My Social Actions

Christine Egger

The Most Helpful Directory of Social Action Platforms Ever

Social Actions' Guide to 50+ 65+ Action Sources is helpful. It's the only one of its kind on the Internet, and it provides a good introduction to each of the social action platforms that participate in the Social Actions API.*

But it's not as helpful as it could be.

Much more information could be displayed about the platforms and the unique services they offer. And as it is now, selecting one platform at a time from a list of names or logos doesn't make it easy to compare them.

To make it more helpful, wouldn't it be great to:

* Add more information about the platforms and include information about the kinds of actions they offer
* Build a searchable directory so it's really easy to find the platforms you're interested in
* Include all of the platforms we know about -- that's 140+ 200+ so far and the list keeps growing

Some initial brainstorming on what each of these enhancements might include is presented below, and there's clearly much to be done to improve on these first steps.

This can only become The Most Helpful Directory of Social Actions Platforms Ever if the people who will use it and benefit from it are the ones creating it.

If that's you and you'd like to create something together please comment, email, tweet, blog, and otherwise jump in!

* What do you think of the idea in general, and the brainstorming presented below?
* What should be done differently, or done next??

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* Social action platforms are online organizations and forums that offer opportunities to "take action" -- opportunities to engage in philanthropic activity of any kind (they're sometimes referred to as online giving markets or simply action sources). The Social Actions API is an aggregation (collection) of these opportunities -- a combined dataset of the actions listed on many social action platforms. Information on how a social action platform joins the Social Actions API is provided here.
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Expand the information

Some additional items that come to mind (all available open source, of course)

• About the platform:
o Quick facts: (URL, for/non-profit status, year founded, location, logo)
o Descriptions (quick elevator pitch; what makes the platform unique; longer descriptive text)
o Social Actions API participation and mission statement endorsement
o Third party ratings (Charity Navigator, Guidestar, Great Nonprofits, others)
o Links (blog, Facebook group, Twitter, featured news/updates)
o Screenshot
o What else should be added?
o What on this list isn't really important?

• About the actions listed on the platform:
o Types of actions (Donate, Employment, Event, Join a Group, Lend Money, Sign a Petition, Volunteer)
o Cause area (Education, Environment, Health, etc.)
o Geographic area
o Created by (individuals, groups, or organizations)
o Created for (individuals, groups, or organization)
o Features (blogs, video, photos, time limitations, voting/rating)
o Support (staff availability, webinars, FAQ, manuals)
o What else should be added?
o What on this list isn't really important?

Build a searchable directory

Two mock-ups of what that might look like:

Directory of Social Action Platforms - profile mock-up 022709.doc

Directory of Social Action Platforms - search interface mock-up 022...

Include all of the platforms

These are the ones we know about already (those participating in the Social Actions API are listed in bold). Who do you know that's missing from the list?

[Update: we're maintaining this list on Social Actions' wiki now:

http://socialactions.pbworks.com/Social+Actions+API+-+Action+Sources]

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Tags: actionsources, christineegger, directory, getadvice, giving, marketplaces, online, platforms, search, socialactions

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Christine Egger Comment by Christine Egger on March 2, 2009 at 7:09am
Andreas, thanks so much for the suggestions. A matrix of involvement is a great idea -- let's see if we can build that in.

Beth, about "who will use the directory for what purpose" (important question) I can picture several possible audiences:

1. People thinking about creating an online action/campaign, looking for info to help them figure out which platforms are out there and which would be good options for what they have in mind.

2. Nonprofits and other organizations looking for platforms to include in their social media strategy, and

3. People thinking about creating a social action platform: is the idea they have in mind already in play? How would their idea make a unique contribution to the field? Who's doing something similar that they could learn from and/or collaborate with?

What others come to mind?
Andreas Kopp Comment by Andreas Kopp on February 28, 2009 at 4:04am
Great job christine. I already new some of the plattforms but this collection is unique. Maybe to difference the plattforms a little bit more you could include what "social action" they are offering. There are some where you give money some where you can do something online, somewhere can find a project and volunteer and some where jobs are offered. A visual way to show what you can do with the plattform as you mention would be great. Maybe the extent of envolvement would be a good axis. From donation to microfinance to online volunteer to volunteer to full time job. What do you think?
Christine Egger Comment by Christine Egger on February 27, 2009 at 11:25pm
From Will Robinson via Twitter (@willrobinsoniii):

(still pending) I keep envisioning a way to show how all the actions are connected somehow. visually is best, if possible.

Sort by constituency, geography, who they're helping, specific actions (donate, microfinance, volunteer), tags, etc
Beth Kanter Comment by Beth Kanter on February 27, 2009 at 11:09pm
I need to take some more time to think about your thoughtful question re: details.

My question: Who will use this directory for what purpose? You might have that answer already, but heck it's Friday night.
Christine Egger Comment by Christine Egger on February 27, 2009 at 11:00pm
Tori, thanks for the thumbs up, and we're pretty thrilled that Lend4Health is on the list: thank YOU for creating it! We're equally looking forward to Lend4Health being a part of the Social Actions API soon, too :)
Tori Tuncan Comment by Tori Tuncan on February 27, 2009 at 10:54pm
As a non-techie, and pretty new to the "social actions" world too, I must say that I *love* how you included a definition of platform and API. I know that is a new goal of yours/Social Actions' and I must say it is much appreciated. :) Keep up the awesome work, and thanks for including Lend4Health -- we will be an official platform soon I hope! :)

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