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A Little Bit More: Donate Your Birthday

Thoughts from Hannah, who will be donating her birthday to Kiva this year.


Image courtesy momtourage.net We've been brainstorming small ways we can contribute to the greater good, despite the worsening economy. I was reminded recently that nonprofit social media maven Beth Kanter celebrated her 51st birthday last year by asking her online network to donate $10 each to the Sharing Foundation.

It's such a simple idea. In fact, once I started looking, I saw lots of evidence (here, and here, and over here, for starters) that people have caught on to this easy and effective strategy for leveraging personal and professional networks for a good cause.

So, why not? When your next birthday rolls around, consider asking your friends and family to make a donation to your favorite organization instead of presents. It's great for kids' birthday parties, too. Check out these resources for turning a child's birthday into a learning experience from Children for Children and ECHOage.


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Previous entries in our A Little Bit More series:
February 17: Asking One Another: What Can We Do Now?
February 19: Use the Internet to Stretch Your Organization's Dollar
February 23: Support the Arts During the Economic Downturn