Haiti saw a disaster. The United States responded. Not like they did in Katrina. Not with water bottles and trucks of goods. But with a million dollars, 10 at a time — donated from their cell phones.

So what do we know?

• Nonprofits have seen a major decline in giving in the United States
• Americans, more and more, and not satisfied unless they can get what they want instantly (instant gratification)
• New giving generations (18-24) won’t give or volunteer unless they can do so at their own will, whenever they please with no commitments of a time and place. (In a study by MTV)
• New giving generations (18-24) won’t get involved in a cause unless they either have a personal experience with something, or there is an existing community where they can engage with others (like Facebook!) (Again, a study by MTV)

How does this not change everything?

A few years ago the shift began to happen. Nonprofits started to realize that if they wanted to stay in the game they had to shift their nonprofit to an “organization” and position it as a “Cause.” Why? People don’t care about faceless organizations. They care about purposes and goals and real life.

They care about the girl who was so hopeless in her life that she cut. She cut her arms to make them bleed. So the cause “To Write Love on Her Arms” was born out of a story about a girl. Now the cause has helped over 80,000 individuals get through a period of depression, bringing a message of hope to the world.

From “Social Responsibility” to Making Real Change

Not everybody likes to feel like they have to be “socially responsible.” Social responsibility has become a word that most people use to refer to voting, or recycling.

Now with cell phones and social media, we have a way to give like never before. We can make change happen instantly, with the click of a button.We can make a difference and actually see the results.

Mobile Money

The Red Cross raised funds through cell phones and cell phone companies. But what if we had funds just like cash that could be transferred right from our cell phones? That day is coming, soon.

A New Definition for “Social Responsibility”

How much of that million dollars that the Red Cross raised, actually went to Haiti? How much of it went to the cell phone companies who collected the funds, and the SMS company? How much of it went to the Red Cross for “operating expenses?” How many people who donated to the Red Cross, knew about their history of bad press surrounding donations? That at least half of the donations they receive go to commissions and operating expenses?

I don’t care if you recycle, and frankly politics make me sick. But what movements have you been involved in lately? Who have you given $10 to, and did you check their background first? There are plenty of other organizations out there accepting donations to Haiti.

Being social responsible is about recognizing what is available to us and making wise choices. Don’t give just because you can, getting instant gratification.

Like they say at To Write Love on Her Arms: Be the movement.