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June 7, 2007
Facebook Causes Connects People & Nonprofits
Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks | Filed under: Technology
Social networking just became socially conscious.
It started when the 24-million-strong Facebook (compared to MySpace's 57 million) launched a new developer's platform that allows third-party companies to create bits of software that plug into Facebook. The result is Flickr photos, Last.fm music playlists, top Digg news stories and so much more showing up in Facebook. But they don't just appear in Facebook like slapping a graphic into MySpace. They interact with Facebook, allowing users to customize their experience, displaying their most recently played tracks from Last.fm or viewing a sample of a friend's Flickr photos.
One of the new applications is called Causes (requires free registration, like everything on Facebook). It was created by Project Agape and allows users to start causes and rally their social network to support specific nonprofits. You can invite your friends to join and donate to the cause, and Facebook tracks your recruits and donations. At the time of writing Save Darfur had 62,978 members and donations totaling $5,196. And it was raised in two weeks (Facebook Causes launched on May 24). The One Campaign has raised $2,500 with 11,000+ members. Invisible Children has almost 22,000 members and has raised more than $700.
It's creating a buzz across the web:
- Socially Conscious Social Networking - Facebook Causes (includes a nice tutorial on how to set up a cause in Facebook)
- Facebook Causes and Effects
- Causes on Facebook Launches
- Promote your cause on Facebook in five easy steps
- There's even a webinar on June 12: Promoting Your Cause in Facebook
Another huge selling point for the Causes application is that average people can set up causes. So it doesn't have to be simply big name nonprofits as the cause. It could be "Uncle Jim's 5k Run to Fight Diabetes," supporting Jim's 5k run and donations going to a local diabetes foundation. It's much smaller--perhaps only Jim's family and friends. But the impetus to donate is much larger--"hey, it's my Uncle Jim!" Which means the smart play may not be encouraging people to join a major nonprofit's cause, but encouraging people to start their own personal causes that support a nonprofit.
It will be interesting to see if Facebook Causes grows and adds more functionality, including a place for comments or interaction. As cool as it is to see 60,000 people come together, the social networking happens best when they can interact (which bodes well for Uncle Jim). At this point the best you can do is invite someone to join a cause and then donate. What about sharing stories or posting photos? You can do that elsewhere on Facebook, but it's not yet integrated. More innovation could make this an even better tool for nonprofits.
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Comments
Another company that helps individuals support organizations that they care about is Firstgiving.com. Firstgiving is a website where anyone can come and create a free personalized fundraising page for practically any non-profit. After you create your page you can promote it to your online community (MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc) using a widget or a badge. Also you have a unique page with a unique URL so you can post your link in various places as well. It's a great way to rally your entire online community in ALL the places that you go!
Because isn't it better when everyone can participate?
Posted by: Brittany at June 8, 2007 8:14 AM
And that's where I think what's happening on Facebook is so different. Lots of companies/orgs are doing what you're talking about, Brittany. And loads of online sites let you slap something on a web page.
But what's happening with Facebook is the applications enable you to engage with your network of friends on Facebook. The program asks you to invite them--it's built in, it's not an after thought. Plus, you can see when other people join, which furthers the viral effect. You don't get that with outside systems.
The integration is what makes it work.
Posted by: Kevin D. Hendricks at June 11, 2007 6:02 AM
Great post Kevin especially with the resources. Thanks for taking things further!
Posted by: Soha El-Borno at June 11, 2007 12:42 PM