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Your Socially Conscious Soulmate is Just a Click Away

You’re on a date with a man you met at your friend’s party, and are having a good time. He’s nice. Funny. Cute, even. But there’s something missing. You realize he doesn’t think global warming is a big deal—and you think just the opposite. So the date ends with a handshake. You go home feeling defeated, wishing you could find someone who wants to reduce their carbon footprint as much as you do.


By Flickr user Atoll Look no further. Since 1985, Green Singles has been matching environmental enthusiasts with fellow eco-lovers around the world. From the young green architect in the Philippines to the middle aged yoga teacher in Canada to the elderly vegetarian in Florida, there’s someone for everyone. Your love search also helps a good cause, as 5% of Green Singles’ profits are donated to nonprofits dedicated to protecting Mother Nature.

If you don’t want to spend time browsing profiles and “winking” at those who catch your eye, try a new approach with Green Speed Dating. Green Speed Dating is currently California-based, but they’ll help you host your own event wherever you live. The event is simple: you talk with 10-20 people, each for just three minutes. Afterwards you receive the contact information of the person you fancy—and even if you didn’t find anyone your participation fee helped fund solar power in rural Nicaragua.

Along the same trend of catering to both your passion for romance and do-gooder work is New York-based Cause and Effect Dating. The service partners with community organizations to send couples on “volunteer dates,” hoping a spark will occur while you’re handing out blankets to the homeless for example, or planting a community garden together. Still not sure how you feel about going out with random strangers? Try thinking about it this way: “Even if it goes bad…you did good.”


This entry is by Celeste, a Community Outreach Coordinator who blogs regularly from Idealist's Argentina office.