I come across so many great conversations, ideas, and resources all over the web every day. Here are some of the most interesting things I’ve found recently (as of July 1st). You can join the conversations in the comments, or click through to the original posts to find what others are saying.
To follow more of the things I find online, you can follow @amysampleward on Twitter (which is just a blog and resource feed), or find me on Delicious (for all kinds of bookmarks).
- The Co-operate App | Co-operatives UK – Co-operate is the first mobile application I've seen focused on enabling people to find co-operatives for all their needs, wherever they are (based in the UK). "We are encouraging everyone with a passion for co-operative and ethical business across the country to download the app and push it up the listings. Together we can bring the co-operative economy, during the International Year of Co-operatives, to a wider audience." I'll be keeping my eye on it to see how people use it and how it evolves over time. Great idea!
- The Feast Presents : The World’s Fare – "For four years, The Feast has gathered remarkable people bringing their talents to the table to make the world work better. In addition to rethinking our annual conference, we’re opening up the dialogue this year to move people to action like never before. Join in on The World's Fare and host a dinner for six or more friends at 7pm local time on October 5, 2012 (last day of the Conference). Break bread and by the end of your Feast, collectively decide on one thing to collaborate on that’ll improve the world. We’ll compile all of the ideas online, and akin to the original World’s Fair, it'll all be capped off with a giant celebration of innovation at a public pavilion in NYC the next day."
- A Meet & Greet with Your Favorite Social Archetypes [Infographic] | NetWitsThinkTank.com – "The question today is not whether you should use social media (the 901 million Facebook users answered that for us), but how you should use social media to engage with your supporters, advance your mission and make your fundraising efforts more successful. The answer to the question lies in understanding your nonprofit social media supporters and identifying which ones are the most well-connected, influential, and, in a word, social. It’s a tricky task, but someone has to do it!"
- The Internet has become a spontaneous, grassroots fundraising tool – Small Act – "Philanthropy has turned on its ear. Where previously people mainly donated to reputable charities who sent them donation requests, or in response to a disaster, now people are spontaneously giving to ad-hoc fundraisers online. Why is this happening? People give because they have an emotional response to a story, and because they’re asked to give."
- Facebook Reporting Guide Shows How Site Is Policed (INFOGRAPHIC) – "Facebook Inc offered a rare peek on Tuesday at one facet of the elaborate system it uses to police its 900 million-user social network, as it attempts to keep it free of content it deems offensive, illegal or just plain inappropriate. The company said it employs "hundreds" of staffers in several offices around the world to handle the millions of user reports it receives every week about everything from spam to threats of violence. A detailed, and somewhat confusing, chart published by Facebook on its website on Tuesday depicts how reports of various infractions are routed through the company and lays out all the potential outcomes, which can range from an account being disabled to Facebook alerting law enforcement."