Friday, October 24, 2008

Change.org Launches Blog Network, And They're Hiring

When Change.org started less than two years ago, its main focus was to be a social network where nonprofits and their supporters could connect and take action. In early October, the network re-launched as a social action blog network.

Overseen by Managing Editor, Josh Levy, the network features 12 blogs covering a variety of causes:

Each blog's landing page allows members to join the Cause, take action, and connect with related nonprofits. For example, the Actions section of the Stop Genocide blog (screenshot above) has a link to Call 1-800-Genocide. Its Nonprofit section has a list of nonprofits related to stopping genocide, and a leaderboard of Change.org members who are raising money for the cause. As of this writing, the Stop Genocide Cause has 1,793 members, has benefited from 1,270 actions and raised $2,280. Like other social networks, Change.org members can also "friend" and email each other.

Change.org plans to add more Cause topics, and is hiring bloggers to write and build community around the issues of Global Poverty, Universal Health Care, Microfinance, Human Trafficking, Public Education, Poverty In America, Global Health, Water Sustainability, Curing Cancer, Sustainable Agriculture, Racism, and Mental Health.

Here's a sampling of what other bloggers are saying about the new Change.org:
"I can see Change.org becoming a social action site for the more mature crowd who want knowledge before they get involved, and who want to do more than passively sponsor causes through corporate donor widgets. . . . In the interest of moving social action from an online only activity to an offline one, effecting real world change, this lets you tap into a much wider network to find support for your activities and ideas."
--Change.org Launches Social Action Blog Network by Leslie Poston on Mashable

"I really like the way the people behind this site provide a centralized space for learning about various causes and then – perhaps more importantly – provide readers with a way to take action. As a busy mom, I have many good intentions about doing things to support the causes I’m passionate about. But, to be perfectly honest, I need an easy way to take action. At this point in my life, I just don’t have the time to volunteer, and I certainly don’t have a lot of expendable cash. Change.org seems to offer a solution that meets my needs."
--Blogging to Change the World by Jamie Lee on BabyCenter: MOMformation

"If Change.org is going to grow as an online community and a web portal for people searching to get involved in issues and causes, it's going to have to struggle with the same problem we all have when it comes to social change. Beyond giving busy people a five minute action like making a donation or signing a petition or forwarding a message, how do we get salient numbers of people organized in support of actions that have lasting, systemic effects?"
-- Changes at Change.org: A Media Hub for Social Action by Micah Sifry on techPresident
Have you tried the new Change.org? Whaddya think? You can follow Change.org as it develops on Blog for Change(.org)





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