Recently I’ve been playing around with a few location-based social networking services, such as Foursquare, Gowalla and Whrrl. The goal was to do a post with a comparison of each one, which I’ll still do, but for now I want to talk about something my youngest daughter turned me onto, which enables me to check in for a good cause. CauseWorld is a free location-based application, now available for iPhone (app store link) and Android.

How it Works Like the rest of the services, it’s based on check-ins at various locations. CauseWorld is a bit more limited in that you can’t check in at your home or church, only businesses and you can’t add venues. You collect Karmas for each checkin, which allow you to donate to a list of causes. If you don’t see a cause you like, you can also suggest a cause. Sponsors Citi and Kraft Foods have donated nearly $500,000.

Choose from the list of nearby stores to check in (left). Your Me page (center) shows donations you’ve made and badges you’ve earned. When you are ready to donate, you can select from the list of causes (right) or suggest your own.

It works with Facebook Connect, which allows you to post donation activity to your profile.

A recent update includes the option to donate to earthquake relief for Haiti through the Red Cross. All karmas donated to Haiti relief are doubled.

Get CauseWorld and help — the only cost is a few seconds’ time.

Dave Barger announces upcoming Social Media Expedition events

As I mentioned briefly in this post, last Wednesday I participated in a panel discussion at the monthly Social Media Expedition breakfast. I attend this breakfast each month on the first Wednesday of the month from 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at various locations around town. As I’m not a morning person, to say that this is my favorite Wednesday of the month speaks volumes about the quality of the programming and networking opportunity I enjoy each month.

Our panel discussion centered around how businesses and nonprofits use social media to increase their business, further their cause or reach potential donors or members. My role on the panel was to discuss social media as it relates to churches and ministries. Other panelists were:

• Lindsay Coates, ArtsMemphis,
• Kerry Crawford-Trisler, Commercial Appeal, online department
• Lorrie Jackson, Lausanne Collegiate School
• Joe Spake, local real estate broker

While there are differences in our objectives — profit, community, fundraising — all seek to accomplish the goal in much the same way: to better engage our audience and generate an active community as we listen to the voices of those we serve. Too many seem to think social media is about us; I think if we’re doing it right, it’s about hearing from and engaging our audience.

For more about last Wednesday’s breakfast, see LunaWeb’s great post on the Social Media Expedition Web site.

Ridiculously delicious cupcakes from Muddy's

Come join us for breakfast — it’s casual, you can come and go as your schedule allows, the breakfast and the program are always excellent, and you just never know when Muddy’s Bake Shop might show up.

On February 12, more than 200 cities worldwide hosted Twestival, a Twitter-organized get-together to raise funds and awareness for charity:water, a nonprofit that brings clean, safe water to developing nations. Jim and I attended the Memphis Twestival at Fox & Hound on Sanderlin. According to charitywater.org, Twestival raised $250,000 for clean water. In mid-April, the team drilled the first well in Ethiopia. More videos here.

It was great to be a part of Twestival, if a small part. We had a great time catching up with some of our favorite Twitter friends. Our gathering wasn’t large and Memphis did not distinguish itself in contribution dollars. But it was a start.

Some of our young, hip Tweeple at Twestival

Thursday, February 12, 5:00 p.m.

Place: still TBA. I think that keeps it interesting.