RailsConf2007 (a framework-specific technical conference) happened a few weeks ago. The organizers did something very cool this year: there was an optional all-day introductory tutorial session by two of the gurus of the framework, and to get in you had make a donation to one of a few selected charities. So, great - they raised about 12k that day. Then, the program coordinator gave a great opening speech encouraging techies to do good in the world, and all through the conference folks were encouraged to donate. By the end they’d raised $33k.

On a smaller scale, the community radio station I work for takes donations of canned goods at every concert they promote. What if this was the norm? What if every large (and small) conference, technical or otherwise, as a matter of course raised money for charity? What if all the big concerts required a ticket and a donation of some sort? What if every major event or financial transaction had philanthropy built-in? Everyone’s used to the idea of service charges; what about a philanthropy charge? Kind of like Kevin’s idea of one-pocket investing, all the time.