On the heels of yesterdays post I thought I should highlight some of the cool ways web entrepreneurs and non-profits are using the social technologies to make a difference in the world. I love the opportunities that the Social Web provides for Social Entrepreneurship and these 3 organizations are doing an outstanding job ( two of which are right here in Vancouver!)
Social Web Organizations Doing Good
Dawn Bowls, Dream Bank’s founder and SEO was at SVI Hollyhock attendee. Her team has amazing plans for the services future. Check them out here.
“DreamBank is an alternative to traditional gift giving. Instead of receiving gifts that you may not really want or need, on DreamBank you get dreams, instead of stuff. We provide a fun, easy way for you to achieve your dream.” By posting a dream on www.dreambank.org, friends, family and fans can contribute to your dream at birthdays, Christmas etc. Each contribution brings your dream closer to reality.” – DreamBank.org
Tom Williams, Give Meaning’s Founder, was also at SVI Hollyhock, lending his “social enterprise” knowledge to the group.
“GiveMeaning.com hosts fundraising pages on behalf of charities, non-profits and grassroots projects. Founded in 2004, GiveMeaning has provided free online fundraising pages to over 1200 different initiatives around the world. From grass-roots international development projects to online fundraising pages for walks, swims and rides, you can create your own fundraising page at GiveMeaning.com to fundraise for most any benevolent purpose.”- givemeanting.com
Kiva.org is my favorite! Look out friends and family, you may (will) be getting Kiva Gift Certificates for Christmas this year. Dylan Higgins, a Kiva Fellow from Seattle presented at last years VidFest, where I had a chance to chat with him. The story of this organization is truley inspiring. Get those kiva.org gift certificates here.
Kiva.org is a non-profit revolutionizing the fight against global poverty by enabling socially-conscious internet users to connect with and make personal loans to a specific low-income entrepreneur in the developing world. In a little over two years, Kiva has rapidly grown to become the most trafficked site in microfinance with +330,000 Internet lenders generating +$34million in loans to thousands of entrepreneurs in +42 developing countries.
For more cool examples of Social Entrepreneurship, FastCompany.com has a great list of Social Enterprises on their Social Capitalists of the Year Awards.
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