "scholars" who support one another in their efforts to achieve a college-education. Despite their current circumstances, these students are relentless in their attempts to transform their lives, and, without Steppingstone, many would never have dreamed of a future that would include college. My best and most memorable teaching moments took place in a classroom filled with an amazing group of "scholars" who continue to inspire me. I appreciate the opportunity to share my experiences and believe Steppingstone to be a truly deserving organization.
  • Thanks so far to all the suggestions, these are great ones, and I'm glad that I chose to pick one at random, because I'd be hard pressed to choose just one from even just this list!
  • http://www.JustLikeMyChild.org

    Why them?

    I know the people running this non-profit organization. I trust them. Their goal is to help families especially children in rural Uganda to become self-sufficient.
  • Kiva is a great organization. Good pic.

    I would like to put forth Paul Polack's endeavor, D-Rev (http://d-rev.org) design for the other ninety percent. D-Rev is calling for a design revolution. They are working to train top designers to develop products that are affordable and beneficial for those who live on less then two dollars a day. Right now ninety percent of all designers are developing products for the top ten percent. If you can help someone earn more they are able to provide more income for themselves. Irrigation, water pumps, glasses, energy and much more. Paul has a proven track record as the founder of International Development Enterprises they were able to help 17 million people out of poverty.

    I'm sorry I'm a little excited b/c I just read his book. Thanks again for what you are doing.
  • I would also recommend Heifer International. The best thing about them is that they have a built in philosophy of paying it forward. Each recipient of a donation from Heifer International agrees to donate the first offspring to someone else in need.
  • James Wexler
    Great idea Kate.

    I'll throw my hat in the ring for the West End House (http://www.westendhouse.org/).

    In their words, "The West End House Boys and Girls Club offers life shaping opportunities to immigrant and urban children and teens. Through caring relationships with trusted adults, as well as experiences and instruction in Education & Technology; Sports, Fitness & Nutrition; Leadership & Life Skills and Visual & Performing Arts, our members receive the guidance and support needed to grow into strong, healthy, self-sufficient adults."

    My family has been involved with the West End House since about 1940, when it was a positive influence on my family's new life in America.

    P.S. Your Dad rocks a killer bow-tie.
  • Hi Kate!

    I love your idea.

    The cause I'd love you to make a donation to is the National MS Society, Central New England Chapter (http://www.msnewengland.org).

    For nearly 60 years, the Central New England Chapter has been providing help for today, and hope for tomorrow to nearly 14,000 individuals and families affected by multiple sclerosis in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

    This cause is dear to my heart because my mother has MS. She is the biggest inspiration in my life. She is a wonderful an artist. When MS made her lose the ability to hold a pen well, thus killing her ability to create calligraphy and fine artwork, she did not give in. Instead, she decided to change mediums. She is still creative and has moved on to creating artwork using her mouse, or a thick brush. My Mom has taught me to never give up in the face of adversity and there is not a day that goes by that I don't admire her for that.
  • Kate, this is a great idea. I had read about Kiva a long time ago, but had forgotten about it.
    My cause is Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org). There is something great about donating a live animal to someone that can change their lives. I am partial to pigs myself, but it is amazing how even a rabbit can make a difference.
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