Comments on: Donation Dashboard

By: Jason Dick

Jason Dick — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:06:23 +0000

I think this kind of organization is a good idea but also could be problematic. One of the beautiful things about the internet is that small nonprofits that do not have the marketing budget and history of a large organization can compete to make a difference.

My concern is that these nonprofits would not be included in the study when often times they have a better % to program than some of the larger organizations. So you miss a huge world of venture philanthropy because they are an unknown entity.

I hope that this kind of system would allow nonprofits to submit themselves or new organizations to their database.

By: ross

ross — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:39:28 +0000

i’d have to advocate for more user-generated, peer-review data (wiki-style) for the non-profit descriptions. (has that non-prof review wiki out there yet?)

group giving plan? processing the input from multiple partners and creating a portfolio from the joint data.

maybe the key toward sociality is not building out the social functionality, but to create a portable app that can jive with existing platforms. i guess i’m feeling like this tool is better served as part of a basket of tools to inspire beginner givers. like, where’s the site i got to if i’m giving for the first time and need info. and maybe donation dashboard should be there.

By: Sean Stannard-Stockton

Sean Stannard-Stockton — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:58:58 +0000

Ross,
What would sociability look like?

By: ross

ross — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:30:19 +0000

for the younger (err…my) generation, a well-placed gizmo could make the difference between involvement or not – maybe if the site was widgetized as a facebook app? though as it stands, it’s kind of boring and there’s really no sociality built in other than the invisible recommendation technology – but the future is bright!

By: Sean Stannard-Stockton

Sean Stannard-Stockton — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:44:12 +0000

Thanks for the note Solomon. I think we’ll see many more tools like this in the future.

By: Solomon McCown

Solomon McCown — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:51:29 +0000

Great post! I’m happy to see another tool like this out there; I tried a similar widget (http://www.socialactions.com/related-ways-to-take-action/) but found it a bit limiting. I think these types of technological tools are helping to expand a donor’s portfolio as technology seeps ever deeper into every aspect of our lives. As you say, it’s not the only way, but it’s a great opportunity to “source ideas.”

By: Sean Stannard-Stockton

Sean Stannard-Stockton — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:58:36 +0000

Make sure you see my FT column, Givers: Go Out and See For Yourselves. I didn’t mean to suggest that you should just give to the charities listed by Donation Dashboard. It is a great way to source ideas. Just because iTunes says that I might like a song doesn’t mean I buy it without listening to it first. Talking to friends a family is a good way to source ideas as well. But with 1.5 million nonprofits, I think Donor Dashboard is a great tool. Especially because my friends and family might have some shared values with me, but everyone in a community doesn’t like the same music or the same nonprofits.

Tidy Sum, you should know me well enough by now to recognize that I’m not a tech obsessed philanthrocapitalist. But I do like tools and think that embracing a tool doesn’t force you to behave a certain way.

Tools are good. Dogmatism is bad. You can use tools without accepting a philosophy. The battle over defining philanthropy in the 21st century doesn’ have to be partisan.

By: Tidy Sum

Tidy Sum — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:28:36 +0000

I highly recommend the gizmo for agoraphobics, the homebound elderly, Internet addicts, and the overworked antisocial donor.

But isn’t one of the ongoing critiques of TP fans is that we have enough drive-by giving in this world?

But I’ll bet you a pack of Marlboro’s that my favorite wealth philosopher at GiftHub.org would agree that the best entry point for giving is using our own social network unmediated by an algorithm.

Most people are most satisfied with their giving when they have relationships with organizations, their work, or a particular issue.

God forbid, we talk to our friends, families, neighbors and even go out and explore a rich civic culture in our own backyards.

If folks really need Donation Dashboard to get leads, I think they need to get out more often.

I also wonder if these gizmos reinforce the dynamics that commodify nonprofits and their work.

As Akron blues great, Eddie “Laundromat” Watson sings: “Philanthropy is best when it begins with participation not a donation”.