A striking example of how the tight job market has motivated even less civic-minded types to support nonprofits, LinkedIn recently introduced
Volunteer Experience & Causes, a feature that allows members to promote their volunteerism. But despite the pervasiveness of social causes, it has become daunting for people to choose where to direct their philanthropic efforts, so several new entities have sprung up to play matchmaker between donors and causes.
Catchafire: Nonprofits are often unsure of how best to access pro bono labor and individuals are often confused about where to put their professional skills to philanthropic use. Catchafire aims to streamline both processes by encouraging users to “Give what you’re good at.” The company’s website, a near amalgam of
Idealist and
OKCupid, algorithmically matches one’s talents to the organization that most needs them. Though most of Catchafire’s projects are located in New York, where it’s based, it also features
virtual volunteering opportunities. Current projects include crowdfunding for
Humanitarian Notes, website design for
Hope Sings, and PR planning for
ACE Programs for the Homeless.
GlobalGiving: GlobalGiving converts would-be donors into catalysts of change by introducing them to organizations that are
feeding the hungry and
educating children, among thousands of worthy causes. Users can
browse projects by topic or
by nation, easily identifying those that appeal to them. Gift cards are also available. In fact, to teach children the value of giving, Montessori School of Denver bought GlobalGiving gift cards for every one of its students so they could each choose a project to support. GlobalGiving has been featured in major media like
The New York Times, NPR, CNN and
The Washington Post, and boasts impressive corporate partners, including
Dell,
eBay and
GAP.
