Something I don't Like About Facebook Causes ..

Nick Temple whose blog you should read .. left the above message on my wall. 

Causes has a leader board where it shows who recruited the most people, who donated the most, and who got the most donations.  It shows five positions for each.  At anytime, you could get knocked out.   So, is that a way good way to say thanks and motivate your donors and volunteers?     Hello, Joe Green, what's up with that?

I'm in the older cohort of the baby boom generation. I'm old -- okay, I fool people because I do 5 spin classes a week and lift weights, but I'm old school.  I started my career in development also thirty years ago. If someone is working hard for your cause (even if someone else is working harder) we'd never tell them - you efforts aren't appreciated.  Why would you design that into the software?  Is this just generational?  Is competition and kicking people off the top a millennial thing I don't get?  Or, does the interface design need to be more appropriate to different generations. 

One of my Facebook friends shared this link to an excellent presentation by Nancy Shoemaker and while it is taking about RSS mostly, there are several pages about the ladder of engagement.   What's the big problem with causes?  I may be wrong, but after looking closely at the workflow it doesn't really support the ladder of engagement.  It can only help you go from unaware to aware.  When you try to cultivate to engage, the work flow is very inefficient.   

So, here's my question.   If causes is designed to reach out to Millennials, do we need to rethink the ladder of engagement?  Or, given that there is now a growing mix of age cohorts using Facebook (and organizations), perhaps the interaction design is off.  What do you think?

Comments

[Denise]

Hi Beth,
I know this is probably a silly question, and you can tell I'm a "digital immigrant" but when you have a Charity badge set up by Network for Good & people donate...how does the money get to your cause?
I am very new to development and trying to get my nonprofit to get into the"digital age" but am not sure how this piece works. The scary part is...I'm ahead of the the rest of the Board of Trustees on this!
Thanks.
Denise

[Katya Andresen]

Hi Denise, at Network for GOod, we send your nonprofit a report of all the donations they've received (which they can check any time) and a check (or EFT) every month. The following link explains exactly how a charity badge can be used by a nonprofit -- http://sixdegreesdotorg.blogspot.com/2007/06/can-person-person-fundraising-help-your.html -- Thanks for fundraising!

[Denise]

Many thanks for your helpful information. I will get on it and give as many people as possible the opportunity to "feel good while doing good."
My best to you all during this joyous holiday season!