How can causes use Facebook?

I am so impressed with the Charlotte teens who reached out on Facebook to tell me about their favorite cause, Playing For Others. The organization pulls together the performing arts and volunteerism. High school students involved with the performing arts go through a nine-month program in which they buddy with special needs kids. This year the teens are working with Misty Meadows Mitey Riders, which provides equine therapy for special needs kids. The photo above is from the group's public  Facebook page, which you can see here. 

Morgan Lane Grubbs, a senior at Hopewell High school, said this on my Facebook wall about Playing For Others: 

"Not only is PFO helping local non-profits work with these amazing children, it is also raising a future generation of leaders who are inclusive, accepting and driven to create change in their communities. I have been involved with PFO since I was a freshman in high school; now as a senior I can see the visible and tangible changes in myself. I am better equipped to deal with the adult world I am about to join. PFO has changed my life. I would encourage everyone I know, and even those I don't to check it out."

Many other teens, and a few adults, chimed in to tell me about Playing For Others when asked you to tell me about your favorite Charlotte causes. All these folks wrote about PFO on my Facebook Wall:

Emily Hudson, Julie Thomas Walton, Joseph Vladimir Ehrman-Dupre, Kaitlin Wightman-Ausman, Austin Whitehead, Rebecca June Moore, Savvy Jillani, Melissa Lebet, Julianna Sosa, Marina Hoggan, Meghan Neal, Briann Messick, Tracy Irick Grubbs, Emily Moore and Clara Grace Howell. If I'm not mistaken, Kate Schwab, daughter of two Observer types, started the whole movement to get PFO noticed here. 

You'll notice this whole thing took place on Facebook, which has become a gathering place for nonprofits. But how is that working in the recession? Are causes able to find financial support?

Tonight there's a get together at the lovely McGlohon Theater uptown to talk about Mission Possible, the media-partner effort to brainstorm and implement innovative ideas to help Charlotte nonprofits get through this hard time. You can find details at the Facebook events page.

I'd like to hear from you: How can our community best use social media to help good causes?