WELCOME TO ORG 2.0
GetActive, NetSquared and Squidoo partner up to bring you this list of the 59 smartest nonprofit organizations online today.
These charities were chosen for their excellence in online storytelling and collaboration with their donors. We didn't play favorites to one cause over another, nor did we look at their fundraising goals or number of members. Instead, these organizations are winners because of their web 2.0 smarts and a willingness to engage their constituents far beyond asking them to dig into their pockets.These are organizations that give their volunteers and members a voice and get out of the way. They're pros at mobilizing awareness online. They're experimentors. Innovators. On a mission. They're fearless.
NetSquared, GetActive and Squidoo all share a similar mission: making it free, easy, and fun for people to support and talk about good causes online.
THE 59 SMARTEST ORGS ONLINE
The best of 2006!
Check out their sites and stories and communities. Then vote for your favorites on the list.
(Pssst: If you want to embed this list on your own blog or site, just click the "Grab this List" button and go.)
Greenpeace
What's smart: The "Defending our Oceans" campaign gives their members a voice and a platform.146 points
KIVA
What's smart: Personalized sponsorships--you choose which entrepreneur to support. Leveraging traditional TV to support online efforts. Flickr, Squido...97 points
Modest Needs
What's smart: Structured around small one-time gifts of financial assistance. Highlight: the ability for donors to give through eBay auctions.72 points
New York City Coalition Against Hunger
What's smart: Find more than 1,200 local soup kitchens and food pantries via first-ever interactive maps of hunger and food resources in New York City...51 points
WorldChanging
What's smart: A well-designed group blog on tools, ideas, and solutions that bring about positive change. Users can also post comments in the communit...44 points
Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter
What's smart: It's not the size of the ferret that matters, it's the size of the heart in their supporters. Yes, small is the new big.31 points
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
What's smart: St. Jude's won't turn a child away. Insurance or no, kids get treated.30 points
ASPCA
What's smart: microdonations are encouraged; use of MySpace, YouTube, message boards.24 points
Doctors Without Borders
What's smart: using videos and blogs as recruitment tools for volunteers and interns.23 points
The ONE Campaign
What's smart: Aggressive use of free media, and micro-donations.20 points
Bridges 2 Hope Project
What's smart: offering patients, their family members, and supporters a FREE opportunity to participate in the advocacy effort.17 points
Oxfam America
What's smart: a daring Starbucks campaign, MySpace Rock for Darfur, winner of the Squidoo 50,000 lens contest.15 points
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
What's smart: their BioGems microsite dedicated to critical natural habitats, includes Google Earth video tours.14 points
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
What's smart: 3 cheers for Team Fox.14 points
Save the Children
What's smart: Harnessing everyday passions. A knitting/crocheting campaign with downloadable kits, local events and interactive maps.13 points
MoveOn
What's smart: This isn't your grandfather's nonprofit. Their 2006 recap [http://pol.moveon.org/2006report/] highlights the strategy behind their mid-t...13 points
Amnesty International
What's smart: Online advocacy powerhouse, empowers blogging community, runs numerous campaigns that solicit letters, video, petition signings12 points
Rainforest Action Network
What's smart: active recommendation economy that cycles through MySpace, Flickr, blogs, and videos.12 points
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
What's smart: Forget the gatekeepers. The volunteers are empowered, trusted, and valued in a way that every org can learn from.12 points
Ad Council
What's smart: Use of YouTube, change in media, the recommendation economy online.12 points
Nature Conservancy
What's smart: Call for user-generated photos, customizable e-cards11 points
Music For America (MFA)
What's smart: an Internet radio station for young musicians to contribute to online. Access to live music events in exchange for doing political outre...11 points
Environmental Defense
What's smart: Aggressive and relevant and authentic permission marketing campaigns. Yes, all 3!10 points
Rainforest Alliance
What's smart: Transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.10 points
Room to Read
What's smart: What's not?! These guys get most things Org 2.0. Check them out.10 points
Ecotrust: Building Salmon Nation
What's smart: Harnessing new marketing media across the web.10 points
Opendemocracy.net
What's smart: Encourages readers to challenge authors and express their views on forum pages.9 points
DonorsChoose
What's smart: An online platform enabling teachers to propose projects for funding and donors to contribute to specific projects.9 points
Human Rights Campaign
What's smart: Use of ebook action guides, passalong of scorecards for grading members of Congress.8 points
Interplast
What's smart: Providing free reconstructive surgery to children in developing countries--uses storytelling to keep visitors connected through blogs,...8 points
World Vision
What's smart: Radio, podcasts, RSS, story ideas section.7 points
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
What's smart: Very focused online, have tons of events and participation for advocates, encourage supporters to blog and make lenses and videos.7 points
TakingITGlobal
What's smart: Focus on young philanthropists online. Its website features a blog, free online team planning space, and video chats.7 points
Witness
What's smart: The Witness Video Hub Pilot--anyone with human-rights related footage will be able to upload video to create change.7 points
Bookcrossing
What's smart: Donate books and watch their progression around the world. Highlights: A uniquely transparent tell-a-friend feature.7 points
Center for Church Communication
What's smart: Kudos to the Church Marketing Sucks blog.7 points
Sierra Club
What's smart: Sierra Club gets points for their creative "cool cities" local advocacy. And a bonus for Sierra Club Radio.6 points
MobileActive
What's smart: A global network of organizations and activists using mobile phones in their social-change work.6 points
Inner-City Scholarship Fund
What's smart: Total relentless passion for what they're doing. Low overhead sponsoring of underprivileged children. Kudos to Anne Reidy.6 points
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
What's smart: Tight activist network, focus on social features online, great user-generated content5 points
National MS Society
What's smart: Advocacy via the MS Action Networks; FaceofMS.org looks for stories.5 points
Mayo Clinic: Medical Treatment and Research Centers
What's smart: lots of RSS feeds and videos, and tons of personal experiences and stories.5 points
The Gates Foundation
What's smart: Outstanding and singular commitment to philanthropy, which can be forgotten in a fast-paced online world. (Hey, it's Bill).5 points
Share Our Strength
What's smart: Volunteer-led special events across the country and online.5 points
New Orleans Voices for Peace
What's smart: An org whose core is aligned with the web. Providing web access, hosting, media development for communities affected by the Hurricanes R...5 points
NPR's Science Friday
What's smart: Show host Ira Flatow, for testing conversion from radio mentions to website visits.5 points
Grameen Foundation - Fighting poverty with microfinance
What's smart: Microfinance, fearless innovation and use of new media like YouTube, Squidoo. Congrats on the Nobel Prize!4 points
Product (RED)
What's smart: crossover between offline retailers, and online storytelling. (Not to mention Bono-power!).4 points
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
What's smart: Crossover offline and retail partnerships, evangelists on Facebook.4 points
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.
What's smart: specialized constituent database management.4 points
Hybrid Center
What's smart: Part of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Excellent single issue ideavirus/tool4 points
Arts Engine Inc.
What's smart: Fostering the production of independent film, video, and other new media. Kudos to MediaRights.org: a database-driven resource for filmm...4 points
Earth Share of Washington
What's smart: Decentralization. This is a federation of 66 uniquely empowered environmental organizations around the state and online.4 points
Scorecard
What's smart: going small and local and personal, not big. they provide detailed local environmental reports.3 points
PledgeBank--a project of mySociety.org
What's smart: A "new marketing" tool that allows people to pledge online and take action to make a difference-but only if others will also agree to ta...3 points
CivicSpace
What's smart: A free, open-source platform for grassroots organizing and civic activity, incorporates blogging, forums, file storage, and surveys.3 points
The American Institute of Architects
What's smart: Encouraging architects to design inspiring shelters for homeless and disaster victims. DIY online goes offline! How smart.2 points
Covenant House of California
What's smart: Features stories of their clients, included same content in outbound email campaign to drive donations.2 points
Freedom Toaster
What's smart: Open source! The Freedom Toaster is a free vending machine/kiosk that dispenses open source software burned to CD or DVD in locations t...2 points
THE WATERCOOLER
Thoughts on Org 2.0? What's been working for you online these days? What does your organization's marketing look like? Comments welcome!
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seanalmond
Good job with your successful lens. I totally agree with the order of the list. They're great organizations and I've always follow the news about them. To get in touch to the latest news, I stay alert on my mobile phone and I think activists deserve great mobile phones applications to increase productivity in their dynamic work environment, too. Great lens. Thank you. Posted May 13, 2008 |
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joannareed
Very Helpful and inspiring lens! Five stars to you!The informations you have shared about 59 smartest orgs online is such a wonderful work. I can easily find the orgs through this. Thank you very much! Please check this lens quick insurance quote I found this lens while looking for the best site which give very quick informations on insurance quotes.This is one great lens too. Posted April 24, 2008 |
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jilldavis
Great job. Very inspiring lens. Its very nice to learn a site like this that provide useful information on the various organization for their charity work. This lens would encourage and prepare everyone to help more in many ways they are interested in. Thanks for sharing such a valuable information and 5 stars rated to your lens. Also see some valuable information on mobile phones that can be used in doing such charitable works. It's an interesting site about mobile phones, mobile phone programs and other information. Pls visit us. Posted April 21, 2008 |
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Willirober
I allways prefer this type of lens. It gives sound knowledge of org even though it helps in all aspects. I too have a amazing site known as Insurance Software from where everbody should get some flavour of auto insurance. Posted April 19, 2008 |
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JimmyAnderson67
This is a great lens, and you deserve no less than 5 starts. I really would like to thank you for sharing your ideas and tips. Also see Hr Recruitment Software you will find really great info there we well and I hope you like it. Posted April 17, 2008 |
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jzorro
Great lens. Congratulations!!! Posted April 15, 2008 |
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HwangKO
I am glad to see the great amount of environmentally-related non-profits represented here. In my husband's business (buying used vending machines)he and I have always insisted on making sure that a certain percentage of each sale goes to the support of such groups. Great lens -- keep up the great work! Posted April 14, 2008 |
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annhenson12
This one is a true great lens! I am giving you five stars for unsefishly sharing your knowledge, ideas and links to the top smartest orgs. This makes me access to them a lot easier. I don't care about those nonsense blurbs underneath. Let me share to you one great lens too Software Testing Software they provide helpful facts and links on software testing. Plus more valuable facts on software development. Check it out! Posted April 13, 2008 |
Great list thanks for sharing
Posted April 05, 2008
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natdg
Some of these organizations are really popular and goes around the world to helping a lot of people/places. Posted April 02, 2008 |
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kathysuggests
Great Lens, India is really emerging as one of the most desired outsourcing places in the world. A major part of the world outsource their back office management to India. Now a days even recruitment solutions are outsourced to India. There are now a number of software Recruitment India companies that assist other companies in the process of recruiting employees. Posted April 02, 2008 |
Awesome list and concept, nice work mate.
I run a design firm and we've been looking to get more involved within non-profit orgs, which is why we are opening our doors and offering our help with any new or already progressing NPO's that are in need of a website or anything along those lines please feel free to email me.
We are eager to help and get more involved, so please dont hesitate to contact us, or if you know of an organization that is in need, feel free to point them in our direction.
Eric
BrownBeanStudios.com
edefazio@brownbeanstudios.com
Posted March 28, 2008
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maxy
I love reading you lens, well put together. Hope you have a chance to see my phone card lens! Posted March 07, 2008 |
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thomasz
Nice lens. Great info. Posted February 13, 2008 |
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michaelgibbons
fascinating lens surprised to not see the ONE campaign? Posted January 29, 2008 |
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Aika
amazing lens, all the best to you. Keep it up Posted December 18, 2007 |
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Aika
1amazing lens, all the best to you. Keep it up Posted December 18, 2007 |
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blossominc
Is CivicSpace just selling Drupal to non-profits or those interested in having their cause heard? That's insane considering it's open source and you could implement it for free for much less than $50 a month with access to your own domain/server/and extra features. Posted December 03, 2007 |
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theawristocrat
Thanks for sharing such a comprehensive list. Posted October 16, 2007 |
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Posted September 14, 2007
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Posted September 14, 2007
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Posted September 13, 2007
What about www.accainc.org?
African Child Care Association, Inc.
Posted July 06, 2007
Great list. This provides everyone with a wealth of information of what people are doing right to create awareness for their organization and projects. I'd also like to recommend Channel G http://www.channelg.tv
Posted June 21, 2007
I need organizations that can donate to Jeff. He was diagnosed with terminally ill melanoma cancer, located in his fatty tissue in his abdominal area. He is receiving treatment at OSU. The travel expenses and medical bills have drained our bank account. contact me @ ttfarms@paulding-net.com-please
Posted June 07, 2007
Hi there,
this list is great - but I'd also love to see the results - I wonder who won. ;-)
lso I'd be interest where on the web I can find a good discussion panel on the issues raised in this context as to which NGO is the smartest, what thereis NGOs can do etc etc... Post some links if you have
Posted May 29, 2007
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MarketingSquidoo
Way to go! Posted May 18, 2007 |
How to have www.howtopedia.org enter the next ranking competition?
what's smart: a collaborative wiki library on simple technologies for development.
Posted April 23, 2007
Where are the questions measuring the effectiveness of the tools? One can dray the conclusion you are simply advocating Web 2.0 simply as a form of conspicuous consumption for non-profits. Especially cynical is asking if the org uses Squidoo on of the sponors of the "survey"!?
Posted April 02, 2007
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sheywood
This is a super use of Plexo and a great way to showcase and spread the word about deserving organizations. The organizations included provide examples of ways that non-profits can use the power of social media to reach a wide range of goals and audiences in ways that are relevant and effective. Posted February 21, 2007 |
I note the Land Company run by con artists: The Nature Conservancy is on the list. It just shows how liars can succeed in most any endeavor.
Posted February 19, 2007
Why just US or global ORGs like Greenpeace or Amnesty?
We just won the "Sustainable Energy Europe Award 2007", mostly for a German campaing and our online advisors on 700 partner portals (www.co2online.de).
The advisors can be translated and adapted and have avoided 2.3 mill. tons of CO2 so far.
Posted February 18, 2007
I was very surprised not to see www.giveindia.org on this list. Its a great site that enables easy online donations, and channels funds to over a 100 non profits in India. Also, a unique feature of this site is that every donor gets individual feed back on every donation.
Posted February 14, 2007
Hello,
Can you fix the broken link on my last post?
Thanks!
MySpace Best Practices
Posted February 12, 2007
Good list... I have been promoting this page on MySpace. I run:
myspace.com/NonprofitOrganizations
MySpace Best Practices
Thanks!
Posted February 10, 2007
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jackclee
Just curious, why pick the number 59? Will you consider adding NABUUR to your list? Posted February 09, 2007 |
Check out an organization's effectiveness, too.
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/charities/ in WA State.
Less than 80% may be not be good enough for some of us. Give wisely! Clever marketing is one thing?-Using your money for the intended purpose (rather than administration) is another.
Posted February 08, 2007
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jackclee
Instead of moveon.org, you might want to checkout unity08.org - they are a more even and balanced org. Posted February 03, 2007 |
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jackclee
How about adding www.nabuur.com to your list? Posted February 03, 2007 |
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GlobalGiving
I was surprised to discover that GlobalGiving (globalgiving.com) did not appear on this list. GlobalGiving is an online marketplace where donors can make donations directly to a variety of international development projects. The site is easy to navigate and projects are updated regularly. Posted February 01, 2007 |
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Whythawk
Just because many Org 2.0s are outstanding at getting people into giving them money doesn't mean they're doing anything effective with that money. Give me a shout when they're open to the same type of investor scrutiny demanded of public companies. I'll be happy to rate them. Posted January 27, 2007 |
Great list of great organisations, but is it really true that 55 of the 59 or so "smartest" non-profit orgs are in the US? Come on, people......it's a WORLD-wide web out there.....
Posted January 26, 2007
Where is the Electronic Frontier Foundation?
Posted January 25, 2007
I'd like to vote for Sightline Institute (http://www.Sightline.org) -- a stupid new name for what used to be Northwest Environmental Watch. Sightline is one of the few organizations that are successful in a multinational/bioregional way, concentrating on Cascadia in both the US and Canada.
Posted January 24, 2007
Check out the Taproot Foundation - a miss on this list - they are reinventing volunteering through virtual means and use of technology. huge value. www.taprootfoundation.org
Posted January 23, 2007
I am obviously biased, since I am jointly running the following network, but I would vote for the Million Campaign Homepages:
www.millioncampaignhomepage.net (UK)
www.millioncampaignhomepage.ca (CANADA)
www.millioncampaignhomepage.us (USA)
Matthew Edwards
millioncampaign@gmail.com
Posted January 23, 2007
I invite everyone to visit www.operationsmile.org, the stigma that comes to a little boy or or girl with cleft lips and palates in third world countries is akin to an adult having HIV/AIDS.
Posted January 22, 2007
Hi I'd love to see this kind of a list in the german NGO community, is there a way to adapt this (or whatever) to german needs and orgs obviously?
Posted January 22, 2007
ummm...dumb question - why are all the explanations cut-off? and is there actually any analysis, or is it just the one-liners - often cut-off?
Posted January 21, 2007
The AIA is listed for doing housing for those in need and not Architecture for Humanity?? A
Posted January 21, 2007
THE RESEARCH
a little background on "smartest"
Squidoo, NetSquared and GetActive each recommended nonprofits that were on their radars, charities that were talked about in 2006 and taking a different approach to fundraising, community, and idea spreading. Then we looked at how each of those organizations was interacting with the more compelling web 2.0 tools and principles. These aren't just orgs that throw up a video or a forum or a MySpace page and stop. These are organizations that are busy aligning their missions and models and stories to support the new marketing online.
We asked questions like:
What does the org's website look like?
Does it just ask for donations?
Do they have a way for members to share their stories?
Do they have lenses or Groups on Squidoo?
Do they have MySpace groups?
You Tube videos?
Flickr sets?
Do they value microdonations or only $1000 and more?
Do they run contests or challenges to engage their members?
Do they send out weekly or monthly newsletters?
Do they have RSS feeds?
Are people blogging about the org?
Are they stuck in the land of direct mail, control, and offline fundraising?
Are they optimized for the new cadre of young philanthropists?
TIME TO GET ORG 2.0
yes, you
How do you find new donors, new members, new volunteers?
How much did your organization spend on direct mail last year?
How many galas, walkathons, donor dinners and community events did you sponsor?
All designed to get the word out. All produced, at great expense, to help you tell the world about the great work you're doing.
The new internet changes the rules. Something big is happening online, it's free, it's fast and more and more non-profits are figuring out how to use it.
Surely there isn't room for your organization in this revolution! Or, if there is, no doubt it is going to take you a lot of time, planning and money...
Wrong. The good news is that the community-centric model of Web2.0 is custom-made for organizations that do good work. No ticket required, no technology
needed. The very same tools that have made it easy for a 14-year-old guitar player from Japan to become world famous make it easy for you to reach a larger audience than ever before.
The only problem? You've got to dive in and give them a try.
You won't be the first. But every organization on this list can help show you the way.
P.S. SPECIAL THANKS TO...
and
Fiona Meier
Marnie Webb
Daniel Ben-Horin
Megan Casey
Seth Godin
Jill Gordon
Corey Brown
Anne Reidy
What's here
- THE 59 SMARTEST ORGS ONLINE
- THE WATERCOOLER
- THE RESEARCH
- TIME TO GET ORG 2.0
- P.S. SPECIAL THANKS TO...
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About the Sponsors
59SmartestOrgs
The "59 Smartest Orgs" list is brought to you by Squidoo, GetActive, and Netsquared.
*NetSquared, a project of TechSoup, is dedicated to helping non-profit organizations understand, use and expand the social web. There's a whole new generation of online tools available - tools that make it easier than ever before to collaborate, share information and mobilize support. These tools include blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, podcasting, and more. Some people describe them as "Web 2.0"; we call them the social web, because their power comes from the relationships they enable.
* GetActive provides online relationship management solutions that help organizations easily recruit, engage, and retain constituents. Organizations of all sizes are growing their lists, raising funds, optimizing constituent relationships, and improving campaign results with GetActive.
* Squidoo was founded by bestselling author, noted blogger, speaker and Original Squid, Seth Godin. The stated function of the site is to enable extraordinary people to painlessly engage in philanthropy. Nearly 50% of all Squidoo users donate the royalties they earn from the site to charity. Nonprofit Squidoo partners include the American Heart Association, The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, roomtoread.org, and 60 other well-known organizations. To find out more about working with Squidoo, or to sign up for Seth Godin's Org 2.0 seminar on February 12, please email Jill Gordon: jill [at] squidoo.com.
