Can Internal Social Media Tools Help Non-Profits?

Of course it can, if it wasn't for Search Engine Optimization I probably wouldn't have phrased it as a question.

But It seems like most of the discussion about social media within organizations revolves around what you can do to promote your organization or business to the outside world, but not necessarily the ways in which it can help your organization function internally. I've listed a couple services below I think can help!

Creative uses for Kickstarter.com: Raise funds and raise awareness for your cause!

So I recently posted about an iPhone application that received funding from Kickstarter.com and the more I went through the site, read the history, read the FAQs, saw the openness for feedback, the more I realized the unique potential Kickstarter has to become a mainstay of social media.

Most of the projects on there are primarily art-based, music, video, etc. But if you browse you'll notice a group that are social cause related.

Overall Kickstarter is great for creative projects that engage people. That doesn't mean it's only for art related projects. But it's good to have small expectations and creative projects for your organization/non-profit to post on Kickstarter.

New iPhone Application in Development Hopes to Raise Money on Behalf of Non-Profits!

I came across the Givabit iPhone app project on Kickstarter.com and started thinking, well of course! iPhone apps + small dollar fundraising = sense, its about time someone created an app like this, I donated my $10! With only 3 days left to donate it needs YOUR SUPPORT!

The real genius behind this project is not just it's potential to raise large amounts of small donations for charitable organizations, it's how they are going about it.

Givabit will be a new and *free* iPhone application that features charities on a daily basis allowing users to discover worthy causes and easily contribute micro donations to them.

Kiva to Make Microloans to US Small Businesses

I don't know about this...

More than 70 percent of Kiva's lenders are in the U.S., though, the company said today, and poverty is everywhere.
-SF Chronicle

Poverty is everywhere, but there is a debate about microfinance's ability to work in the US and usually microfinace in the ideal situation is best done by community banks or local charitable organizations close to the impoverished areas.

Ending Human Rights Violations With Investors Weight

I am more amazed the more I learn about Calvert Investments. Calvert Investments is a leader in the Socially Responsible Investment movement. I love the subject of SRI because to me it is the legacy I hope the newest generation will leave.

Many young professionals are now building their investments, 401k, piggy banks, mattress stash, savings accounts, CDs, etc, etc with the full understanding of the power and deficiencies our financial institutions have. We understand much better than previous generations the impact our financial investments have on the world.