idealist.org

Facebook for Good

Two Facebook applications caught our attention recently. You might already know about the popular application that allows users to send $1 "gifts" (typically silly cartoons) to their friends on Facebook. Now Changing the Present has added a positive twist on this theme: give a gift and change the world. The donation (minus a PayPal fee) goes directly to the nonprofit of your choice. There are 1,000 gifts to choose from, including supporting an all-female de-mining team with MAG America, rescuing an orphaned chimp with In Defense of Animals, or providing schoolbooks to children with Plan USA.


From the Changing the Present Facebook page Another application of note is from Takes All Types (TAT). This one allows Facebook users in the United States to register as blood donors in a centralized, online national network of blood donors. Donors will be alerted when they are needed. The creators of this application hope to boost the number of blood donors in communities around the United States.

Kudos to the developers of both applications. We love to see innovative uses of technology for good! Leave a comment below if you've seen other Facebook applications Idealists should check out.