We’ve all come across many articles and blog posts on tips for going green, what you can do to save the coral reefs, how to reduce carbon emissions, and we get mail from charities asking for donations (yes some of these were mine haha).
Many want to make use of the helpful information provided by these articles and posts. They want to plant a vegetable garden and they want to volunteer, but helping the world takes time. What if we could make doing good more…convenient? Sounds superficial but hey doing good is better than doing no good at all right? I present to you smartphones and iPads. Today there are tons of apps in the App Store that support different causes and can help you make a difference in the world. Who knew that people would someday be able to donate to their favorite charity at the click of a button or that an app would tell you instantly in the grocery store what “sustainably harvested” fish to grab for dinner. Poor great gramps; if I told him that this is all currently possible he’d look at me with a bewildered expression (after all he did ride a pony to school). We certainly have come a long way in technology.
Philanthropy meets technology with these great apps:
- CharityMiles: Now you have another reason to get out and exercise! This app tracks the number of miles you travel by biking, walking, or running. For every mile you walk or run you earn 25 cents to donate to a given charity. Bikers can earn 10 cents for every mile. Sweat for a cause!
- Instant Wild: Help The Zoological Society of London monitor biodiversity. The society has camera traps set up and they want you to help by watching and identifying animals captured by the cameras. An animal is deemed correctly identified once a number of people agree on it. This app is great because you can enjoy looking at wildlife and help preserve the species you see.
- CauseWorld: An iPhone app that lets you collect karma points that turn into cash donations for various causes. All you have to do it open up the app, see the eligible local businesses, enter a store and check in to redeem your karma points.
- Do Some Good: The idea behind this app: a little help goes a long way in helping nonprofit and charitable organizations. Use your phone to perform actions like taking pictures for a charity, taking surveys, spreading ideas, and using your own skills to make a difference in the world. You can even receive music rewards for all your hard work.
- Seafood Watch: This guide helps you choose sustainable seafood while you are out grocery shopping or eating out at restaurants.
- First Aid by American Red Cross: Learn first aid with this great app. You can even test your knowledge by quizzing yourself after the lessons. The app also includes step-by-step directions for what to do in a variety of emergencies.
- TripSketch Green Book: Travel green with the help of this app. Find eco-friendly hotels, restaurants, and tourism attractions. This app even recommends activities/events/attractions that help you do some good for the places you visit.
- Eco Hero: Help the Sierra Club reduce America’s oil consumption addiction by making pledges. You can pledge to use your car less my walking or biking to places or by pledging to get your groceries from a local farmer’s market.
Do you know of any apps out there that help people help the world?
Philanthropy Fix 