September 28, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
In June the popular social-networking site Facebook released a programming language that allows developers to create new applications that tie into the site and its 40 million users.
Already, four major applications have been introduced that nonprofit groups can use to raise money, Peter Dietz, a consultant in Montreal, writes on his blog, About Micro-Philanthropy.
He says that learning how to take advantage of the tools could be a valuable way to reach out to young potential donors.
“When it comes to online fund raising, an obvious tip is to meet your current and potential donors where they are,” writes Mr. Dietz. “Today, millions of prospective donors between the ages of 18 and 35 find themselves on Facebook.”
In the article, Mr. Dietz profiles the four tools — created by the companies Change.org, ChipIn, Firstgiving, and Project Agape — and offers advice on how to use them.
He recommends that organizations try more than one of the tools.
“Nonprofits are learning — if slowly — that maintaining an authentic presence on social networks is hard work, but necessary,” he writes. “One way to ensure success is to experiment with what’s cool in the same way that your supporters are experimenting.”
What do you think? Will raising money on Facebook and other social-networking sites be an important part of online giving going forward?
