It’s something we hear all the time: You want to do good, but even your best intentions go awry. So what can you do about it? We asked Francesca Gino, a professor of decision-making and negotiation at Harvard Business School and author of the new book Sidetracked, for some advice.

Francesca Gino. Photo credit
Rosalind Hobley.

The three forces that throw us off track

Sidetracked addresses a problem most all of us can relate to: How is it that we spend so much time making plans and charting goals, then find ourselves far afield from them later, wondering where we went astray?

“Both in my own experience and in talking with others, one consistent surprise is that we think big things are going to move us and get in the way, but the reality is that very small and seemingly irrelevant forces have a huge effect on our decisions,” Gino says.

In many cases, the forces guiding us aren’t obvious. So the first step in getting set straight again? Awareness.

Forces within ourselves. Most of us harbor an overly positive view of ourselves, and Gino’s research concludes that our intentions are often as valuable to us as our actions. “For example,” she says, “I tell you I’m coming with you on Saturday to pick up trash in the park. If it rains and I call you to postpone, I’ll still feel as good about myself as if I’d actually done it, regardless of whether or not I ever do reschedule.”

Forces stemming from relationships. We are of course influenced by the people we know, but also by people we’ve never met. In a UCLA study mentioned in Sidetracked, it was found that hotels who advertise to their guests the environmentally-friendly option of reusing their towels during their stay get many more participants when they include a statistic about the large percentage of previous guests that have done so. Whether we are conscious of it or not, most of us feel drawn to join a crowd, rather than blaze new trails of our own.

Forces coming from outside. In a study involving car insurance, policy buyers were required to report the mileage on their cars’ odometers to determine their premiums: the less miles driven, the lower the cost. Participants were significantly more truthful when the form they filled out had them sign their name and an affirmation of honesty first and then give the mileage number—rather than the reverse. In this case, a very subtle, simple visual change was the sidetracking culprit.

Do you need help staying on track?

Sidetracked

“We are all vulnerable to these forces, so let’s recognize them for what they are and take steps to minimize their impact,” says Gino. Here are her top three tips:

1. Check your perspective. “It’s good to feel confident, but also important to realize when we’re giving ourselves too much credit,” Gino says. “To avoid getting sidetracked, we need to be honest with ourselves about what we do, and give ourselves credit for following through, not just for having good intentions.” Her advice is to stop sometimes and ask: Am I being egocentric? Am I discounting the advice or experience of others because I have tunnel vision with my own?
2. Take your emotional temperature. “It sounds silly, but I think it works,” Gino says. “It’s very easy to take stress or other emotions you feel from one area of life into another, unrelated time and place.” So if you feel your emotional temperature rising in rush hour traffic, avoid getting sidetracked when you get to work by asking yourself: Are the emotions I’m feeling at the moment going to cloud my judgement? Should I cool off for a minute and then start my day?
3. See the big picture. “Often, we’re very narrowly focused on the task at hand, and we forget to step back and zoom out,” Gino says. She advises periodically stopping to revisit the bigger goals we set out to accomplish and make sure they stay on our minds, even though the details of carrying them out can require the bulk of our attention.

Do you find yourself getting sidetracked? Why do you think it happens? How do you avoid it?

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Visit Francesca Gino’s website for more about her research on decision-making, judgement, negotiations, and other areas of behavior. Buy Sidetracked on Amazon or Barnes & Noble for more research and tips on how to stay your course.

TIME Magazine recently released its list of 100 of the world’s most influential people. Though the list includes people from a variety of sectors and industries, there are many who touched our lives in some way. See our staff picks in the slideshow below.

Have you checked out the TIME 100? Who’s influenced you?

• Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III

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  When I left the Philippines in 2006, the country was in dire shape. Many were seeking opportunities overseas. But in the span of one presidential term, PNoy, as people would lovingly call him, has managed to give me and every Filipino living abroad every reason to come home -- a hopeful economy, a more honest government, and the promise of a better life. I've never been more proud to be Filipino. – Chris Machuca, Program Manager of Idealist Grad Fairs

  

• Elon Musk

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  I’m a space enthusiast so I’ve been following Elon Musk’s SpaceX since they launched the Falcon 1 rocket in 2008. When NASA shut down its Shuttle program in 2011, it became clear that we need people with big imaginations like Musk if we want to travel beyond our planet, which I believe is fulfilling the promise of humanity. – Hannah Kane, Scrum Master

  

• Beyoncé

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  When I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guyana, I’d regularly sing Destiny’s Child’s “Independent Women” at a local karaoke joint as Guyanese ladies stood on tables, sang along loudly, and threw their hands up at me. Feeling alive and empowered in those moments, the ladies weren’t thankful for my awful singing voice, but for music’s ability to reach and inspire, thousands of miles away. – Celeste Hamilton Dennis, Editor

  

• Lena Dunham

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  Since seeing Tiny Furniture a few years back, I’ve been a Lena Dunham fan. Despite all of the criticism, some more valid than others, she’s the first screenwriter I’ve felt who’s accurately captured the hilarity and tragedy of being a modern 20-something. In this constantly connected age, the perpetual state of self-criticism and comparison – be it career, body, relationships, or just general life fulfillment – feels spot on. Dunham’s willingness to expose herself both emotionally and physically is inspiration to dig deep in the stories I tell and fearlessly march forward as naked as the day I was born. – Sean Devaney, Video Producer

  

• Barack Obama

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  I can easily say that President Obama changed my life. During my crazy whirlwind year working as a Video Producer on his reelection campaign, he inspired me daily. Inspiration came when I met incredible people who told me how one of the President’s policies helped save their lives, or helped them afford college, or how the President was a role model for their young child. Inspiration came when I saw thousands of people show up at a rally in Richmond, or I got to follow a singular volunteer who was knocking on doors for the very first time. I found so much fulfillment and purpose by telling these stories, and I saw how video can really help move people to discuss, act, and vote. – Liz Morrison, Video Producer

  

• Michael Kors

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  Look, I am not exactly the most fashion-conscious person out there. So I’ll admit that I wasn’t too familiar with Michael Kors prior to his Project Runway debut. But beyond his funny quips and fashion innovation, I am inspired by Kors’ support of nonprofit organizations, especially God’s Love We Deliver. I’ve been volunteering at GLWD for six years and Kors has been supporting the organization for more than 20 years, not only encouraging employees to volunteer during their work day, but also donating $5 million to support the organization’s upcoming building expansion and serving on their board. – Kimberly Maul, Social Media and Editorial Intern

  

• Steven Spielberg

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  The first Spielberg film I watched was Saving Private Ryan and I barely made it past the opening scene. At one point, a young soldier was hiding behind a rock, another searching for his blown-off arm. But I hesitated to continue watching, not because of the gore and death, but because of the fear I felt and questions I began to ask about life, about war, and about those who serve. And that’s what Steven Spielberg does so well; he moves us from immediate shock and demands we think and feel deeper. – Allison Jones, Editor

  

• Mindy Kaling

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  I grew up with women like Mindy Kaling – smart, funny women of color who love the frivolous and the nerdy in equal measure – and I think that’s what makes her so accessible to her two million plus Twitter following, fans of The Mindy Project, and quite possibly the universe. I’m a bit Mindy-obsessed: I’ve read her book, I watch her show religiously, and I retweet her with some regularity – but the fan experience I think about most is young women of color who are watching her, who are imagining that they too can disappoint their parents by becoming excellent comedy writers and performers. If I could swing it, I’d be just like Mindy when I grow up. – Emily Hashimoto, Outreach Manager

  

• George Saunders

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  These days, I’m a terrible reader. I normally make it through ten minutes of a months-old issue of The Atlantic before passing out at night… and that’s about it. But George Saunders was the exception to the rule: I was lent a copy of his In Persuasion Nation late last year, and it was so good, I finished it in a week (top speed for me!) and commenced to passing it on and recommending it endlessly. Few writers have achieved such a feat with my literarily sluggish self. Hats off! – April Greene, Editor

  

• Michelle Obama

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  Behind the guise of her hip wardrobe, chic ‘do and blinding smile, first lady Michelle Obama has been redefining “change” alongside her husband since first stepping foot in the White House (and, I’d like to imagine, since shaking my hand outside an ice cream shop in 2008) . From her ground-breaking fight against childhood obesity to her backing of LGBT rights, Michelle’s used her public spotlight to both stand up for the voiceless and empower hard-working women across the globe. Oh, and her dance moves are what dreams are made of. – Alex Zielinski, Writing Intern

  

Photo credit: photobank.kiev.ua, Shutterstock

Here’s a question for you: are you happy changing the world? Does that spur you on to do bigger and better things? In an article on Harvard Business Review, Rosabeth Moss Kanter talks about how people who have the toughest jobs tackling worldwide issues and causes are often the happiest, because they can see how their work has meaning.

The happiest people I know are dedicated to dealing with the most difficult problems. Turning around inner city schools. Finding solutions to homelessness or unsafe drinking water. Supporting children with terminal illnesses. They face the seemingly worst of the world with a conviction that they can do something about it and serve others.

For many social entrepreneurs, happiness comes from the feeling they are making a difference.

In research for my book Evolve!, I identified three primary sources of motivation in high-innovation companies: mastery, membership, and meaning. Another M, money, turned out to be a distant fourth. Money acted as a scorecard, but it did not get people up-and-at ‘em for the daily work, nor did it help people go home every day with a feeling of fulfillment.

I see that same spirit in business teams creating new initiatives that they believe in. Gillette’s Himalayan project team took on the challenge of changing the way men shave in India, where the common practice of barbers using rusty blades broken in two caused bloody infections. A team member who initially didn’t want to leave Boston for India found it his most inspiring assignment. Similarly, Procter & Gamble’s Pampers team in Nigeria find happiness facing the problem of infant mortality and devising solutions, such as mobile clinics that sent a physician and two nurses to areas lacking access to health care.

People can be inspired to meet stretch goals and tackle impossible challenges if they care about the outcome.

While obstacles will arise, working together on human issues can be emotional and bring people closer together. Additionally, Kanter said, such large issues can diminish day-to-day annoyances and issues.

What do you think? Does your work give you a purpose and make you happy even when faced with adversity?

Meet three sprightly Southern Colorado septuagenarians who won’t stop.

After a long teaching career, Rhoda Cordry still has a spring in her step

Rhoda Cordry, now 78, retired from a satisfying career as a public elementary school teacher in the mid-1980s with no particular plans to take on another big job. But after a friend asked her to attend a community meeting about restoring the town’s unique cold mineral springs she found herself intrigued by a new endeavor.

Cheyenne Spring, one of Manitou, CO’s prized cold mineral springs. Photo courtesy of the Mineral Springs Foundation.

“Manitou is right in the mountains; we can’t grow physically as a town,” explains Rhoda. “And there’s no industry, so we have to do something to keep the economy up as a tourist attraction. The springs are the thing, but they’re hard on the pipes and fountains people put them through—they clog, corrode, eat through them. They need maintenance.”

In 1987, Rhoda and a handful of other concerned locals started the Mineral Springs Foundation to restore, protect, publicize, and document Manitou’s springs. So far, they’ve succeeded in working with private landowners and the city to restore eight of the area’s approximately two dozen springs, and are working toward more. Rhoda left the foundation in 1995 due to health problems, but stays involved.

“I spent all my working years teaching elementary school, so that was child- and parent-focused,” she says. “But this was a whole new world. I learned a whole new set of skills, met wonderful people, and benefited greatly from it. I loved teaching, but I loved this, too. People asked what I wanted to do in retirement, and I said ‘I don’t know!’ So I’m glad this happened.”

Eagle Scout badge, black tie, and choir robe: some of Arthur Benson’s many uniforms 

“Being an Eagle Scout is probably worth $50,000 over a lifetime in terms of preference for schools and jobs,” says Arthur Benson, a 71-year-old retired plastics industry manager who now spends between 40 and 50 hours a month volunteering for five organizations in Colorado Springs. One of his favorite roles is as a leader and committee chairman of a local Boy Scout troop.

Arthur Benson presents the Theodore Roosevelt Medal of the Navy League of the United States to a junior ROTC cadet. Photo courtesy of Arthur Benson.

“When I was in my 30s, I mentioned being a Scout leader in a job interview and the first question was, ‘Were you an Eagle Scout?’ and I was able to say yes. And I’ve read many college admissions deans say that all things being equal, they’ll choose the Scout,” he says. “It’s because scouting drills integrity into boys—teaches them about trustworthiness and loyalty, and how to live those traits out. It’s the right age to teach them, too, because then at 16 or 17, two kinds of fumes draw them away from scouting: gas fumes and perfume!”

Arthur is also a retired Navy officer with 23 years of service. He’s now active with the Navy League, an international, 50,000-member civilian organization that educates the public and Congress about the value and needs of the country’s sea services—”a mission especially important in a landlocked state,” says Arthur.

As treasurer of the local board and Navy Ball committee, Arthur helps to raise about $20,000 a year to support the League at the annual black-tie-or-uniform Navy Birthday Ball they sponsor for hundreds of active military and the public in Colorado Springs.

In addition, Arthur sings in two choirs and volunteers as treasurer for the small foundation that owns the real estate assets of his church, as well as for a charter school building corporation. “Those commitments don’t take a lot of time now, but I have a feeling they’ll snowball!” he says.

Bob Baker takes on many roles as the roll winds down

“Serving at the soup kitchen is really neat; it’s humbling,” says Bob Baker, 70, of the monthly volunteering he does with his wife in Colorado Springs. “Serving at that level is really valuable.”

Bob Baker of Colorado Springs. Photo courtesy of Bob Baker.

But Bob has served at many levels for a long time, including in his professional life as CEO of Goodwill Industries of Southern Colorado for 17 years. Prior to that, when he was president of a local bank, he also dedicated time to the United Way, first as a campaign solicitor and eventually as chairman of the board of their local chapter.

“The United Way was a very vibrant organization at that time,” Bob says. “They had a ‘give once’ philosophy—you’d give once, to them, and they’d distribute your donation to worthy organizations in the community. It was very effective.”

Since retirement, among a host of other volunteer pursuits, Bob has joined the board of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, a Catholic organization that provides health care and other services to those in need.

“The connections I’ve made—as a nonprofit CEO, board member, and volunteer—they’ve been very important,” he says. “I’ve maintained a lot of them. But life is that roll of toilet paper, right? And now, it’s winding down, so I want to make good use of the time I have left. There’s great fulfillment in all types of community involvement. We’ve been fortunate, and giving back is important to us.”

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In Colorado and want to volunteer? Search hundreds of opportunities on Idealist. Or check out Metro Volunteers, a Denver-based organization that promotes volunteerism in the community.

Learn more about Colorado month at Idealist!

UNICEF Sweden’s Ad

It’s almost impossible to avoid ‘slacktivism’ these days, with people changing their Twitter pictures to represent a cause or issue and liking nonprofit organizations on Facebook with the best of intentions. But how much does that really help? UNICEF Sweden put out an ad and video last week, admonishing those people who just post on social media about their support for a cause. In an article about the campaign, The Atlantic wrote:

Now, UNICEF Sweden is the first major international charity to come right out and say that people who actually want hungry, sick children saved need to donate money and supplies — not just virtual support.

“We like likes, and social media could be a good first step to get involved, but it cannot stop there,” said UNICEF Sweden Director of Communications Petra Hallebrant. “Likes don’t save children’s lives. We need money to buy vaccines for instance.”

UNICEF’s might be an extreme perspective, but it does raise interesting questions about how charity organizations should spread their messages online without allowing their potential donors to get stuck in slacktivist land, retweeting links and changing profile pictures without ever opening their wallets.

The article goes on to cite a study from Georgetown University and Ogilvy Worldwide, which found that “social promoters were just as likely as non-social-promoters to give money, but they were slightly more likely to volunteer their time (30 percent, versus 15 percent for non-social-promoters).”

Is ‘slacktivism’ really a problem or should organizations enjoy the awareness and buzz, and try to raise money another way?

(Photo via Flickr’s Creative Commons.)

One of the obstacles to doing good we frequently hear from you, our community, is not having a mentor; that teacher, guide, coach (sometimes friend) who helps you navigate challenges, introduces you to new people, and continually encourages. In short, a person you can trust and who you know has your back.

Sure, it can be great to have a mentor sometimes. But do you really need one? Here are three people who would argue no:

Nancy Lublin, Dress for Success founder and current CEO of Do Something, in this MAKERS video says:

I have lots of people who I look to for various things. And they’re friends, but actually I think right now I’m getting inspiration from the people I work with, which sounds totally corny but I’m learning everyday. Especially being at a technology not-for-profit that works with young people. My COO pushes me all the time. She is 29, and a foot taller than I am, and bolder and smarter and I learn from her everyday. Everybody, at all levels of the organization, I am learning from them and  being kept on my toes and having to keep up. It’s a great feeling.

Our very own Allison Jones on her personal blog agrees:

The truth is, I have never really had the desire to seek out one person to be my sounding board and long-term coach; it’s a lot of work on my end, on their end, and is a little too hierarchical for my taste. Instead, I prefer to connect with people when I have a problem I need help solving.

I do this because I believe that when you start from a place of wanting to solve a problem—instead of wanting to follow a particular person—you open more doors. People younger than you, older than you, people in different fields and professions, people in different communities, become problem solvers. You are also more deliberate and focused about what you need, which makes it much easier for people to actually help you (I am struggling with creating a strategy for X vs. I don’t know what I’m doing about anything).

Finally, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales on Quora echoes the sentiment:

I think the whole concept is fraught with peril.

I meet a lot of young people who waste a lot of time worrying about finding a magical mentor who will help them to greatness. But greatness will only come from within you. Yes, you need to learn from others, but seek wisdom from many.

What do you think? Have you benefited from “the one”? Or are you a believer in spreading the mentoring love?

But it’s not just the territory of big companies. Brooklyn-based The Design Gym is taking design thinking and putting it in the hands of the community. Through facilitation and storytelling workshops, giant hackathons, and their Weekend Workout, (which attempts to solve a problem from a real organization or company)  their belief is that anyone can be innovative – if you just exercise that muscle.

“There are lots of organizations that don’t talk to customers. That part of what we’re doing isn’t groundbreaking, it’s just showing them a new approach. You get so stuck in management and growth and systems and all of a sudden you lose touch with those people who can provide you very simple solutions,” co-founder Jason Wisdom says.

Design thinking in action

A typical Weekend Workout works like this: You come in on Friday night for a crash course on design thinking complete with beers and improv exercises. On Saturday, you go through the entire process on a problem that everyone can relate to, like park services or airline issues, using the 5 phases: learning from all the people who touch this problem in someway, making sense of what you learned, generating solutions from those learnings, experimenting or testing those solutions (many failing), and telling the story of what you learned. When Sunday comes around, you’re challenged to use that process again on a real client.

Kelly presenting the user journey her team created for miLES.

There’s been seven workouts so far, with past clients including the Acumen Fund, Makeshift Magazine, Holstee, The Future Project, and Made in the Lower East Side (miLES).

With miLES, for example, students were asked to find a way for artists, teachers, and more to utilize the 220+ vacant storefronts in the Lower East Side, and also keep the landlords who wanted to rent them to higher paying customers (i.e. bar and restaurant owners) happy. They came up with pop up shops. And not only that, but a central hub of carts where people could find signage, seats, tables, and more so they could set up and take down their store with ease.

A few of the clients from the Weekend Workout, such as Makeshift and Holstee, took on students after it was over to help put their ideas in action. That’s one of the big goals of Design Gym: develop relationships with companies and organizations so the students can gain both experience and exposure.

“They’ve been our biggest evangelists in terms of helping us find new opportunities, “ Jason says. “And we support them getting jobs or consulting gigs, or give personal coaching around their careers. As long as people know you’re absolutely committed to their success, they’ll bend over backwards to help you as well.”

Jason and his team would love to first get The Design Gym firmly planted in NYC, then expand to other places.

1. Find a point of focus.

Sit with the organization or company beforehand and tease out the problem. “We want the problem to be big enough to satisfy the organization and do something significant, but small enough that it can be implemented,” he says. Things like, “What’s the future of our organization look like?” is way too wide for a short timeframe, narrow down those problems or opportunities.

“One of our primary drivers is to continually enforce that diverse community. Because the solutions are so much more interesting due to the communities diverse backgrounds and it’s fun to connect with people who would never get  to be around each other otherwise,” Jason says.

3. Make everything in the space fair game.

A team, client (Holstee) and community celebrating after a fun-filled and exhausting weekend.

During the prototyping phase, when students are experimenting with ideas to see if they’ll work, encourage them to use whatever is front of them. At the Brainery, students will often use stuff from the classrooms: frying pans, duct tape, 2×4’s, etc. “The more props you can show us, the better off it is. We’ve had students present back in haikus and built structures, also some teams presented through brilliant songs,” Jason says.

“With the problems we’re working on being so diverse, people start to feel this applies to them, whether they’re in healthcare or a tech startup or construction,” Jason says. “What they have in common is that they’re geeky people.”

Another tip: Don’t try to force groups based on personalities you think might work well together. Whether you group people together or randomize it, the results ware usually the same.

Design Gym just launched a train-the-trainer program, where they have students come back from previous weekends and learn the skills necessary to become a really strong facilitator. Finding them long-term engagements with organizations or companies is another priority, and they’re toying with creating a consulting firm run by students.

They’ve hosted happy hours, rotating potlucks, and more. “Our big epiphany was our first happy hour. We had 23 students in the class, and 21 came out to happy hour and said they wanted to continue to be involved in whatever it is we’re doing,” Jason says. “That to me was such validation we’re doing something right. And in the end, they become close friends.”
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Are you an organization in the NYC area that could use some creative problem-solving at a Weekend Workout? Or want to implement a similar project where you live? Get in touch with Jason: jason@thedesigngym.com.

If you’re in the NYC area and want to participate, the next Weekend Workout will be May 31-June 2.

Here at Idealist, we’re all about connecting. We connect organizations with great volunteers, job seekers with their dream positions, and people with one another to create a more networked world, where no opportunities for action or collaboration are missed.

Idealists making connections offline

Idealist.org offers an incredible online directory of people and organizations working in social impact, and the Idealist community is full of brilliant, passionate folks making the world a better place. If you’ve been reading this blog, then you know what I’m talking about.

On Tuesday, we decided to try taking our network offline. We got ourselves a little space at a nearby bar and invited a bunch of people we knew from organizations around the city to join us for an after work happy hour. We also asked them to invite some friends to come along. Almost a hundred people signed up.

Staff from education organizations mingled with volunteers from animal rescue groups. A recent graduate from an international development program chatted with the volunteer coordinator of a New Jersey community development organization. And the director of a group that teaches underserved students to make their own music teamed up with an organization that teaches children to animate in the hopes of creating movies with soundtracks.

Basically, lots of awesome people met lots of other awesome people and awesomeness ensued. We love seeing our community in real life, and we love introducing you to each other even more. We’re continually inspired by the work you all do, and we’re excited about the endless possibilities that arise when we work together.

We hope to bring happy hours like this to more cities this year, so stay tuned for an event near you!

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Unfortunately, we can’t all be in a bar together all the time, but you can always use Idealist to find people and organizations to connect with online. If you haven’t already, go to idealist.org/me, fill out your profile, and tell the community all about what you have to offer and who you’d like to meet. 

Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation is a New Orleans-based nonprofit whose mission is to tackle the city’s toughest challenges by supporting the creative solutions of its community members. Guest blogger Julia Stewart talks about community-focused ways to finance your nonprofit or social venture when you’re just starting out. 

Propeller Fellows at a monthly meeting where we check-in about financial and social-impact numbers and goals moving forward. (Photo by Julia Stewart.)

Here at Propeller we emphasize a double bottom-line—that is, social impact and financial sustainability. Whether you are a for-profit or nonprofit, you must ask yourself: What is my business model? What is the market demand for my product or service and how will I generate revenue?

Selling your services to your community and beyond

Almost all of the nonprofits in Propeller’s Social Venture Accelerator have means of generating revenue. Here are a few examples:

• Smiles2Geaux, a mobile dental clinic, earns revenue through Medicaid reimbursements whereby a percentage of the cost of each dental service (cavities, fillings, etc.) is paid back to the provider. 
  
• VEGGI Farmers Cooperative earns revenue by selling produce to New Orleans’ restaurants.
• Youth Rebuilding New Orleans (YRNO) restores blighted houses and sells them at a profit.
• The New Orleans Master Crafts Guild sells membership in their Guild.

How could you leverage your services to raise money?

Show your progress and ask for people to invest in you

“Fundraise, fundraise, fundraise,” is often the go-to mantra for nonprofits. Yes, donations and grants are important, but how can you engage your community to secure funding?

If you aren’t sure how to raise revenue through your services, but want to work closely with your community to support your idea, consider these small-scale (under $10,000) opportunities.

• Crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Crowdfunder. Propeller alum Tippy Tippens raised almost $6,000 on Kickstarter to launch the BirdProject, for example, giving her supporters everything from mac-n-cheese to a soap and ceramic keepsake. Keep in mind there’s usually a charge of 4%-9% of total funds raised.
  

• Microfinance platforms like Accion and Kiva. These are perfect if you are considered low-income or don’t have access to typical banking services. Kiva New Orleans, for example, has 226 members who have loaned $27,025 across 930 projects since 2009. Keep in mind interest rates can still average 36% or higher.

Of course, if you’re seeking more money, there’s a whole other world of program-related investments and venture capitalists and angel investors to consider. But if you look to your community first, you might be surprised at the support.

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Keep up to date with happenings at Propeller by following them on Twitter and Facebook. Feel free to also reach out to Julia if you have more questions about both small and large financing options: jstewart@gopropeller.org.

(Photo via C. G. P. Grey on Flickr’s Creative Commons.)

We’re thrilled that people and organizations all across the globe are using Idealist to post and find opportunities, further their careers, and turn their good intentions into action. Thanks for helping us build this amazing community!

To make our network even stronger, this year we’re reaching out to nonprofit communities around the U.S., state by state, and inviting them to make the most of of our site.

Starting today, we’re heading to the lovely state of Colorado: land of the Rocky Mountains, the Aspen Filmfest, and John Denver. Many organizations are already a part of our community—like HistoriCorps, Colorado Wildlife Heritage Foundation, and Charter School Growth Fund—but we know there are more out there. That’s where you come in!

Help us go the extra mile

This month, posting Colorado-based jobs will be free. FREE! Our normal $70 price is pretty low to begin with, but we’re excited to offer this sweet deal as we aim to bring you every nonprofit, government, and social enterprise job in the state. (Yes, we know it’s a lofty goal, but why not dream big?)

If you’re thinking about how awesome this is for your organization, don’t wait another minute.

• Have a job you want filled? Post it now for free.
• Not yet on our site? Easily add your organization.

Or if you’re just a superfan of Colorado and want to see it represented on Idealist more, there’s no shortage of ways you can help.

• Tell your family, friends, colleagues, networks, and the organizations in your area who you think could benefit.
• If you’re already a member of our community, log in to your Idealist account and spread the Colorado love by connecting with others.
• If you’re not yet on Idealist, create a profile.

Over the coming weeks we’ll also be showcasing people and organizations in Colorado doing great work, featuring everything from advice of experienced social entrepreneurs to innovations in food rescue to volunteering after retirement.

What’s your Colorado story? Tell us below! And thanks for helping us spread the word.

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Fun fact: Our very own April Greene hails from Colorado. Some of her favorite things from the state include: the Rockies, yucca, cute snowboarders, delicious sunsets, Garden of the Gods, microbreweries, the Olympic Training Center, and Rocky Ford melons.