Jovid Foundation 2.0

This week I visited the Jovid Foundation for a conversation with the EDs of the Foundation's grantees. We talked about how social media can be used to reach new and existing audiences to get more donations, members and volunteers.

Jovid grantees, pictured in random order: Calvary Women's Services, Make Piece/Make Peace, Inc., Jubilee Jobs, Inc,, Dinner Program for Homeless Women, Coalition for Economic Empowerment, Beyond Talent, Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop, Visitors' Services Center, Mentoring Today, Prison Outreach Ministry, and Literacy Volunteers of America.

Most of these groups work to stymie poverty for adults in the DC area, specifically through workplace development (e.g., job placements, support, training, etc.) They have a noble cause, and there is boundless potential for this group to make the most of social media tools.

More sharing among grantees in sight?
Bob Wittig, who works at the Foundation and heads up the grantee gatherings, remarked that "the nonprofit sector battles a stigma that people in it don't share stuff. But the amount of trust and sharing [Jovid's grantees] have done has dispelled all of that."

Sharing, you say? How novel. Good thing that's what social media is particularly well equipped to help with.

I'm not aware of any foundation that is hosting a group blog for and/or with its own grantees. If Jovid Foundation hosted a group blog on workforce development, imagine how much peer-to-peer learning could take place outside their monthly get togethers. Furthermore, if it was an active, thoughtful discussion, it could garner a lot of visibility for these groups. And it would be a lot easier for them on the whole - well, easier than each of these charities hosting their own blogs that are about the same thing (e.g. workplace development). You think competing with other groups for print space is tough? Things don't change when you take it online.

Here's a good illustration of why charity-blogging (solo or with a group) is crazy valuable. This anecdote comes courtesy of Bob, who used to work for the Academy of Hope.

Once upon a time (probably within the last couple years), Oprah's foundation wanted to fund an adult literacy program in DC. Someone on staff did a Google search for related keywords. Academy of Hope's website surfaced in the top 10 search results. The foundation staffer clicked on the site, and Academy of Hope ended up receiving $250,000. That was just through website. A blog platform provides even more thought leadership opportunities, and will help rank you even higher in search results. The end.

Anyone know of a foundation-sponsored group blog for grantees? Think it's a good or a bad idea?