Not only can a donor contribute directly to Tostan through its donation tab, the nonprofit provides other creative methods to participate in its efforts.  Tostan does well to offer site visitors a separate tab, “Free Ways to Give.”  Easily identified, visitor can find other methods, especially during a tight holiday season, to donate.

Two of the methods, Good Search and Amazon take no effort at all.  Good Search is a search engine that will make small donations to chosen charity when used.  Amazon will make a free referral to Tostan every time the site is accessed through the Tostan site.    Clearly marked and easily accessed, these donation platforms empower a youthful generation with high ideals and low cashflow to begin a relationship with an organization.

Interestingly, this post comes in the wake of a  critical NY Times article regarding the abundance of questionable 501(c)(3) nonprofits offering similar services and damaging tax breaks.  In a harsh economy and a competitive nonprofit sector,  international development organizations with unique foundation and creative methods of donating stand out.  It is important, as the Charity Navigator blog notes, to truly research your charity. 

Write a comment and share other nonprofit sites that make donating a cinch or that have a standout model.

In regards to AIDS work, AMREF works on three levels to combat the virus in Sub-Saharan Africa, home to 60% of the population living with HIV.  They do this by strengthening efforts to educate, manage and treat HIV/AIDS within the existing medical system.

With so many worthwhile and award-winning projects, AMREF should have some wonderful stories to tell.  Yet, the pictorial, video and written accounts are buried and hidden withing pages of  website text.

The story of  George, one of AMREF’s community health workers, is fantastic.  However, it takes some savvy site navigation to find it.  The same goes for George’s corresponding video- a fantastic piece, yet a hidden gem:

Admittedly, my thoughts about the need to promote the stories within an organization come on the heel of a conversation  regarding The Cluetrain Manifesto.  We were discussing the need to incorporate, as the authors assert, the humanistic qualities into marketing approaches.  One might argue that a health relief organization is as humanistic as an organization can be.

However, I think that true sucess in web 2.0 can be better attained in conversation and story telling.  Let media pieces shine on the site.  Open platforms for people to join the conversation.  As noted in Cluetrain, and a decade in forethought, organizations need to allow for human and true conversation.

With these musings, I offer my hopes for AMREF and organizations worldwide who strive to combat and treat HIV/ AIDS.  More to the point, I offer my thoughts  to those suffering the virus, and those survived by a loved one with AIDS.

A Few Related Resources:

Directory of AIDS Charities and Support groups worldwide

A great prevention fundraising video by Avert.org: