My experience with GlobalGiving as an Atlas Service Corps fellow can be summarized as a window, a window in the digital world of non-profits. Whether it’s the fast changing technology, user-friendly services or the Internet tools, the market or rather Donor’s choice governs every thing.

It was interesting to know how a common person like you and me can induce change by just a click as a ‘donor’ and how a single feedback can direct change in an organization.

For me the encounter with web 2.0 was most exciting. Whether it’s tracking website traffic through Google analytics, designing online surveys or poll or getting RSS feed on Reader, these tools has been a great input for me professionally. Apart from it learning about social media sites, viral marketing, searches & adwords every thing were also very enriching experiences. I belong to India; the largest producer of IT professionals but its application there in the citizen sector is negligible.

The exposure with GlobalGiving has shown me the enormous potential of IT & the use of online tools to be tapped by the ‘non profits’. I started my blog after I joined GlobalGiving, but the best part is to connect with other bloggers that gives a continuing learning experience and first hand news of what’s new in the sector.

No matter where I live and what I do I would love to be a GlobalGiving ambassador, why? Because of its staff, they are so lovely & friendly; I really enjoyed so many things while working with them, the music played by Donna, Birthday celebrations, holiday preparations, potluck organized by Duane & the most exciting raffle. Often it is said that GlobalGiving provides excellent experience to customers or donors; to me it is just an extension of the warm personalities of its staff. All of it has become now ‘part of me’ and will remind me of my days in GlobalGiving.

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 Just in time for Letterman and his writers to return to television, I came across Lucy Bernholz’s round-up of the Top 10 Philanthropy Buzzwords of 2007.

Generally, buzzwords are a lot of hype; trendy phrases created by journalists or bloggers trying to fill column inches or go viral.  Sometimes, they are picked up in jest, but no one has the gumption to just put them down and walk away (i.e. Bennifer).

I think Lucy hit the nail on the head, “Being named a buzzword doesn’t mean that the ideas matter. It also doesn’t mean that an idea is nothing but fluff.” 

Curious about this, I did some quick research about buzzwords of years past.  The first notable thing is that I had a hard time finding non-industry-specific lists beyond 2005, which is one indication of how well buzzwords stand the test of time (or maybe just Google’s search algorithms).

It turns out some words have migrated into the mainstream cultural lexicon: Stephen Colbert’s “Truthiness”, Kevin Federline aka “Fed-Ex”, new age “Web 2.0″, Pluto’s (heartbreaking) downgrade to “Dwarf Planet” - all from 2006. 

And the newly diagnosed (unglamorously named) disease “Popcorn Lung”, the “Surge” military tactic, Seth Godin’s “Meatball Sundae” approach to social networking, “Bacn”: the other Spam, Grey’s Anatomy’s anatomical nickname “Vajayjay” - from 2007. 

But all the rest (The 2006 Election’s “Macaca” fiasco, anyone?) are doomed to a shelf life that will inevitably land them in the annals of Urban Dictionary.

 The ultimate goal of buzzwords, however, is to go beyond buzz into actual acceptance and general usage.  What catch-phrases of today will we be using tomorrow?  What big ideas will come to fruition?  Regarding the Top 10 List, Lucy says:

I believe that some of these ideas matter in profound and meaningful ways - whether or not the actual buzzword is the term that sticks. Notably, the ideas, purposes, and mechanics behind B Corporations, Social Stock Exchanges, Aligned Investing, and Endorsement Philanthropy have the potential to make lasting and significant change in the business of giving. Microfranchising also stands to change how aid and development efforts are organized. The concepts that underpin open philanthropy are critical to a more transparent, accountable, and leveraged set of giving practices - let’s hope they take hold.

So without further adieu,

Lucy Bernholz’s Top 10 Philanthropy Buzzwords of 2007

10. Philanthropy 2.0
9. B Corporation
8. Endorsement Philanthropy
7. Social Stock Exchanges
6. Embedded Giving (quick toot of the GlobalGiving horn: we like this buzzword and the Washington Post article about it this weekend)
5. Aligned investing
4. Open Philanthropy
3. Microfranchising
2. Microphilanthropy
1. Hyperlocal

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