Join Me for A Workshop About Micro-Philanthropy

Innovations in information technology and communications (ICT) have opened the door to efficiently supporting a large number of small-scale activities, what we are calling micro philanthropy. This workshop explores the possibilities of using "network approaches technology" for micro philanthropic activities. Network approaches represent a radical departure from traditional hierarchical approaches and open up innovative possibilities for self-organization and self-propagation that are not based on a notion that we have "too many problems and not enough money."

Examples of on- and off-line network approaches abound. Google, eBay, and Wikipedia trigger massive change from simple initial ideas. Wikipedia has millions of user-created articles in dozens of different languages.Alcoholics Anonymous (an 80 year-old "viral network") spawns addiction/dependency organizations on the principle of members helping themselves by helping each other. A viral video such as Free Hugs Campaign can reach 25 million viewers in a year -- with zero distribution or advertising costs.

While eBay and Google have well-defined transactional models for their interactions, it is not so clear how we might invoke this power of the network for "better world" activities. There are many internet-based approaches to fundraising; however, this only addresses the philanthropy-as-checkwriting perspective. But as we've seen with AA or the Free Hugs video, viral approaches may be inhibited by imposing financial models on our interaction.

By lowering or eliminating transaction costs, we have the potential for increasing the scale and breadth of interaction -- and the associated feedback we might gather. This feedback could be used for improving the quality of the network, as well as helping us to discover new patterns of uplift. This network could apply a search/amplify growth model: discovering what's working, in which contexts, and then using philanthropic resources to amplify these activities. This is fundamentally different than the more traditional plan/execute model, in which a plan is developed and funded by an organization, and then executed.

The workshop will explore innovative models of using the network for this "search/amplify" approach. Rethinking philanthropy as a massively scalable, fine-grained network opens up possible models of abundance rather than scarcity, and discovery rather than planning.

The workshop will be held over two days at the Ben Lomond Quaker Center, a rustic retreat center located in an 80 acre Redwood forest 45 minutes southwest of San Jose, California. Accommodations will be in the Orchard Lodge, with meetings in the beautiful Casa de Luz. In keeping with the theme of self-organization, the center is a self-service retreat and conference center. Attendees provide their own bedding and bath towels, care for and clean the facility during their stay, and clean the facility thoroughly prior to departure. Off-site accommodations may be arranged, but the registration fee is the same for on-site or commuter participants due to the rental obligations.

Participants will include founders of social action platforms, executive and program staff from nonprofits, traditional and experimental grant-makers, as well as nonprofit technology consultants and those interested in the network theories of change. This workshop is not a time for solicitation of funds, nor will it be interesting to someone solely interested in using the internet as a fundraising tool for their organization.

Continue reading the workshop agenda >>