Doing good together – teams support projects on betterplace

Can you change the world with one single euro?

Obviously not. But by teaming up with friends, colleagues from work, mates from university or your sports club or other people with whom you feel a connection, many single euros quickly turn into a sum that can make a difference. You have been able to donate for social projects via betterplace for quite some time now – BUT now, however, groups get a space of their own where they can dedicate themselves together and on a long term basis for one or several charitable projects. Finally!!!

This can be your local pub, as well as the bingo ladies, the alumni from University, or the stamp collectors.

The team “surfers from Munich” (yes, you can actually surf in Bavaria) are a great example: Together they support a project in Bali, an orphanage which was founded by their fellow surfer Brad and his Balinese wife Siska. Some of them could see by themselves in Bali that it wasn’t dedication that was missing for the orphanage to grow and offer more space to more kids – but money. It’s a pleasure to have the surfers from Munich, our first group, on betterplace.org!

You can bring your own project to the site, like the surfers did, but you don’t have to: There are over 300 projects from all around the world on the platform to choose from.

Why wait? Register your team now and invite your friends!

Trends in giving

Today I once again visited Philanthropy UK, “the leading resource for free and impartial advice to aspiring philanthropists who want to give effectively.”

Here are their 10 trends in (British) philanthropy:

1. Private wealth is increasing

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of wealthy individuals as well as a shift in source of wealth in Britain: 15 years ago, 75% of the Sunday Times Rich List had inherited their wealth and 25% were self-made. Today that ratio is reversed. Meanwhile, the number of billionaires in the Rich List grew by 25% to 68 in 2007, while the country’s richest 1,000 increased their fortunes by 20% to almost £350 billion.

2. A new type of donor is emerging, altering the giving landscape

Changes in amount and source of wealth are giving rise to a new type of donor – one who is younger, typically (but not necessarily) self-made and socially conscious. The new philanthropists want to be engaged in their giving, using their business experience and expertise to support the charity more closely. They also are willing to invest a significant amount of capital – including funding core costs – and take significant risks to test innovative ideas. Importantly, because they are private individuals, they are able to take risks that government and many foundations, who are accountable to other stakeholders, simply cannot.

3. More people are giving during their lifetime

More people are choosing to give during their lifetime, rather than through a one-off legacy bequest. They want to experience the joy of giving and of the relationships they develop – with charity staff, beneficiaries and other donors. More people are talking publicly about their giving, providing role models to new givers.

4. Views on the amount of wealth parents should pass on to their children is changing

Especially among the self-made, more individuals are choosing to give much of their wealth ‘back to society’, through either legacies or lifetime giving. They will provide for their children, but charity is also important. A 2000 Lloyds TSB survey revealed that over half of people with liquid assets of £250,000 or more would prefer to either spend their money or give it to charity rather than to their children.

5. Givers increasingly want to see the impact of their donations

As they become more sophisticated and strategic in their giving, donors increasingly want to see the impact of their support. This goes beyond outputs, such as the number of people helped, to address the longer-term outcomes and impacts on beneficiaries, such as improved health or self-esteem. Donors are also demanding increased accountability and transparency from charities. They want to be confident that their money is being used both effectively and efficiently.

6. More donors are giving together

More donors are joining together to leverage their funding and to share learning. These include ‘giving circles’ such as The Funding Network, as well as funding vehicles such as ARK and the Private Equity Foundation. See The Philanthropy Directory for a full list.

7. Innovation in charity financing is growing

Philanthropists are embracing new ways of giving, such as venture philanthropy. They also are utilising new types of charity financing – including loans and equity – to support charities and social enterprises, filling a gap in the funding market. Meanwhile, charitable banks have been established, enabling social investors to help disadvantaged communities to achieve sustainable economic growth. See The Philanthropy Directory for a full list of new funding and financing vehicles.

8. There is a growing range of charitable services that help donors to give effectively

There is a growing infrastructure of charities and professional service firms to support and promote effective giving, and to help new and existing donors to take a more informed and strategic approach to giving. Meanwhile, private banks are expanding philanthropy services to their high net-worth clients. See The Philanthropy Directory for a full list of donor support services.

9. Information flows are improving

Publicly available information on charities generally has been wanting. However, this is changing with improved quantity and quality of information flows in the sector. These include online resources, such as the Charity Commission’s Register of Charities, GuideStar UK and Intelligent Giving, as well as research into different areas of charitable activity and tailored advisory services for donors from NPC and Geneva Global.

10. Individual giving is becoming increasingly important to third sector organisations

The recent growth in the number of newly wealthy individuals represents a new and potentially significant income source. Importantly, private individuals provide charities with unrestricted, sustainable and predictable income. They also play a critical role in maintaining the independence of the voluntary sector, especially as more charities are delivering public services on behalf of government.

Looking into the philanthropic “scene” in the UK and the US always strikes me as a bit of a travel in time. It’s not nice to say it but us Germans are a little behind. Much of it, and this thought came to me just now, is probably owed to the fact that giving is about money, and talking about money is largely considered a taboo. If you are wealthy and you give money to charity you get the “champagne sipping charity lady” label. If you’re involved in social change or belong to some environmental activist group you get the “poor student wearing a Che Guevara shirt” label. Either you have power or you have street credibility, can’t have them both… The times, they are actually changing. Black or white labels don’t work and won’t get us anywhere. I think us Germans think too much.

Back to betterplace. Of course the whole concept is an experiment. We are non-profit but with an underlying sustainable business model. That way, we can pass on 100 % of all individual donations to the intended project. In Germany, the public opinion is still “either you’re making profit OR you’re doing good”. The question is, though, can you do both? Is the only challenge to, patiently and through a constant dialog, change the public opinion? Or is it an impossible mission? Some days ago, Joana argued the pros and cons of companies being present on betterplace.org – and the dilemma of corporate social responsibility. Like all of us, she asks herself (and others): How can we all join forces to bring about social change in this world?

Burma: The real disaster

It’s absurd: On the one hand, cyclone Nargis that devastated Burma served as destraction from the fact that the people of Burma have been suffering from oppression and hunger for a long time. On the other hand, it’s a grim reminder of how bad things really are in the country tyrannised by its military regime. London-based NGO The Burma Campaign UK works with that ambiguity. Watch this cool yet serious animated film that’s accompanying the campaign:

As cruel as nature has been to the Burmese people, what happened to them for decades under military rule is even worse. Villages destroyed, millions displaced, the poor starving. That was everyday life in Burma before the Cyclone. In a country where rape is used as a weapon of war, thousands are forced into slavery and dissent can mean death, its people cannot speak out. But you can.

Welcome Linus Behnke!

From one moment to the other he went completely pale.

Till and Annika were on their way to a business date in Hamburg. They had just boarded the ICE train in Berlin and had been travelling for barely 15 minutes. When Till’s phone rang.

It was Svenja speaking. She explained to her man that their baby decided to arrive early – now, to be precise.

Did he first scream, race up and down the aisle, and then get pale? Or the other way round? Even though Annika was there to witness this impressive scene it will forever stay one of those “you had to be there moments”.

Annika found the conductor in the train kitchen. “This train needs to be stopped.” “I’m afraid we can only do that in the case of a medical emergency”, said the conductor. “Well, I’m afraid we have a medical emergency”, she replied, “My colleague’s getting a baby.”

Within no time (what, to Till, must have seemed an eternity) they had the ICE train stop at some random provincial station of a town called Ludwigslust. Then, they had a second ICE train, this one going back to Berlin, stop there as well to pick Till up.

This act of extraordinary customer support is, to say the least, quite uncommon for the Deutsche Bahn. Germans (and other regular DB customers) know about their infamous reputation.

Anyway. The guy in charge of coordinating the departures and arrvials of the trains (a.k.a. the hero) told the conductor to tell Till all he wanted is a crate of beer for this favour. The future dad, in the meantime gone stoical and on auto pilot, asked Annika to write down this guy’s email address… noboby will ever know if Till envisioned the crate of beer as email attachment.

23 hours – and four midwives’ shifts – later Linus Behnke is born. In the morning of Thursday June 5th of 2008.

Welcome Linus! And congratulations to the proud parents! The betterplace Team is very happy for all of you.

It’s been a while – quick news from betterplace

Lately, we’ve posted more in the German blog. We didn’t mean to neglect our English-speaking readers! Here’s a quick update on the most important news at betterplace:

+++ Over 20.000 Euro within a few days for surviving victims of cyclone Nargis in Burma. German/Swedish energy group Vattenfall will match every Euro donated by an employee. The money is used to buy survival packs, containing a plastic cover, clothes, kitchen and hygiene articles, a blanket and a petrol canister, for 35 Euro each. CARE have been present in Burma for over 20 years with mainly local staff, the packs get distributed directly to the victims of Nargis. +++ Why can’t we do the same to help the victims of the earthquake in China? Big discussions here in the team. We don’t have a partner organisation with that amount of experience on location, and that we know to be trustworthy, like the case with CARE in Burma. That’s the problem. +++ Toilet collabo kick-off: past Tuesday we welcomed Jack Sim, founder of World Toilet Organisation (with the great acronym WTO) from Singapore, German designer Werner Aisslinger, and a group of design students from Berlin’s Universität der Künste (UdK) and Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) in Karlsruhe. Assisted by their professors Aisslinger and Axel Kufus, the students will design the toilet for “the other 90 %” of humanity – those 2.6 Billion people without access to sanitary facilities at the bottom of the pyramid and mostly neglected as potential customers. +++ It’s everybody’s business – we got covered by Germany’s reputable newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. The smart article by Johannes Boie was both published on jetzt.de, and as printed version in the newpaper’s “young” supplement. +++ to be continued…

The power of friends telling friends telling…

It’s about more than about giving money — it’s about creating connections. By encouraging individual participation and involvement, we will create international communities of common interest. This is the essence of social networking.

This is exactly what betterplace.org is about. It’s good to know we are in good company. Thanks to my colleague Hannelore for pointing me to this interesting article!

Tom Hadfield had sold soccer.net for 40 million US dollars at the age of 17. Eight years and a trip to Zambia later he’s now taking on the fight against malaria. With MalariaEngage.org the “web guru” (as he’s labeled in the Reuters article by John Joseph) aims to support local researchers working on ways to treat or prevent malaria – and who are facing a terrible lack of resources. The fact “that thousands of people are dying every day from a preventable disease” prompted Hadfield to start MalariaEngage. By joining forces with Peter A. Singer and Abdallah S. Daar, both health professors at the University of Toronto, the social entrepreneur’s initiative has surely gathered momentum. In the article, Singer is quoted as saying: “We feel young African scientists have very good ideas that end up in the dustbin. This is about helping committed young researchers with good ideas to help themselves create a better future.”

This is a great approach to make the world a better place. We share Hadfield’s hope that social networking will be used by more and more people to get engaged in social change.

Like him, we believe in the positive power of the internet – and “in the power of friends telling friends telling friends.” Good luck, Tom!

betterplace and social design

What is social design?

We cannot not change the world – the socialdesignsite shows design ideas and initiatives for the other 90 %. Design is not just about beautiful products, or architecture, it’s about creating culture and space for a better living. It’s about the “social implications”. Take the hippo water roler, for example:

The Hippo Water Roller is a barrel-shaped container designed to transport 90 liters (20 gallons) of water. It was designed for communities, particularly in Africa, where providing a household with water requires walking up to two-three hours to the nearest source and back every day. Traditionally the women and children of the communities carry out the task of getting the water. They are able to carry as much as 20 liters (5 gallons) in tanks on their heads.

We at betterplace are known to be fans of the World Toilet Organisation, another great (design) initiative with a real social impact.

betterplace is proud to be featured in the socialdesignsite’s introductory movie to social design. It was shown on the PRaDSA workshop Designing for the 21st Century: Using Web 2.0 Technologies (and Social Networking Tools) for Social Action in London. Right now Suk-Han, Joana, and their team, are on their way to conferences in New York and Torino, Italy. Thank you for taking us along.

Watch the movie here and understand why we cannot not change the world!

re:publica 08 – vom vergessen und erinnern

Die 3 Top Themen der re:publica 08 waren laut Organisator Markus Beckedahl (hier gibt’s das Interview mit ihm und anderen von Bloggerin Schnutinger): 1) Datenschutz, gepaart mit mehr Medienkompetenz 2) Soziale Medien in ihrer ganzen Vielfalt und 3) Die Frage, was öffentlich-rechtlich ist im digitalen Zeitalter.

Um das Ende mal vorweg zu nehmen: Es waren sehr lehrreiche und, wie Annika am Freitag bereits schrieb, inspirierende Tage. Ich kann nur von mir sprechen, aber viel davon war Entmystifizierung. Nach einem furiosen Auftakt von Harvard-Professor Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, der ein Plädoyer für die Notwendigkeit des Vergessens hielt und sich im Zuge dessen für ein digitales Haltbarkeitsdatum ausspricht, ging es steil bergab. ‘Die Zukunft der Social Networks’ ist finster, wenn man das erste Panel der Konferenz als Omen für die Zukunft von StudiVZ, MySpace & Co sehen will. Der Untertitel der Veranstaltung ‘Geschlossene Türen oder offene Fenster’ war ja vielleicht ironisch gemeint, denn da saßen die üblichen Verdächtigen in ihrem eigenen Mief und diskutierten über alte Hüte. “Nein, also das machen wir natürlich nicht, da kämen wir ja mit dem Gesetz in Konflikt.” Ich hätte mir alle Anwesenden in Mayer-Schönbergers Vortrag über Erinnern und Vergessen im digitalen Zeitalter gewünscht und, anstatt sich anhören zu müssen, wie sich Schuld gegenseitig zu-, und dann entschieden von sich gewiesen wird, lieber die Verantwortlichen der einschlägigen Social Networks zum Thema Infomationsökologie gehört.

Die Qualitätsdebatte. Journalisten vs. Blogger. Hmpf. Gut, aber Johnny Häusler von Spreeblick, der als Moderator des Panels mutig in die Bresche gesprungen war, hatte schon recht, als er meinte, das (leidige) Thema dürfe nicht fehlen. Schade nur, dass von der Journalistenfront zwar einige geladen, aber keiner gekommen war. Journalist und Blogger Thomas Knüwer (in No Porno Please! vom Samstag, dem Day After der Konferenz also, lässt er tief blicken), Bild-Blogger und Journalist Stefan Niggemeier und Mercedes Bunz (derzeit Chefredakteurin bei Tagesspiegel Online), die dann auf dem Panel saßen, sind ja sozusagen Zwitterwesen. Haben sich aber redlich um einen Diskurs bemüht. Inhaltlich kam nicht viel Neues bei rum, aber der Unterhaltungswert war hoch und die Panelteilnehmer fast schon zu sympathisch. Jetzt mal unter uns: Mercedes hat nebenbei den Sex-Appeal der Konferenz dramatisch nach oben gerissen und den Jungs gezeigt, was ein verbaler Haken ist.

Fazzen oder bloggen – mehr zur Qualitätsdebatte gibt’s zum Beispiel auf Robert Basics Blog.

Zur Diskussion ‘Geld verdienen mit Blogs reloaded’ möchte ich nur eins sagen: die “Größen” Robert Basic, Sascha Lobo und Remo Uherek (der sich schweizerisch diplomatisch im Hintergrund gehalten hat, schade eigentlich!) scheinen sich gegenseitig zu neutralisieren. Viel war nicht geboten, außer Kraftmeierei und einer merkwürdigen Realness-Debatte. Das Thema sehe ich definitiv nochmal auf der Agenda der re:publica 09. Reloaded.

Nun zu den beiden Veranstaltungen, die für uns als betterplacianer besonders interessant waren: ‘Kampagnen und NGOs im Netz’ und der Workshop ‘Greenpeace Internetstrategie’. Womit wir wieder beim Entmystifizieren wären. Vielleicht habe ich eine verschobene Wahrnehmung, aber auch hier kam für mich zu wenig rüber (außer der Erkenntnis, dass wir alle nur mit Wasser kochen). Wenn der PR-Chef und Campaigning-Mann von Greenpeace, Volker Gassner, davon spricht, mittels der neuen Internetstrategie weg vom Monolog zu wollen, hin zu einer dialogischen Kommunikation, dann, naja, ist mir das ein bischen mager. Aber was soll das Meckern! Es geht, egal ob bei Gigant Greenpeace oder Baby betterplace, darum, einfach mal anzufangen, anstatt sich um den Verstand zu konzipieren. Dieses Fazit aus Gassners Vortrag habe ich mitgenommen. jetzt.de hat Gassner am Rande der Konferenz zur geplanten “Netzattacke” befragt.

Hard Bloggin’ Scientist Benedikt Köhler, der mit auf dem NGO-Panel saß, ging das Gerede von wegen “Wir haben ganz viele geile Kampagnen gemacht” sichtlich auf die Nerven. Ist ja klar, dass hier zwei Welten aufeinander prallen – Benedikt & Co, die mit der Free Burma Blogaktion 2007 Massen bewegt und nebenbei bewiesen haben, dass es keinen direkten Zusammenhang zwischen offline und online Engagement gibt. Und auf der anderen Seite traditionelle NGOs, die ihre ganze Struktur erstmal mühevoll umwuchten müssen, um sich – für teures Geld – via Web 2.0 eine neue Möglichkeit der Aktivierung zu erschließen. In der Zwischenzeit sind in der Online-Welt die Grenzen zwischen reinem Aktivist und demjenigen, “der sich nur beteiligt”, längst verschwommen, wie Benedikt anmerkte.

Für eine ausführliche Besprechung und kritische Hinterfragung der beiden “Web 2.0 in an NGO world”-Veranstaltungen unbedingt Andreas Post auf Alles was gerecht ist lesen!

Markus Beckedahl und Johnny Häusler: Vielen Dank für den gigantischen Denkanstoß, den Ihr uns mit der re:publica verpasst habt!

Wir sehen uns auf der re:publica 09. reloaded.

Fighting Landmines – The Hero Rat

This is one hot link tipp I just got from Line – who is currently attending the Skoll World Forum in Oxford:

Rats have a very fine sense of smell and are can be trained for landmine detection. A great idea, and a fun website. Go check it out now! Adopt a rat!

P. S.: I would have loved to adopt one straight away but the page is ‘under repair’. They better fix it soon.

betterplace – moving from the governmental district to artsy kreuzberg

It was never boring. Outside, there was always something going on – police, the street being blocked due to some VIP (very important politician) visiting, sirenes, blue light. There were so many convois of big black cars with tinted windows. Of course there were also loads and loads of tourists, sitting in double decker busses, or sightseeing by foot, and school classes, either on their way to Bahnhof Friedrichstraße or to the Reichstag with its famous glass cupola. So on our way to lunch, if the flags sitting on the corners of the German Parliament were at half-mast, we always knew how the official mood was like. As for our eating habits, we mostly ended up at the Thai on Luisenstraße – there weren’t too many options. Some of us developed a dangerous addiction to Butter Lindner products (delicious yet close to affordable deli pastries). It was only in our last days in the Wilhelmstraße that we discovered the City Casino. No, it’s not what you think, we didn’t play blackjack or anything like that – it is more of a police staff canteen.

The Humboldt Viadrina School of Governance which used to be our home for 7 1/2 months, was a bit of a stage itself. There, Peter Eigen of Transparency International and Gesine Schwan host a number of illustrious people, like Kofi Annan (who we, unfortunately, missed) or Prince El Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan. The Prince came round for a spontaneous visit together with Princess Sarvath, who is as interested, studied and involved as His Royal Highness himself (plus she has a black belt in Taekwondo), his entourage and security. Having no other solution at hand I was asked if I was willing to be the officially accredited “house photographer” to capture this important visit to the School. I was willing – and honoured. What a unique experience!

Now Kreuzberg. betterplace has moved closer to the scene. If I get up just a little from my seat I can overlook the Spree river with the huge sculpture of the three metal men, the canal, the sluice, the Badeschiff swimming pool, and a huge construction site right opposite our building – there is so much happening and moving around this zone between Schlesisches Tor, Oberbaumbrücke and the Arena. Our new office mainly consists of one beautiful room so big that it could easily accomodate a skate ramp. Since we are based on the fifth floor and the elevator has to be ordered (AND paid for) we don’t have to worry about exercising too little any more. Also, you don’t have to feel guilty about eating a huge plate of penne ai quattro formaggi at Heinz Minki, and topping it off with a brownie or other sweet sins.

In spite of the interesting times at the School (especially Marion Schulze, Cosima, Jutta, and caretaker Holger & Co supported betterplace a great deal) – it’s so wonderful that we can be here now. Above all, it’s a big motivation booster!