Shiloh’s Kitten Corner (and the news)

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Shiloh’s Kitten Corner! My name is Shiloh and I work on the Impact team at Causes.com. I start my workday by putting together a news brief for the rest of the office that highlights what’s new in the world of social media, nonprofits, technology, and social good. Here are a few of our favorite reads from the past week…plus a kitten. And this week the kitten is extra special because I adopted her two weeks ago.

Social Media

1. Why is it important for companies to iterate based on user feedback? (Mashable)

2. Pinterest is a virtual bulletin borad that allows users, companies, and even nonprofits to pin images that reflect their interests. (John Haydon)

Nonprofits

1. In order to engage supporters, nonprofits need to understand what motivates people to interact and donate to their cause. The infographic “Where and Why People Donated their Time and Money in 2010/2011 Trends” provides great insight on that. (Frogloop)

2. According to new research on mobile giving, donors are impulsive, social , and tech-savvy. (Katya’s Non-Profit Marketing Blog)

Technology

1. Learn why SOPA and PIPA, two congressional acts that aim to censor the web in the quest to end piracy, threaten the openness of the Internet. (Mashable)

2. Facebook has just announced a further extension of the Open Graph and the launch of 60 new apps (including Causes!) for Timeline. (The Facebook Blog)

Social Good

1. Despite the recession, global giving is an emerging trend. In fact, US giving to international causes rose approximately 15.3 percent in 2010. (YaleGlobal Online)

2. Through a viral social media campaign, tech entrepreneur Amit Gupta, has managed to find a perfect bone marrow match. (Mashable)