How Will You Change the World in 2012?

Photo by Geoff Livingston

After reading Craig Newmark’s post rounding up nonprofit leaders’ social good plans for the New Year, Maddie Grant started a meme asking folks how they plan to make the world better in 2012. What a great way to get the year’s Inspiring Generosity posts started, so here we go!

Fortunately, work allows me to help many nonprofits and social change agents throughout the year. That being said, here are three areas I’d like to focus on personally:

1. Anonymity

As someone who works in the field, we see many voices including myself who get credit for doing good. But spiritually speaking, sometimes this can become a detractor. Is doing good something that should be done on principle or for ego?

Anonymous acts of good are not always done for the spiritual principle. Sometimes donors don’t want their name added to a list, or to be solicited by other nonprofits. But for me, I think its important to engage in more acts of anonymous social good as a reminder that its about the causes and the change they bring. So in 2012, I will engage in one significant, anonymous social good action each month.

2. Training

During Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington, I had the privilege of creating a training program that touched more than 350 nonprofits. Teaching and showing others how to use these tools is the best way I can positively impact the world. In 2012, I’d like to personally train or speak to more than 1,000 nonprofits about online marketing best practices.

3. The Punish Geoff Fundraiser II

A lot of people had fun with the Punish Geoff Fundraiser last summer. I figure it would be fun to try and up the ante with even wilder punishments this summer. So look for it next July, and be sure to have a little fun at my expense while doing some good for a worthy cause (to be determined).

How do you plan to change the world in 2012?

And to keep the meme conversation going, I’m tagging Allyson Kapin, fellow Generosity blogger John Haydon, Amy Sample Ward, Joe Waters and Debra Askanese.

4 thoughts on “How Will You Change the World in 2012?”

  1. Great post, Geoff. I want to give back in several ways in the new years.nnFirst, I want to encourage as many “Punish Geoff” fundraisers as possible. These should become a monthly or even weeklyu00a0occurrence! :)nnSecond, I want to help more small nonprofits raise more money and become better organizations. I really feel as if their time is now and I want to facilitate their growth in the world.nnThird, I want to drastically reduce my own carbon footprint and really teach my kids, now ages 11 and 9, that they can do anything they want in this world but damaging the world or not leaving it a better place is not an option. It starts with them. I think they’re at an age where they can really appreciate what I’m saying.nnJoen@joewaters

    1. LOL, thanks, I think.nnI really like the third one. Great to lead by example. u00a0I have been thinking about how to talk more on the green initiatives of late. u00a0They are so important.

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