CSR360

Introduction to the Partner

Every day, all over the planet, many thousands of people work on projects that aim to create a more just and equal world. Many of these activities are done in isolation, with little or no outside recognition. At the same time, there is a much larger group of people who have good intentions and want to participate in positive change, but who don’t know where to start or how to get involved.

At Idealistas.org, our objective is to be a network that facilitates connections between people who’ve already started to act and those who want to join them, thereby slashing the number of missed opportunities for action and collaboration. Our goal is to be a meeting ground for people who seek and create change-making projects, a place where people can exchange resources and collaborate with each other toward effecting positive change in their societies.

To facilitate the development of this network, Idealistas.org offers a web-based clearinghouse of information that:

• Gives members the chance to publicise their projects and related needs

• Matches this information with people’s interests, in an automatic and immediate way

• Promotes face-to-face connections

• Inspires the development of new initiatives and participation in them

Additionally, Idealistas.org runs programs that enable the distribution of this information to people who lack access to the internet.

History

Idealist.org was founded by Ami Dar with the objective of creating a meeting place for everyone who wants to do something to make their community better. The original concept was to build a system of community bulletin boards where people could exchange ideas and meet one another, but with the expansion of the internet the project changed course.

In 1996, Dar and his team launched a website that featured volunteer opportunities and job offers in different parts of the world. The site also made it possible for any organization to have a web presence where they could promote their mission and activities.

In 2001, a new and better version of the site was launched. It allowed members to define their interests and receive email alerts about new listings that matched their criteria. A Spanish version of the site was unveiled at the same time.

Later, in 2004, Idealist.org signed a collaboration agreement with Res Non Verba (an Argentine organization with similar objectives) with the aim of expanding the network in the Spanish-speaking world.

In 2006, the website was overhauled and relaunched with many exciting new features including enhanced abilities for member-member communication and collaboration.

CSR area

RNV projects that would benefit from corporate support include:

*Corporate Volunteer: We promote the creation of programs that responds to the employees’ interests. RNV can power the program with a social network on the corporate partner’s website.

• Corporate Social Responsibility: Similar site architecture to the country pages can also be used by companies to promote volunteer opportunities to their employees. RNV can power a page on a corporate partner’s website (consistent with their site’s design), which automatically updates with volunteer opportunities that are easily searchable by location, type of service, organizational area of focus, project timeframe, etc.

• Workshops: RNV real-time trainings build the capacity of our nonprofit partners throughout Latin America. RNV workshops aim at either improving the technological management of organizations or helping our partners in the social sector to develop the infrastructure to successfully utilize volunteers.

Challenges for 2010

• Conduct 10 workshops around Argentina, that would be attended on-site as well as on-line.

• Extend the organizations that are using both Res Non Verba’s secure online donation forms as well as web hosting. Some of the organizations that are currently using them include: Cimientos, Fundación Leer, Fundación PH15, Vida Silvestre, Fundación DISCAR, Acceso ya, La Usina, Caritas San Isidro, Desarrollo ETIS, Iglesia.org, Liga de la Leche, Proyectarte, Familia Sur, Fe y Alegría, Un Techo Para Mi País, Taller Ecologista, Fundación Misionera Argentina, and Red Yaguareté.

• Increase the number of organizations and social actors that take part of Idealistas.org network

Other projects

Some research is run thanks to the help of volunteers, and have included:

• Concepts of BSR around the world and its history
• How BSR is developed on Chile, Spain and Peru
• Social Sector Observatory (laws, history and current situation)
• Latinamerica and International Cooperation

Annual Report

Download the annual report here.