Crowd sourcing for online giving?

This post was originally authored by Paul Massey on September 7, 2010.

Crowdrise, a social networking site that generated some good buzz in May when it was launched by Edward Norton and three partners, was the subject of an interesting article in Sunday’s New York Times. Crowdwise makes it easy for people to create pages in support of causes they believe in and rally people to join their teams, showing support through small dollar donations. It’s also a way to organize people around volunteer projects.

For nonprofit organizations, it’s an appealing new option for recruiting supporters — and inviting them to energize their networks in support of a cause. The site distinguishes itself with a healthy sense of irreverence (always good), and opportunities for participants to earn points, and ultimately, prizes. It’s not the only platform of its kind (see: Facebook Causes or Change.org), but it stands apart with its lively personality, clear focus on engagement and a fun mix of celebrity participants.

As we head into the last quarter of the year, a season of many fundraising requests, I’m curious to see how organizations integrate Crowdrise into their outreach in creative ways, as well as how people (just like you and me) use the platform to draw attention to causes they’re passionate about. Ultimately, that’s what’s most appealing about the site — how easily it can help people become fundraisers. That, and of course, Crowdrise’s tagline: “If you don’t give back no one will like you.”‬‬