Idealist.org is dedicated to helping organizations and individuals make a difference in the world. Users can connect to help with non-profit organizations, events and other charitable causes. Users can also search for a way to obtain resources to complete a project or task to help better the lives of others. The site covers a number of vital areas related to charity and quality of life improvement. These areas include jobs, organizations, events, internships, volunteer opportunities, resources, programs and people. The user can search each to find what they are looking for. Users can also post listings to request assistance from the Idealist.org community. The site is available in English, French and Spanish and also provides user with a short list of resource links to help them find volunteering and career opportunities.

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Idealist.org began as an idea for a global network conceived while the founder, Ami Dar, was backpacking in Chile in 1985. The first version was formed as the Contact Care Network in 1994. Contact.org was launched the following year. The site was renamed Idealist in 1996 and started receiving press attention with a mention in the Village Voice. Today, many students use Idealist.org as a popular resource when searching for internships or volunteering opportunities.

The scope of Idealist.org is what makes the site so appealing to its users. The community spans a number of options, ranging from internships to volunteering and events. Users can toggle their search to suit their needs, whether they are a volunteer or student or the head of a non-profit organization looking for assistance. The website isn’t geographically limited, either. The user community hails from many countries all over the world, expanding the pool of opportunities and resources and making it more likely for a user to find what they are searching for.

Idealist.org focuses far more on content than a flashy design. The website is very well organized and includes plenty of white space so the user never feels intimidated by the amount of information presented on each page. The category options are prominently placed above the search tool bar, allowing users to navigate directly to the area they are interested in without lingering. Indealist.org has created an environment that supplies a great deal of information without bombarding the user or bogging down the overall experience.

A visitor can explore Idealist.org without creating an account. Those who wish to do more than browse can click the blue silver and blue “Sign Up” button in the upper, right hand corner of the homepage. A pop up box will appear and invite the user to sign in with a Facebook, Twitter or Google account. Users can also click the blue “Create” button in the lower, left hand corner to register a separate Idealist.org account. The registration form asks for a first and last name, email address, country location, state or province, city, postal code, password and date of birth. The user must also enter a Captcha code to prove that they are human. The user is advised that they must check their email for a verification link to complete registration.

Idealist.org is available to all users for free. This remains in line with the site’s mission, which is to assist people and organizations in furthering causes for good. The site is not geared towards making money, so charging a fee would be a little difficult to justify. There is a link that invites users to make donations to help support Idealist.org, but this is not a requirement to maintain an account.

Idealist.org is a great resource for anyone who wants to provide volunteer services or students searching for internships. Organizations can also use the site to search for people and resources to fill their needs. Anyone interested in assisting with a non-profit cause can visit Idealist.org and find opportunities from many countries all over the world. The website is an excellent tool to help users find ways to improve the lives of others.

• Users can register accounts using Twitter, Facebook or Google
• Charities can look for people and resources by posting ads on Idealist.org
• Students can browse lists of internship opportunities
• Daily emails allow users to see a list of postings based on their preferences
• Searches can be saved and used when the user returns
• Individual listings can be bookmarked and saved to the user's account

Visit www.idealist.org

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