Ideas for philanthropic web services?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2298952

by Skywing • 15 years ago

5 6 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I sometimes find it difficult to tell myself that web ideas of mine actually provide a degree of value. I feel like most of them are just insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I don't want to create my own little niche world on the web, and draw income from it. I was to build something that actually helps people at large.

I've been brainstorming ideas on how to make a web service that can provide some degree of utility to people wanting to help others or people wanting to make this world a better place. I'm researching most of the current "donate to X charity"-type websites, such as yourcause.com, and am looking for ways that I feel they come up short. Perhaps I can pick up where they've dropped the ball. Most models for these sites are just about keeping you informed about these charities and helping you to donate money to them. I think a lot of them fail at showing you your impact when you do actually donate - so I'm thinking about targeting that side of it all.

Does anyone have any insight into this field, or any suggestions about things you've seen that could be helpful to somebody that just wants to "help out however they can"?

Thanks

clojurerocks2• 15 years ago

Im a social entrepreneur currently involved with non profits doing exactly what you are talking about. Theres actually endless ideas for this so the challenge isnt which idea the challenge is to decide that you really want to do it.

Personally i decided it was worth it and now have more projects then i can handle all or most of which are focused on helping a larger group of people through services related to education and health and other "cause" oriented topics.

If you want to talk more send me an email. And if you want to help out with any of the projects let me know as well.

mxmpawn• 15 years ago

Hi, I'd like to know more about the projects you're involved. I checked your user info but I don't see your e-mail.

clojurerocks2• 15 years ago

It should be there. But if its not for some reason, its startupz.net@gmail.com. Id be more then happy to tell you about them. Thanks.

ozziegooen• 15 years ago

Tread lightly. There seem to be dozens, hundreds of new philanthropic web services, and almost all of them have an incredibly difficult time of distinguishing themselves.

My suggesting is to stay very narrow to one field. Better yet, join one of the others (Clojurerocks seems nice). You don't need your own charity business to be useful, especially when so many good ones already exist and are trying to innovate themselves.

ig1• 15 years ago

Tackle something boring.

Most non-profits tend to be operationally very poor due to lack of management, operations and organizational skills. Sit down with some local non-profits and see how they work on a day-to-day basis. Most have no metrics to measure performance, don't use a CRM system to track donors, volunteer and task management tends to be done on an ad-hoc basis, etc.

Non-profits have exactly the same problems as for-profit companies have, why not build them the tools that help solve these problems for them?

anujkk• 15 years ago

I was thinking about same thing last month and came up with an idea to raise money for charity and other noble causes through e-commerce. I will be doing this as a side project when my current side project completes. You can also give it a try.

Idea - Develop and market a website that sells t-shirts with good design and social awareness messages on it such as anti-smoking, anti-corruption, AIDS awareness t-shirts. Also, tie up with relevant NGO and donate 50% of the profit to them. Make it clear on the site that 50% of the profit goes to NGOs. Many people buy t-shirts online and they will definitely buy such t-shirts if the design is cool. There will also be a feel good factor of doing it for noble cause.

Benefits for buyers - They get cool t-shirts at same rate as on other sites + feel good factor of doing it for noble cause.

Benefits for NGOs - They can raise funds without doing anything and by just allowing their name to be used on website. They get a free online fund-raising system.

Benefits for site owner - You have 50% of the profit to use it in any way you like, to expand your business or anything else + You're contributing to improvement of society + recognition + Something nice in your portfolio.

Benefits for society - Indirect contribution by supporting social activities of NGOs through fund-raising + direct contribution by spreading purposeful educative messages on t-shirts.

A Win-Win idea.

Ideas for philanthropic web services?

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