O.k., around here we think a lot about $10,000... so let's step back a bit and consider what we might do with $10. Or, we could ask someone who has been giving away $10 a day since December... did i mention he is unemployed? Why is he doing this, what has he learned, and what do the recipients do with the 10 bucks he gives to them?
Check it out: http://yearofgiving.wordpress.com/
Monday, March 22, 2010
From Facebook to.....
One of the founders of Facebook is on to a new venture, one that is sure to earn him even more notoriety. The next time you hear someone say that young people are up to no good, tell them to check this out:
Chronicle of Philanthropy
March 18, 2010
Facebook Co-Founder Starts Philanthropic Social-Networking Site
By Nicole Wallace
One of the whiz kids behind Facebook is turning his attention to the nonprofit world.
Chris Hughes co-founded the social-networking giant with two roommates as a Harvard undergraduate, and later served as director of online organizing for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Today Mr. Hughes, now 26, announced that his next project will be Jumo, a new social network set to start in the fall that will help people find causes and nonprofit organizations that they care about.
“People have a genuine desire to engage with the world around them in a meaningful way, but the Internet just hasn’t yet caught up with that desire yet,” he said in an interview.
Jumo—which means "together in concert” in Yoruba, a West African language—will be designed to take advantage of content that has already been created elsewhere and offer robust tools for sharing content, says Mr. Hughes.
“The last thing I want to do is add yet another site to a nonprofit’s plate,” he says. “I don’t want them to have to go to yet another destination to share who they are and the work that they’re doing.”
Jumo incorporated as a nonprofit organization this year, and has applied for tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
The organization hopes to raise a little more than $2-million to start the site. Mr. Hughes says the group has raised more than $500,000 from individuals so far and has had early talks with several grant makers, including the Ford, John S. and James L. Knight, and Rockefeller Foundations.
Wide-Ranging Questions
Jumo seeks in the coming months to attract visitors who will help the site make it easier for people to find opportunities to give, volunteer, and advocate in ways that best suit their interests.
People who visit the site now and express interest in finding out more are asked a series of wide-ranging questions that gauges their personal interests, likes and dislikes, and political beliefs.
Among the questions:
• “Would you say the world is getting better or worse?”
• “Which of these places would you most like to visit? Argentina, France, India, or Kenya?”
• “On Sunday, are you most likely to be: at brunch, at church, at a museum, or watching the big game?”
The site will analyze how people who had similar answers respond to different causes and different giving and volunteering opportunities, and then use the information to determine what is most likely to appeal to them.
The main objective, says Mr. Hughes, is to connect people to the issues and organizations that are likely to interest them as quickly as possible.
“What I want to do is reach a point where people can’t say, 'I want to help. I don’t know any good, meaningful opportunities to do so. What can I do?’” he says. “I want to create a world where that statement is no longer possible.”
Chronicle of Philanthropy
March 18, 2010
Facebook Co-Founder Starts Philanthropic Social-Networking Site
By Nicole Wallace
One of the whiz kids behind Facebook is turning his attention to the nonprofit world.
Chris Hughes co-founded the social-networking giant with two roommates as a Harvard undergraduate, and later served as director of online organizing for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Today Mr. Hughes, now 26, announced that his next project will be Jumo, a new social network set to start in the fall that will help people find causes and nonprofit organizations that they care about.
“People have a genuine desire to engage with the world around them in a meaningful way, but the Internet just hasn’t yet caught up with that desire yet,” he said in an interview.
Jumo—which means "together in concert” in Yoruba, a West African language—will be designed to take advantage of content that has already been created elsewhere and offer robust tools for sharing content, says Mr. Hughes.
“The last thing I want to do is add yet another site to a nonprofit’s plate,” he says. “I don’t want them to have to go to yet another destination to share who they are and the work that they’re doing.”
Jumo incorporated as a nonprofit organization this year, and has applied for tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
The organization hopes to raise a little more than $2-million to start the site. Mr. Hughes says the group has raised more than $500,000 from individuals so far and has had early talks with several grant makers, including the Ford, John S. and James L. Knight, and Rockefeller Foundations.
Wide-Ranging Questions
Jumo seeks in the coming months to attract visitors who will help the site make it easier for people to find opportunities to give, volunteer, and advocate in ways that best suit their interests.
People who visit the site now and express interest in finding out more are asked a series of wide-ranging questions that gauges their personal interests, likes and dislikes, and political beliefs.
Among the questions:
• “Would you say the world is getting better or worse?”
• “Which of these places would you most like to visit? Argentina, France, India, or Kenya?”
• “On Sunday, are you most likely to be: at brunch, at church, at a museum, or watching the big game?”
The site will analyze how people who had similar answers respond to different causes and different giving and volunteering opportunities, and then use the information to determine what is most likely to appeal to them.
The main objective, says Mr. Hughes, is to connect people to the issues and organizations that are likely to interest them as quickly as possible.
“What I want to do is reach a point where people can’t say, 'I want to help. I don’t know any good, meaningful opportunities to do so. What can I do?’” he says. “I want to create a world where that statement is no longer possible.”
Friday, March 12, 2010
Jacob blogs on our March meeting
During our March meeting we started to research and consider the agencies that have requested grants. The focus for most of the meetings prior to this one has been learning about tzedakah and learning about what we are going to do. At this meeting we started doing it. One or two people were assigned to each of the agencies that had requested grants. We all researched our agencies online, and answered several short, but informative questions about each agency. Then a short presentation was given for each agency, and the members of the foundation could ask any questions to the other member/s who researched the agency.
At this meeting we really started to get to know the agencies. We were asked not to judge the agencies or form any opinions yet, the meeting was solely based on gaining information about each agency so that we can make informed decisions about where we want to donate our money. Next meeting we will start to hear from representatives from the agencies themselves.
At this meeting we really started to get to know the agencies. We were asked not to judge the agencies or form any opinions yet, the meeting was solely based on gaining information about each agency so that we can make informed decisions about where we want to donate our money. Next meeting we will start to hear from representatives from the agencies themselves.
Ilana blogs on our March meeting
Last Sunday’s meeting was the first meeting where we began reviewing the grant requests. There were many requests, including some that were unfamiliar to most of us before the meeting. Miranda felt that it was necessary for our foundation to understand the background of each organization. In order for us to be more knowledgeable about these organizations, we split up to research the organizations and see if they are worth our money, and if they fit our mission statements.
My group researched an organization called H.I.A.S. (short for Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society). H.I.A.S. provides service to Jewish immigrants, refugees, and others in need. There are H.I.A.S organizations around the world, including one in the United States. The H.I.A.S. in the United States helps resettle refugees, assists to reunite those that have been separated, and provides scholarships for refugees.
After everyone researched a different organization, each member took turns explaining the organization that he or she researched. Following each presentation, numerous members asked questions to gain a better understanding of the organizations. Many of us have already begun to think about which organization we think deserves our tzedaka. However, there are still a few months for that process and we plan on taking it step by step.
My group researched an organization called H.I.A.S. (short for Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society). H.I.A.S. provides service to Jewish immigrants, refugees, and others in need. There are H.I.A.S organizations around the world, including one in the United States. The H.I.A.S. in the United States helps resettle refugees, assists to reunite those that have been separated, and provides scholarships for refugees.
After everyone researched a different organization, each member took turns explaining the organization that he or she researched. Following each presentation, numerous members asked questions to gain a better understanding of the organizations. Many of us have already begun to think about which organization we think deserves our tzedaka. However, there are still a few months for that process and we plan on taking it step by step.
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