allaboutadvocacy.com

  What would you advocate for if you were given $100 to give away and report back? Interesting thought, right? Courtney Martin gave each of nine friends that amount and asked them to report back one month later on their advocacy choice. This is reported in The New York Times. They were also invited into the Secret Society for Creative Philanthropy which now meets on a regular basis to discuss their acts of advocacy or “kindness.” Ms Martin received a huge book advance awhile ago and decided to make the giving away of some of it the problem of others. As word got out, some other small-time philanthropy advocates joined in.  Small philanthropy takes a lot of creativity when you have that responsibility and have to tell others. This mini-advocacy idea has generated new chapters of the Secret Society in different cities. Here is a list of what some people did with their $100.

• Turned the writing of New York City children in a literacy nonprofit into books.

•Distributed 10,000 pennies to friends throughout the country to drop so there would be more lucky pennies for people to find.

• Inspired by Lewis Hyde’s book “The Gift,” bought a handmade platter on etsy.com and gave it to a friend, who she hopes will pass it on to others.

• Slipped $100 into a thank-you card and asked a friend to give it to the clerk at her local Duane Reade who makes her feel like a million bucks whenever she buys toothpaste.

• Gave $100 to the most frequent commenter on her Web site, who turned out to be a former correction officer aspiring to write.

• Gave to four established nonprofits that work in Haiti.

• Gave the money to a woman he sees collecting recycling on the street.