Sparked Blog

Great writeup on Mashable about Sparked yesterday.

Check it out here: http://mashable.com/2012/05/07/sparked/

Here’s a snippet:

Big Idea: Sparked is an online-only volunteer hub for people to donate their talents to non-profits, as well as an engagement tool for businesses to engage and incentivize employees to contribute to volunteer causes.

Why It’s Working: Users can donate expertise and skills instead of money, and make time commitments according to availability and interest level

 

Great to see some writeups in the New York Times last week – along with several of our great partners and friends like MediaCause.org, Points of Light, LinkedIn, and Catchafire – and featuring a superstar microvolunteer, Julienne!

The first is “Volunteering Rises on the Resume”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/giving/volunteer-work-gains-stature-on-a-resume.html

A great story about how volunteering online is really helping folks prepare for and find new jobs.

The second is: “Matching Volunteers to the Right Missions”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/jobs/matching-volunteers-to-the-right-missions.html

Which is about volunteer services, like Points of Light and Sparked that are matching people precisely with skills based volunteering projects. This piece profiles microvolunteering superstar Julienne.

Thanks Mashable! We’re happy to be named one of Mashable’s top 12 nonprofit platforms. The other awardees are: Causes, Crowdrise, Network for Good, DonorsChoose, FirstGiving, GiveZooks, HelpAttack, Jumo, JustGive, Razoo, and SocialVibe. Great company. Check out the article here:

http://mashable.com/2011/03/14/social-good-fundraising-tools/

Just came across this article in the NYTimes from yesterday that mentions Sparked.com – describing how micro-volunteering can be considered a sort of game or quest. 

"By the age of 21, the typical American has spent 10,000 hours playing computer games, and endured a smaller but much drearier chunk of time listening to sermons about this sinful habit. Why, the experts wail, are so many people wasting their lives solving meaningless puzzles in virtual worlds?…"

The article goes on to say that some people are using platforms like Sparked.com to change the world, so that instead of looking for "magical healing potions," micro-volunteers are looking for real solutions to real problems. Check it out at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/science/07tierney.html?_r=3

The Press category of this blog is a little light – but don't worry, you can get your fill of press about The Extraordinaries over on our Web site (where we've been doing a better job of tracking the myriad stories).

Head to the Press Section to read the recent stuff. You'll find all kinds of neat articles, quotes, and even a few videos featuring the team.

Are you passionate about The Extraordinaries and the
causes you support, and do you want to share it with the world? We're
calling on YOU to represent our community of supporters and be
Extraordinary next Wednesday…on camera!

San Francisco's ABC 7 is filming a feature on our efforts and would like to
catch you in the act of Being Extraordinary. Can you share two hours of your time with us next Wednesday, November 25 from 11:30am until 1:30pm?

We need six outstanding philanthropists to make this special shine
and we know you're just the folks to fit the bill! If you're not camera
shy and are ready to take volunteering to an Extraordinary level, send
an email to kim@beextra.org and let us know if you can make it next Wednesday, November 25 from 11:30am until 1:30pm. This segment has nationwide possibilities and
we'd be honored and excited for you to be a part of it!

Thanks for everything that you do!

Image copyright: ABC-y KGO-TV

"For anyone with a jammed schedule, a new group called the
Extraordinaries offers ways to devote even just a few minutes of free
time to something worthwhile. Micro-volunteering opportunities abound
on BeExtra.org,
from using your smartphone to view and label photos (to help digitize
museum archives) to snapping a picture of a local park (to help build a
map of places where kids can play)."

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1921428,00.html

Article just came out in the CSR about us – check it out!