Top 100 Social Entrepreneurs, Businesses, and Ideas on Twitter

Twitter is here to stay. In the past few months site usage has increased dramatically, over 55% from January 2009 to February 2009. Users include Barrack Obama, CNN, and TechCrunch.

Twitter is a microblogging platform which connects users and allows them to share what they are doing- in 140 characters or less. The site empowers individuals, companies, and even the government to interact with their core constituents.

This includes social entrepreneurs, businesses, and ideas. Twitter is a powerful means for social entrepreneurs to inform others of the positive change they are creating in the world. At SocialEarth, we wanted to promote social entrepreneurs and social organizations who are currently using Twitter. While some of the users may not be classified as a social entrepreneur in the traditional sense, we sought users who were genuinely interesting in increasing human welfare via their work. The list categories are: Education, Grants, Green, Humanitarian, Media, Microfinance, and Social Entrepreneurs.

Education

EducateOrg
lnpproject
NanubhaiEF
SchSocEnt
Sicamp

Fundraising

Buy1GIVE1proj
Firstgiving
GlobalGiving
ZoomGrants

Green

Appropedia
Bestgreenblogs
Carbonfundorg
CarbonHeart
Cleaner_energy
Denversolarguy
Earthpromise
Ecogeek
EcoInteractive
Ecopond
GreenCanada
GreenerMKE
Greenmichigan
Greennews
Greenpeaceusa
iGoGoGreen
Jetsongreen
LighterFootstep
Onegreenearth
PanNature
PlanetForward
Sheagunther
Sustainablog
SustainLane
TreeHugger
WaterAidAmerica
WaterPartners

Humanitarian

Aidg
ASCENDalliance
Bajandream
Freedomclothing
HopeandHomes
Hp_org
Seva_Foundation
Stevorevo
StudentsCare
UniversalGiving
Worldresources

Media/ News

AlertNet
Changedotorg
Echoinggreen
Everywun
Focusthenation
GlobalEnvision
Globalvoices
Idealist
Neddotcom
Nlw
Sm4sc
Socialactions
Socialedge
Socialentrprnr
Thing2thing1
UnLtdWorld
Virgance
Worldchanging

Microfinance

Acumenfund
BasaBody
Common_Interest
Endeavor_global
Fivetalents
Footprintsntwk
GoMicrofinance
Grameen_Fdn
Heifer
Kivafellows
Lend4health
Mfinsights
MicroBikeUSA
Microplace
OppIntCanada
OptINnow
P_2_P
Rarenaud

Social Entrepreneurs

AshokaTweets
Catchafire
Chanellecarver
Davidbeckwith
Forimpact
HUB_Global
Janejohnson
JCCapelli
JoeDeLoss
KooDooZ
Montero
My95
OperationOF
Osize
PartnershipWalk
Project 7 (+1)
SociallyDriven
Windowboy
YogaBear

Now we know our list above is not exhaustive but we wanted to keep it to 100 users. If you’d like to join the social entrepreneurship movement, add your Twitter username to the comment section below!

Contributor Profile: Erik

Erik is a perpetually curious social innovator. As a serial entrepreneur, Erik knows a thing or two about change. As a co-founder of SocialEarth, Erik hopes to channel his passion for social advocacy into an innovative venue of social awareness for others. Website: SocialEarth
Twitter: @erikeliason

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arthur romero

How about @jamesaromero - founder of cr8change.org the green web hosting company that plants a tree on behalf of every account, every month... Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary gas causing global climate change. Trees retain the carbon (C) from the CO2 molecule and release oxygen (O2) into the atmosphere. The carbon makes up half the dry weight of a tree.

Forests are the world's second largest carbon reservoirs (oceans are the largest). Unlike oceans, however, we can grow new forests. Planting new trees remains one of the cheapest, most effective means of drawing excess CO2 from the atmosphere. One acre of forestland will sequester between 150 - 200 tons of CO2 in its first 40 years.

Saul Good

Another couple good social entrepreneurs to add:

@tobybarazzuol - social entrepreneur leading the way to creating a sustainable business community in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Currently runs Eclipse Awards, a leading sustainable recognition awards business - www.eclipseawards.com

@itsaulgood - social entrepreneur contributing to the development and capacity of various social enterprises, providing training and employment opportunities for women living in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Tradeworks trains women in carpentry and builds various FSC certified and reclaimed wood gift boxes and awards that are developed and distributed via Saul Good (www.itsaulgood.com) and Eclipse Awards.

Bhalchander Vishwanath

Erik,

Thanks for putting together a great list of people to follow.

You could add:

@bhalchander ( http://www.unitedprosperity.org)

P2P lending. microfinance

Cheers
Bhalchander

Jeffrey Abbott

Great list! Thanks for putting it together. Interested to know your metrics.

Sincerely,
twitter id jeffrey_abbott

Ian

Great list - thanks for putting it together!

Rachel

Awesome list! Can we add http://www.twitter.com/grantgopher?

Trying to get grant information to individuals, nonprofits and businesses free, and also a fledgling social network where the members support each other with information and inspiration!

Erik

Hi Jeffrey,

Thanks for the comment. The users we selected are organized primarily into two categories: organizations that are currently creating positive impact and interacting with followers on twitter or individuals and ideas that we believe will have a significant impact in the future and can leverage twitter to promote their cause. Also, we included a few individuals who were simply interested in improving human welfare via social enterprises. The list is somewhat subjective, but the main goal is to promote social entrepreneurship via social media.

Thanks,
Erik

Rachael

Thanks for putting this list together. It's a great resource!

GoEverywhere Team

This is one of the most thorough Twitter lists I have seen! I absolutely love how far twitter has come. It looks like I need to get on my webtop and add quite a few people/companies to my Twitter stream.

natalia

please add @nakisnakis.

represents new york women social entrepreneurs (nywse).

NYWSE is the New York Chapter of Young Women Social Entrepreneurs (YWSE). NYWSE members include seasoned social entrepreneurs, women transitioning from one career to another, and/or adding a social venture idea to their already full plates. NYWSE supports and promotes women social entrepreneurs through workshops, networking opportunities, an incubator, a mentoring program, and a book club forum.

For more info, check out: www.ywse.org/nywse

Justyna

Great list. Very thorough and informative. thanks for taking the time to do this and it sure will make it easier to find great people to follow on twitter.

greenskeptic

Some interesting suggestions. Thanks.

@greenskeptic

Susan McPherson

Please consider adding the Business Council for Peace @bpeaceHQ - we provide mentoring and training for business women in war-torn regions including Afghanistan and Rwanda.

Susan McPherson
@LittleMac1

Sue Trumpfheller

We are changing the world one post at a time. Shifting focus and taking responsibility for the world we live in now and the world we are helping to create.
@FreshandVital

creating a blog to support eco-entrepreneurs and creating a radio show...stay in touch
http://www.eco-entrepreneur.info

Lisa Williams

I don't know if I would consider someone with 33 followers a top social entrepreneur? Interesting article. though!

Noah

http://twitter.com/Marielhemingway is also an eco-friendly source of great info!

Nelda Sanker

Very informative list. Thanks for putting it together. We'd love if you'd add us @mentors (www.enterprise-mentors.org) under microfinance on your list. Thanks again!

Kelli Ross

Thanks for including @fivetalents on your Microfinance list!

HippyGourmet

Can't forget @hippygourmet in the media section.

Organic Living with the Hippy Gourmet is a national PBS and syndicated commercial television series in its 10th season that reaches over 34 million homes each week, featuring all things organic and sustainable.

The Hippy Gourmet also highlights individuals and groups making a real difference in clean-tech, solar/wind power, electric vehicles, eco-tourism, Industrial Hemp and so much more!

Organic Living TV with the Hippy Gourmet can be seen on PBS stations, Dish Network (9415), commercial broadcasting stations, On-demand and on YouTube.

http://www.HippyGourmet.com
http://www.Twitter.com/HippyGourmet
http://www.YouTube.com/HippyGourmet

Terri Brooks

Great list! Thanks for compiling it.

I'm an Online Business Manager, certified in Internet Marketing and Social Media Marketing.

Follow me on Twitter, and I'll follow you back!

http://www.twitter.com/avirtualbiz

Thanks!

Social Networking San Diego

great post! don't forget social networking san diego who is doing social networking for businesses- who'd of thought :)
twitterholic justinrfrench

Parul

check out twitter.com/ngopost and http://ngopost.org - a platform for sharing news and ideas related to social welfare

Paul Dunn

Thank you for the mention of B1G1 in the Fundraising Section. Really pleased to see our messages getting out there.

Paul

http://twitter.com/pauldunn

Ryan Allis

This is great. I'm @ryanallis. I run iContact and The Humanity Campaign out of North Carolina.

http://twitter.com/ryanallis

Daniel

How does one get on this list? Haha, but in all seriousness, thanks for putting this together and for working to create an incredible resource of a website. Social Earth is an amazing tool!

Thomas F. Anglero

Hi Erik,

I am the founder of WiHood. WiHood provides a virtual laptop service on a portable USB bracelet so everyone has access to PC services and benefits from the internet.

In March, we began providing 465 girls, in a remote school in Kenya, each with their own virtual PC desktops from only 5 PCs in the school. These girls now have the ability to receive an education equal to that of students in Europe and the US.

WiHood would be honored to be included on your list.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/WiHood
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/WiHood/2190724805...

Thank you.

http://www.WiHood.com

Tanya Lacy

www.twitter.com/intercept
Social Entrepreneurship + Micro Franchising + Loans for Micro Franchises = Intercept Poverty

Amazing resource Thank-you for getting it up. The world needs us and the time is now.

Tanya

cynthia

great list!
please add Hippo Roller International to your list of social entrepreneurs!

In many countries, traditional water collection involves carrying a 5-gallon (20-liter) bucket on the head. This practice puts a great burden on the body and can damage the spine, neck and knees over time. A full Hippo Water Roller only feels like 22 pounds (10 kg) when rolled over level ground, making it possible for almost anyone to transport 24 gallons (90 liters) of water in much less time and with greater ease.

New Profit Inc.

Great List! Please add @newprofit.com, we're a funder of social entrepreneur-led organizations. @ashokatweets is also great. Change.org blog on SEship, @socialentrprnr. Some social entrepreneur-led orgs on Twitter include @cschools, @teachforamerica, @nspnet, @PeaceGames, @kaboomplay....

Julie

Hi,

Great to see Social Entrepreneurship movement grows on Twitter. Please add me too @makezen

Thanks

paul polak

Great site, would love to see International Development Enterprises (IDEorg.org) and Design for the Other 90% (D-REV.org) posted.
Thanks!

Jennifer Poole

Thanks Erik, this list is a great resource, and a good starting point for anyone fairly new to Twitter (like ourselves).

NeoAid is an online portal where your can search, shop, sign up for offers or download free software and generate donations for your favorite cause at no cost to you. Find us @neoaid or @neoaidcom - follow us, and we'll follow you back.

Erik

Hi Jennifer, I'm glad you find the list useful! Neoaid looks great, we would love to publish a story on your work. Please email me if you're interested.

Rachel Ferrucci

You can add @RachelFerrucci

Founder/Owner of http://Touchd.net homemade Bath and Body Products
Editor/Owner http://MamaRucci.wordpress.com
Co-Host http://BlogTalkRadio.com/CoastalChicksUnplugged

Pete

The American version of GlobalGiving have their Twitter account posted above under the Fundraising section but for all non-American traffic you can follow the GlobalGiving UK Twitter. Our Twitter account is @globalgivinguk come find us and see what we are doing

Femke

Pifworld could also be added to the list. We just got started with our online platform for fundraising. we connect people with each other and good causes. we tried to make it fun and easy to do good. You can also follow us on Twitter @Pifworld

@williambaobean

please add italki.com under education. enabling the worlds population to teach each other languages for free via language exchange over the internet with the biproduct cultural exchange.

find us under @italki

thanks
@williambaobean

Lisa

Please add LSmall13 on twitter.

Karen Solomon

Thanks for the great list. Would love to see Opportunity Green noted http://www.opportunitygreen.com or via twitter #oppgreen check us out!!

martha

"Twitter is here to stay." I agree. Lately there has been a good deal of cynical criticism about Twitter's limitations and whispers about its looming demise, but lets see it for what it is: a fast, informative way to stay up-to-date and keep in touch with brands, people and any other anthropomorphizable object. This tool was built for the twenty first century and beyond.