Apps for Good

I love my phone. Not so much for the phone part, but for the little computer in there that connects me to the world, no matter where I am.

The phone has our calendars, our mail -- and, increasingly, our volunteer opportunities. It's the day timer of our times. But better than a day timer, the phone offers discovery, too.

Lots of nonprofits and individuals are at work to make this discovery include nonprofits and volunteering. Here are a few of our favorite apps for good -- apps that connect people to nonprofits and causes.

The Extraordinaries: Sometimes doing good just takes a minute, no matter where you are. The Extraordinaries iPhone app brings online volunteering to your phone. Help a French art museum describe paintings while you ride the bus. Photograph playgrounds for advocacy on your walk home. And many other activities, all of which can be measured in minutes.

Catalista: Volunteer in person at a place near you. Catalista combines the All for Good listing of volunteer opportunities with the iPhone's GPS to present ways you can give back in the real world.

GiveWork: Virtual volunteering. Similar to The Extraordinaries, GiveWork hands out tasks you can do from your phone. You answers serve as quality control, checking the work of a marginalized person somewhere around the world. If your answers match those of your helper, that person gets paid for their work.

CauseWorld: Embedded giving. Earn points by checking in at businesses. Then donate the points to the nonprofit of your choice. CauseWorld's sponsors turn the points into cash.

Zoetica: Beth Kanter and friends' iPhone app pulls together articles on nonprofits and fundraising from various places across the web (including this blog). Keep up with the latest on nonprofits and social media.

Charity Finder: Listing of nonprofits. A searchable list of nonprofits for your pocket. Includes brief information and links to the nonprofits' websites.