One of the few large and still independent social networks announced huge changes last week - changes that may well have a large effect on causes and philanthropy online. Facebook opened its platform to outside developers, allowing members to create applets and leverage its 24 million active users. Inevitably, this means e-commerce and linking other social tools and blogs to the Facebook experience, which had been a closed network.
And it also means philanthropy.
One of the new mini-applications within Facebook is Causes, added by San Francisco's Blake Commagere. The applet allows users to invite "friends" to join campaigns for nonprofits, issues, and political candidates. Dozens have already been added. It also allows for donations -and then ranks Facebook users by how many supporters they've recruited and how much money they've raised.
The money is, well, peanuts at this point - the system measures single dollars and most causes have raised less than $100. The upside is probably in the network of peers that savvy causes can attract using the platform.
Here at onPhilanthropy, we've seen just how potent that platform can be. Just months after creating a Facebook group for our Future Leaders in Philanthropy community, there are more than 200 members signed up. We'll be watching to see how Causes develops - and how the philanthropy sector uses the growing Facebook platform in general.
Dear sir,
I am interested to join.pl reply,
Gautam Chaudhury
Posted by: Gautam Chaudhury | June 07, 2007 at 11:58 AM