HOW TO: Use Change.org as an Online Giving Portfolio

by Heather Mansfield · 2009-05-28 09:40:00 UTC
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Thanks to Change.org's partnership with GuideStar.org, individuals can donate to any nonprofit in the United States on Change.org and use their individual profile to create and manage an "Online Giving  Portfolio." The benefits are:

1) Individuals can download annual reports that summarize all their donations made over a year for filing taxes. No more managing numerous receipts from numerous nonprofits to file your taxes! Click, print, and you are done.

2) You can opt-out of providing the organization your snail mail address. No more print materials cluttering your mail box! Most Web 2.0 donors happily opt-in to provide their e-mail address when donating on Change.org, but the vast majority do not want the nonprofit to waste valuable natural and financial resources sending print newsletters, funding appeals, calendars, etc.

3) Donors on Change.org do receive a "Thank You" email from Change.org with every donation made for tax reasons as well, but nonprofits on Change.org also post "Thank You" comments on your wall and "Thank You" compliments. It's fun. It's different. It's Web 2.0 at its best, and its a great way for donors and nonprofits to interact and build relationships online.

4) In addition to being able to manage all your donations in one place on the Web, donors can also use their Change.org profiles to participate in e-mail advocacy, gift giving, fundraising for their favorite nonprofits, participate in causes, find a job, and stay in contact with friends.

On Change.org, online philanthropy meets social networking meets online activism meets socially responsible gift giving. There is nothing else like it on the Web!

I started using Change.org as an online giving portfolio before I started working with them. I am the classic Web 2.0 donor. I don't want print materials from nonprofits - thus do not donate on nonprofit's Web sites and my check writing days are long gone - and I am a big fan of social networking. Change.org is my hub for all things nonprofit, especially online giving. See my profile as an example.

To sign up for your own profile and to begin your online giving portfolio, just sign up and make sure you send me a friend request!

Heather Mansfield

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