Some lucky nonprofit or social entrepreneur is going to win a free free laptop and printer bundle courtesy of HP and CauseWired Communications!
But you’ll have to answer a key question first, in order to win: “How we’re going to use social media and web technology to change the world.” Drop your ideas and thoughts into comments, no more than 500 words please – and include a link to your organization or website.
Here’s the skinny on this give-away. It’s part of the HP Create Change effort. For every purchase from the Create Change site that is part of the HP direct purchase website, HP will donate 4% to one of the following seven nonprofits that you can designate. The nonprofits are: American Red Cross, CARE, DonorsChoose.org, Junior Achievement, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure, World Wildlife Fund.
You can download a widget for the HP Create Change effort form their site and follow their conversation on Facebook.
So what’s the deal with the contest? HP has asked me and a few social sector bloggers – Beth Kanter, Allison Fine, Katya Andresen’s Nonprofit Marketing Blog, Jolly Mom, and Amy Sample Ward – to ask our readers a question about social change. And then each of us bloggers will pick a winner from the comments on our blog.
Note: we’re not receiving anything. Only contest winners get the equipment. So let us know what you think!
Philanthropy and nonprofit management expert Susan Carey Dempsey is the editor-in-chief of onPhilanthropy.com. 
Veteran consultant, journalist and entrepreneur Tom Watson is the author of CauseWired: Plugging In, Getting Involved, Changing the World, a new book about online social activism. 
Social media and philanthropy evaluation expert Allison Fine is the author of Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age. 
Veteran development consultant Stephen Manzi is a recognized national leader in nonprofit management and fundraising strategy. 
Improving my Local Animal Shelter http://www.hsfn.org/
Many shelters are in serious need of help, especially in these times. Many animals are being given up because of foreclosure, job loss and money problems. Unfortunately the animals in these shelters are the last concern for most people. Citizen involvement is essential if progress is to be made. My local shelter is great, but often overwhelmed with all the surrenders they are getting. I donate as often as possible. but they can always use more help.
I would like to organize a meeting with other interested people by placing ads through Craig’s List and my local newspaper , correspond through email and hopefully meet at some point to set goals. Address the most serious problems first. I would also like to involve the city council, board of county commissioners, or the humane society’s board of directors in our efforts and get suggestions from them.
Part of my efforts would also be to launch a site where interested members can sell their products with a portion of their profits going directly to the shelter for help with the needs of the animals in their care.
Of course, the technology bundle would help greatly with the initial ads, the correspondences and setting up the site for me and others to sell our products, with a direct link to a percentage of each sale going to the Shelter or shelters we choose and of course maintaining the site.
iheartsweeping@aol.com