Idealist

Idealist connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives. Idealist is independent of any government, political ideology, or religious creed. Its work is guided by the common desire of its members and supporters to find practical solutions to social and environmental problems in a spirit of generosity and mutual respect.

While backpacking in Chile in 1985, Ami Dar had the idea for a global network that would help connect people and organizations to do more with all the resources we have. Ami put this idea into action in 1994 when he began Contact Center Network, an attempt to link meeting spaces in different communities where people could connect with neighbors who might share interest and ideas for local action.

By 2009, Contact Center Network, after having gone through a name change or two and expanding its vision, had become Idealist. It is now a major international resource with over one million registered users and a range of resources and services, including, for instance, information on volunteering, nonprofit careers, nonprofit management, graduate school, blogs and books.

Today, idealist.org is the web’s leading source for nonprofit and social enterprise jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities, with 70,000 organizations on board and more than 100,000 visitors every day. While Idealist provides most information without a charge, it does charge U.S.-based organizations a fee for each job they post.

Selected Awards:
Best Community Website (Community Category)
Webby Award, 2002