Start-Ups

Photos: 12 empowering apps to help you do social good

By // June 24, 2014, 4:00 AM PST // lyndseygilpin

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  • Budge

    Knowing they needed to come up with a fresh way to get people to donate to charities, the creators of Budge decided to make a game out of it. Challenge your friends to any game -- chess, a run, a skateboarding competition -- and play. If you lose, you donate a small amount to a pre-selected charity.

    Image: Budge

  • Donate A Photo

    This new app created by Johnson & Johnson takes all those photos you snap and turns them into social good. For every photo you share through the app, the company donates a dollar to a cause of your choice, chosen from their list of trusted charities. New ones are added when the causes reach their goals.

    Image: Johnson&Johnson

  • Instead

    The idea behind Instead is to use micro donations for a macro impact. The company partners with non-profits for donations between $3 and $5 each. How it works: Instead will show you what you can save if you make your own coffee instead of buying that one at a shop, then shows you how to donate the savings to a cause you believe in.

    Image: Instead

  • Shout For Good

    Shout for Good is an app and web platform that integrates the act of giving into everyday habits. Donate the value of everyday items such as a coffee, a movie ticket, or a drink to non-profits and other charities. Activate your account and donate via card.io and Facebook Connect, then share it via social media.

    Image: Shout For Good

  • One Today

    Powered by Google, One Today is an app that shares a information about a great non-profit with you every day, and you can give a micro-donation -- as little as just $1 -- to the causes that mean the most to you. If you share what you donated, you can even get yours matched by other people who see it on social media.

    Image: Google

  • Volunteer Match

    This app brings people and great causes together in a simplified way. Pick something you care about, whether that's animal rights, the elderly, children, or the environment, choose some dates and possible locations, and Volunteer Match will give you some opportunities in your area. There are also reviews and advice postings from other volunteers.

    mage: Volunteer Match

  • Charity Miles

    Earn money for a charity when you walk, run, or bike. Simply open the Charity Miles app when you are about to exercise, choose a charity, and get going. As you go, it tracks your distance and how much money you earn, and when you are finished, you simply accept the sponsorship and share it on Facebook. The app donates to causes like The Nature Conservancy, Feeding America, and Autism Speaks. Bikers earn 10 cents a mile, and walkers and runners earn 25 cents a mile.

    Image: Charity Miles

  • iRecycle

    iRecycle is an app to help you find convenient, local recycling opportunities while you are at home or on the go. It provides information and access to recycle more than 350 materials in 1.5 million ways, recycling events, and the latest news from Earth911, an environmental news website.

    Image: Earth911

  • I Can Go Without

    This is another popular micro-donation app. I Can Go Without gives you the option to pick something you care about -- any charity in North America -- or create fundraisers with friends, give a small micro-donation in lieu of a beer or other item, and then share what you did with friends and keep track of your donations. They want you to ask at the end of each week: "What did I do to give back?"

    Image: I Can Go Without

  • HelpBridge

    HelpBridge was created by Microsoft for those times of crisis when you need help or you want to help those you know are in need. Send a message "I need help" or "I'm OK," and then let your emergency contacts know via text, email, or social media. Text to give to charities like the Red Cross if they need donations or supplies, or if you want to give time instead, HelpBridge will help you find volunteer opportunities in your area.

    Image: Microsoft

  • TangoTab

    TangoTab wants to solve the problem of hunger in America. By using a restaurant deal or coupon through the app, they will donate a meal to someone in need through local food banks. TangoTab has fed over 500,000 people so far, and any restaurant can partner with the company if they want to participate.

    Image: TangoTab

  • Check-in For Good

    Most of us have used Foursquare or Facebook to check-in somewhere or tell people our location. What if, by doing that, you could give back to the world? With Check-in For Good, when you check-in to a location, it tells you what charitable causes that place supports, then they will give a micro-donation to that organization. Or, start a campaign yourself and encourage your network to support you.

    Image: Check-in For Good

Budge

Knowing they needed to come up with a fresh way to get people to donate to charities, the creators of Budge decided to make a game out of it. Challenge your friends to any game -- chess, a run, a skateboarding competition -- and play. If you lose, you donate a small amount to a pre-selected charity.

Image: Budge

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By Lyndsey Gilpin

Lyndsey Gilpin is a former Staff Writer for TechRepublic, covering sustainability and entrepreneurship. She's co-author of the book Follow the Geeks.