Naturally, all of the organizations I’ve been mentioning so far are highly worthwhile to be involved in, no matter the time of year, and that is just as true for the last set I’ll be presenting below.

It would be my hope that you would perhaps bookmark these pages, and come back to read more, and explore the missions and actions of these groups in the depth that they deserve.

The bulk of this list is below, but first is something i value highly, which is currently running a “pledge drive” of sorts, which deserves attention.

Jimmy Wales, the founder of wikipedia has issued the request, found here. Hopefully we can continue to enjoy at least one important website without advertisements in our way.

In any case, this is the last list, and the rest of the foundations on it, are those organizations which have found their beginnings in the TED prize wish. Every year since 2005, the TED conference has chosen 3 remarkable individuals who present a wish, and are granted 100,000 dollars. The TED “community’s exceptional array of talent and resources,” as well as “TED sponsors, attendees and the online community [ . . . ] obtain pledges of support for the TED Prize winners.”

These pledges can take the form of business services, hardware and software, publicity, infrastructure, advice, connections … Any and all pledges of support are welcomed. Major support for the TED Prize has come from AMD, Sun Microsystems, AvenueA/Razorfish, Hot Studio, Nokia, IDEO, Kleiner Perkins, @radicalmedia, Adobe and Photosynth. This is in addition to the funding and support from the Sapling Foundation and TED staff.

(these are just my favourites, for the whole list, see tedprize.org.)

Next Einstein works from a very simple, elegant, and obvious point of view. A contention which I’ve mentioned previously, or has been mentioned in some of the video’s I’ve linked to, but one which so many well meaning people somehow miss. “Only Africans will solve Africa’s problems.” Neil Turok, prominent cosmologist and education activist, envisioned the program in his TED wish, and it has since blossomed remarkably. The premise goes further, to say that through education in mathematics and science, African people can develop an economy that can thrive in the modern age.

Read more »

While the last post focused on those organizations that Good Magazine recommends,
the following is a list other groups i’ve come across that are without any such media connection.

One Laptop Per Child, a project begun by MIT’s MediaLab [one-time] director, Nicholas Negroponte. Their mission:

To create educational opportunities for the world’s poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. When children have access to this type of tool they get engaged in their own education. They learn, share, create, and collaborate. They become connected to each other, to the world and to a brighter future.

In his TED talk from now almost 3 years ago, he talks about the genesis of the project’s goal of the 100 dollar laptop (beginning in the 1960s):

Seemingly for the holidays, the “give one, get one” $399 donation model is back (after a while of absence), allowing you to not only give a laptop to a child in a developing nation, but also to a child in your own life, that is, a laptop with a focus on learning, computer based creation (programming and true computing understanding), and communication.

A more recent update is here.

Incidentally, i plan to add this to my Kiva loans (as soon as my next paycheck comes in) as my volunteer donation practice expands.

(it’s also interesting to see a prophetic talk by Negroponte from 1984, also at TED, seen here. It’s slightly technical, perhaps too much for some, but quite interesting for others.)

Read more »

Whether you’re looking for a last minute donation opportunity for tax purposes, to give to a charitable organization (and generally feel good about life), or just want something to do with all that extra money in your pockets (!?), this is the post for you. (Actually, this is the first post requested by various friends. So, this really is for you.)

Quite a bit can be said about foreign “aid” (some good, and quite a bit of bad). I plan to write an article soon about the issue, but for now, have some trust that the organizations listed below are the best of the best. (As far as i know. Do you know some of others? Please post them!)

The following is a loosely organized list of deserving organizations, foundations, and suchlike that are doing good in the world (and in who’s hands your money might do a little better than buying another dancing santa):

Good opportunities:

The following organizations are all possible donation targets when signing up for a Good Magazine subscription. Good lets you pay whatever you want for a subscription, and donates 100% of the money to the organization of your choice. over the past two years they’ve raised $857,220 this way, you can help them reach their end of the year $1,000,000 goal.

Bill Drayton, founder of Ashoka, tells you about social entrepreneurship:

You can learn more about donation, or getting involved in more hands-on ways here.

Read more »