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A new iPhone app allows users to track individual gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The $4 purchase price goes to gorilla protection. http://bit.ly/cDz1gF
Many people’s reaction when I speak to them about social media is akin to “Why do I care about who’s having toast for breakfast?” A great counter would be, “You shouldn’t – but you should care about who doesn’t have enough clean water to drink” Happening RIGHT NOW are grass roots groups using social media to advance awareness of and solicit funding for providing clean water for health and sanitation where none exists today. Almost 1 billion people do not have direct access to the 1% of the earth’s water that is suitable for drinking. Proposed: More attention be given and support provided to the current and future social media efforts to help solve this crisis. Charity:Water and folksinger Jewel’s Project Clean Water are two of the current charities using Twitter and other social media tools to help millions of others.
Donations to the chambers of commerce, political parties, civic leagues and associations, home owners associations and union associations are NOT tax deductible. In contrast, donations to the church are tax deductible.

Arguably for all of the above, people receive a personal benefit. Arguably for all of the above, there is a social benefit. Some would argue that donating to one's own church is less deserving in the form of a government subsidized tax deduction than other types of nonprofits.

Removing the tax deduction for churches would increase government revenue substantially - revenue that could be used for other kinds of social services and programs.

There are many ways to support nonprofits, not just a check. There are many people out of work who can and would like to volunteer for nonprofits. Currently, there is no tax deduction for volunteers. To stimulate the economy and inspire volunteerism, the government can provide tax deductions for the value of volunteered time (or a portion of it).
MASSIVEGOOD organizes partners in the travel industry (airlines, hotels, travel agencies) to offer customers the option to donate $2 to global health with every purchase. This model could be applied to other industries as well. http://massivegood.org/
Social media makes it possible to amplify corporate philanthropy to the point where it can compete with traditional advertising. One example: the Pepsi "Refresh Everything" campaign is offering millions of dollars of support to worth causes. http://pep.si/biSDH9
The Chinese are creating a great deal of wealth in coming decades, but they have little experience with institutional philanthropy. The American philanthropic sector should make working with China a high priority. http://bit.ly/6GqGia
Foundations should follow the lead of the Boston Foundation: provide principally unrestricted support. Harvard Business Review article http://ow.ly/qzKX
Many foundations have distinct programs for funding risky ideas (Gates "Grand Challenges", RWJF "Pioneer Portfolio). The Energy Department has established a new office - Arpa-e - to fund "long shot bets". http://bit.ly/2dYhVO
Find a group of close friends and set up a donor directed account (on Schwab or elsewhere) that you all commit to donate to every year. In 20 years or so you have a very large fund that you can start giving away during your retirement years.
The Gates Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, and other foundations have announced plans to spend-down their endowments to zero. This greatly increases annual spending and gives the programs a sense of timing and urgency.