Causes was founded on the belief that in a healthy society, anyone can participate in change by informing and inspiring others. The most successful movements have always been born out of and held together by the bonds of real world relationships, and online social networks present never before seen opportunities for organizing. They strive to build tools for people to mobilize their friends for collective action, spread the word to friends of friends and acquaintances, and eventually launch movements that span local communities or even the globe.

Because they believe there are infinite ways to positively impact our world, anyone can create a user-created advocacy group on Causes. This group, called a “cause,” is the building block for all activity on the site. They strive for equal opportunity activism, which means that causes created by nonprofits and causes created by concerned individuals share the same level-playing field. Unlike other models that favor organizations with large budgets, causes rise and fall based on how well leaders organize and keep their communities engaged and mobilized. Cause administrators can post announcements to the cause and communicate with members through email and Facebook notifications. Members can discuss the issues, share their experiences, post media, and sign petitions.  Causes can choose whether or not to fundraise by selecting a beneficiary organization to receive donations; these donations are automatically delivered monthly by Network for Good.

There is no one way to measure a cause’s success: a cause can spread awareness to a new demographic, teach users how to make changes in their daily lives, raise money to reach important goals, or encourage people to share personal stories and find support. 

Whether you are an activist who wants to stop genocide or a nonprofit that promotes literacy, Causes can be your platform. It is a tool to help people go from caring about issues to doing something to make change. Anyone can change the world. How will you?