[Original post 14 June 2010]

This is the idea I’ll be presenting at the Linchpin Meetup in San Francisco tonight.

This is the start of something, and it could be something big…

For a while now, I’ve had a sense of the kind of work I’d really like to be doing. Essentially it’s about helping those that are doing something good. The seed was planted long ago but started to germinate around the time of the Digital Citizens “Social Media for Social Good” event in April this year.

The idea for this specific project is a major part of an exciting stream of work, full of potential, that I’m currently researching and developing. It’s an idea that’s been revealing itself gradually over the last few weeks through shared thoughts and discussions with some absolutely brilliant people.

The vision for Doing Something Good looks something like this:

What: Facilitate the strategic collaboration of not-for-profit, community-based organisations.

Why: To increase their efficiency, effectiveness and influence, and build a robust and resilient network of people and organisations doing social good.

How: Through a 2-3 month practical development program (face-to-face and online) where participants share skills, knowledge and resources and plan and implement a community-based social good project collaborating with other organisations and individuals.

This project-based program will have the following benefits:

  • help build capacity and effectiveness through skills and knowledge sharing
  • introduce improved business practices to reduce costs and increase efficiency
  • create an environment that encourages and supports innovation
  • foster closer ties, build influence and increase the likelihood of future collaboration
  • provide a more attractive financial investment for donors, foundations and corporate partners

And it seems like an idea whose time has come.

From Allison Fine, co-author with Beth Kanter of the upcoming book “The Networked Nonprofit”:

“The size of the (philanthropy) sector has exploded geometrically but on any measure of social change, the needle hasn’t moved,” Fine told those attending the 2010 Personal Democracy Forum. “The problem? Complex social problems today outstrip the capacity of any single organization or individual to solve them. We don’t need to grow non-profits. We need to grow networks for social change.” Fine likened many of today’s charities to “fortresses” whose executives “need to start leaving the building and crossing the moat” to work with others for greater impact.

We are all doing something good. Let’s get better at doing good together.

What do you think?

With gratitude,

David 🙂

P.S. If you’d like to read more, please check out Marcia Stepanek’s excellent post, Fortress Fighters, at Cause Global. There’s a great video presentation from Wendy Harman of the American Red Cross, who states that she sees the role of the Red Cross should now be one of a facilitator between groups of people who need help, and those who want to give it. Great stuff! 🙂