Susan Gordon, Causes

Planning for the year-end giving season is in full swing throughout the nonprofit sector. In 2009, giving in December alone brought in about 1/3 of the fundraising dollars to nonprofits. And in 2010, online giving is expected to bring in more donations than ever, after having seen a 46% increase in online revenue between 2008 and 2009.

At Causes, the application on Facebook, we’re releasing huge improvements to our fundraising and communications tools just in time for the year-end giving season. Nonprofits have already raised over $26 million using Causes -- and to start the giving season off, we recently announced that your causes will soon be able to publish to members' News Feeds (like a Fan Page can now).  Once you’ve built a vibrant online community, the end of the year is the perfect time to make a fundraising appeal.

Flickr: HowiePoonNTEN has been growing by leaps and bounds over the last few years, in both membership and programming, and we have a few new free sessions you should take advantage of this month:

NTEN Affinity Groups member Ari Davidow recently prompted a discussion by asking:

Have people had success fundraising by setting up causes in Facebook? For what organizations do they work best? Is there a way to market joining the cause other than virally?

Responses ranged from the pragmatic:

to the dubious:

Since it is so uncontrolled I wonder about the reputation that Causes will develop and if it will be a good thing to be listed there.  Also, it is fine to try it as a learning experience if you are interested but I wouldn't suggest putting in an effort as though this was going to be effective.