Bill Gates's New Online Effort to Talk About Philanthropy

Bill Gates, the world’s wealthiest man, is now sending messages through the popular social-networking site Twitter about his philanthropy. It includes discussions about public education, climate change, and even a travel diary. Also, to discuss his charitable work the world’s wealthiest man has started a new Web site known as Gates Notes.

Full text article by Ian Wilhelm is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1/20/10.

Doing the Most Good, Digitally

In this age of instant communication online, a lot of money could be saved and organizations can be far more efficient and get much broader distribution by going 100 percent to a virtual annual report. A need to transition the Salvation Army's annual report to digital-only occurred to Maj. George Hood, the organization's national community relations and development secretary, and he discusses a downloadable annual report on the organization's Web site — basically a printable version of the mailed annual report.

Full-text post by Abny Santicola is available via Fundraising Success, 10/27/09.

Instant-Messagers Really Are About Six Degrees from Kevin Bacon

Turns out, it is a small world. The "small world theory," embodied in the old saw that there are just "six degrees of separation" between any two strangers on Earth, has been largely corroborated by a massive study of electronic communication.

Full-text article by Peter Whoriskey is available via the Washington Post, 8.2.08.