LinkedIn Launches Philanthropic Channel For Nonprofits

Doing good isn’t quite so easy as it is sometimes made out to be, particularly when it’s attempted on a grand, global scale. But with the advent of both high-speed broadband and social networking services comes the phenomenon that is viral Web marketing.

Nonprofit organizations like Doctors Without Borders and the American Red Cross have taken notice of how beneficial publicly-led publicity pushes can be for an individual or group and their “product(s)”, and several have now joined a fleet of partners of LinkedIn for Good, a platform established in order for nonprofits “to leverage LinkedIn’s international network of 11 million professionals” and increase awareness and funding.

It’s widely thought that those connected to the Web are generally more in touch with humanitarian efforts around the world, and the reasoning for that is simple: It is cheaper to advertise on the Web than on television, on radio, or in print. Couple that with the seemingly natural establishment of online communities and the availability of fast and easy (and safe) donation methods, and it’s no great surprise that socially conscious organizations more often seek to “spread the word” on the WWW than on any other medium.

LinkedIn for Good’s circle of partners is somewhat small at present, but as their presence has only begun to be known, it’s likely that the number will grow significantly over the months and years. The current list of partners includes: Doctors Without Borders, American Red Cross, World Wildlife Fund, Kiva (microfinance organization), and Unitus (also a microfinance organization). Groups like those mentioned here who happen to establish pages on the LinkedIn network receive incentives, including free job listings (ordinarily $145), a benefit which is intended to spur growth worldwide.

Members of the social network can pledge and showcase their support for any number of LinkedIn for Good partner organizations by placing “badges” or “digital bumper stickers” on their own profile pages to share in the promotion of their cause(s) of choice with friends and associates.