Mar

Guide To Twitter For Charity

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Social media, in particular, Twitter has recently started to be used for charitable purposes. The beauty about social media is that it makes communication much more easier with people from all corners of the globe. This has allowed many charities and not-profit organizations to find more donors.

Non-profits are flocking to Twitter because it represents a cost effective way to raise money for non-profit causes. If non-profit organizations use Twitter for charity, then they can make the most of the tools that are currently used for fundraising. One of the tools is known as Twollars.

Using Twollars on Twitter for Charity

Twollars is a Twitter-based currency that was recently released during the early months of 2009. Unlike regular currency, Twollars does not contain any value behind them and if you want to donate Twollars to a charity of your choice you simply create a tweet that says something like 5Twollars@usaafrica to fund relief for Africa. Although you have not actually given any currency with value, what you are saying is that you think the charity is worthwhile and others should donate as well.

How Twollars Works

Any Twitter user that wants to use Twollars receives a starting balance of 50 Twollars. When a Twitter user uses Twollars to donate to charity, the number of Twollars that are donated are matched by hard currency that is donated by a business once the Twollar balance threshold is reached.

Every time a user sends Twollars to a charity the server that operates Twollars searches the Twitter network for tweets and text that match the description. The server will then download all of the tweets that it has located and then tallies a balance. The balance is based on the tweets the user has given and received that are related to the description.

In order to combat fraud with Twollars, such a format has been created, mainly because the user’s entire transaction history can be seen by others. Furthermore, there exists a program where every Twitter users starts off with 50 Twollars, and this program is called “scarcity”. The rule regarding Twollars is that Twitter users can give Twollars to other users but they cannot convert them into cash unless they are a non-profit organization. This also prevents Twitter users from tweeting hundred of thousands of Twollars. Evidently, everything is organized in such a way that it serves the purpose of giving to charity.

Other Ways to Obtain Twollars

There are alternative methods of acquiring Twollars by logging onto websites that give away Twollars as an incentive for their visitors. Twollars are also available for purchase from non-profit organization. Transactions are not charged by Twollars and what happens is that the donated Twollars are deposited into the PayPal account of the chosen non-profit organization.

Users predict that Twollars represents next generation currency for the micropayments economy and non-profit organizations that are using Twitter For Charity will benefit from the concept as well.