We loved meeting everyone during the NetSquared frenzy- it was so great to learn about your projects.

So we definitely wanted to make this one of the first places we went to when we started signing up causes. Right now, we're building a base of nonprofits before we launch.

But I won't talk your ear off here- check out our tour and, most importantly, give us a shout out to tell us what you think (or go ahead and sign up).

http://www.cauzoo.com/cauzoo-nonprofit-info1.php .

The join page is at the end.

Good luck to the conference goers and everyone else!

~Phil, Cauzoo

Hey all- it's been so exciting to read all your blog entries, see your slates, and (of course) check out your proposals (it has also been a lot of reading!).

I was struck by this earlier comment:

"Typically these project evaluation processes are ceded over to a small committee of evaluators chosen because of their individual qualifications and expertise. And usually there is another layer of administrative evaluation, assessing the legal status and financial competence of the institution."

Last night, Matt showed me the build for our autocomplete search. When a user wants to find a charity, the form will suggest what they're looking for. Now, for any veteran programmer, this would qualify as Ajax 101. Still, it was nice to see some of the tools we enjoy on other sites making a cameo on our own.

It made me think though- how much do these Web 2.0 Bells and Whistles help non-profits and for-profit businesses get heard? Now, I know that programming tricks definitely help usability- anything that makes a webpage more like a desktop is a great functionality to have. But do the aesthetic details (the bells and whistles) drive people to your cause?

Take, for example, a site called Dogster. Found at Dogster.com, it's got "Web 2.0" functionality, but the look of the site is more 1.0. There's no tag clouds, typical fonts, or tiny flourishes. Yet the site is a huge success.

I'd love to find out what you think- do the little things help a site reach its audience (profit or non-profit)? Does it matter if a site uses an autocomplete form instead of a simple list?

Browsing the web for news, I came across this story about charities in the UK:

http://www.itpro.co.uk/news/108014/charities-told-to-use-web-better.html

It comes from a conference sponsored by British non-profiteers. Notable quotes include:

"We are entering an age of participative media where anybody with access to a computer has the potential to contribute in a unique and valuable way," Dame Suzi Leather, chair of the Charity Commission. "The challenge for charities is to harness this potential and channel it into genuine social change and community action on the ground."

Hi out there-

We just wanted to give a shout hello to a group of people who's work we've been following for a while.

 My name is Phil, and I'm a representative for Cauzoo.com. We're looking to create a social community where users, charities, and companies can interact. The short pitch? Myspace for Charities. The real pitch? We recognize that charity is social, and it makes sense for passionate users and causes to come together.

We really want to make it easier for groups and individuals to donate money, interact with likeminded individuals, and learn about the great work that so many causes are doing. Right now we're in the early stages (what letter comes before "Alpha" again?), but we'd love to tell you more about our cause. Please send me an email- phil (at) cauzoo.com.