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VOTE
Name: Betterplace.org
Nominated Category: Organization
URL: http://www.betterplace.org
Area: Collaboration, Advocacy, Action
About:
German foundation betterplace runs betterplace.org, a space where people who need support can connect with those who want to help.
Description:
Created in 2007 by two merged groups of people (betterplace and the former Platform.org) interested in how the Internet can further social good, what’s now known as betterplace.org forwards on 100% of donations. (Operating costs are covered by private supporters who believe in the betterplace mission.)
For individuals, organizations and corporations, better place connects those in need with donations in kind, of money, know-how and volunteering. Individuals and companies can search on the web site for local projects that they can contribute to. Individuals and organizations can request support and report on progress of projects, so their peers and supporters can keep in the loop.
To show how good a person or project is, persons and projects can vouched for by project visitors and advocates who have seen or participated in a particular project first hand. There are also local and international NGOs whether a slum-specific Indian NGO or something as big as Oxfam that are called project carriers, or trusted experts on the site. (This web of trust between helpers and those who need help is broken down handily here in the about us section on betterplace org. A feature that illustrates this web for all projects will be implemented soon.)
This may sound like a lot, but really all one needs to get a project on betterplace.org is a committed individual that will describe it on the web site and will report project progress on its project blog. Over time advocates, visitors, organisations, companies and supporters can form around the project, betterplace.org says. The more meaningful a project appears to people, the faster this web of trust will form and the more support you will get.
On the web site, when you scan through the different listed projects, you can see star ratings on each, as well as graphs that show fundraising progress. You can look at different projects as categorized by region (South America, Oceania, Africa, etc), by categories (education, health, food security, among others) and by fiscal type (non-tax deductible, or tax-deductible for German donors). You can also search members of the betterplace.org community to find particular individuals or organizations, and track what they’re doing through the dialogue section part of the web site where you can find the latest news and blogs posts on projects.
The Basics:
WHO: Betterplace Foundation
WHAT: Betterplace.org, a social collaboration space where people who need help and people who want to help can meet and keep track of projects for social good.
WHERE: Based in Germany, but with opportunities around the world and participants worldwide.
HOW to get involved: Sign up it s free. Then either submit a project or look for one. Follow updates on the betterplace blog.
WHAT other people are saying:
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Posted in: Non-profit, Organization, awards | Tagged: Action, advocacy, collaboration
