The next big idea

A friend steered me to an article about the next big idea. It’s currently in design phase but the purpose is to connect individuals and organizations in the areas of philanthropy, volunteerism and social networking. It is being designed by Chris Hughes, one of the founders of Facebook, who left the company to design the social media network site my.barackobama.com that revolutionized presidential campaigning.

Why am I excited about Jumo.com without really knowing what it will do?  Chris Hughes has a great track record. And I see the possibilities that this will have for the Millennial generation’s involvement in the nonprofit area. They are already the generation that is more socially aware, more digitally linked, and more concerned about others than any other generation in American history.

So check it out. Wish I had invented it!

Barack Obama shouldn’t be the only one

Nine months into President Obama’s term, some of us may have forgotten how his campaign raised record-setting amounts of money over the internet. Does your nonprofit have the capability of raising funds over your website?  Don’t think it’s important?  Think again.

Website donations are a great way to attract the younger demographic to your organization.  Most members of the Millennial generation (they are just hitting the workforce now and include my two 20 something year old kids) don’t even own a checkbook. They pay their bills online. They may not make a lot of money but now is the time to engage them with your cause.

Besides, the internet is a great way to capture emails, create a database and then use that database for fundraising queries of an immediate nature (“We’ll have to turn kids away from our camp,” “We don’t have enough shelter beds for the homeless,” “We will have to euthanize our dogs” without your help).  One nonprofit that C2C works with raised over $43,000 with their immediate need request!

So no matter your party affiliation, follow the President’s lead on this one and develop a robust internet fundraising capability.