We asked Beth Pickard of FirstGiving.com a few questions about her organization’s involvement in Blog Action Day 2009. Here are her answers.

How did you guys find out about Blog Action Day 2009? What made you decide to participate?

FirstGiving blogged about poverty on Blog Action Day last year, and it was incredibly inspiring to see how many voices came together to talk about such an important cause with such passion. We see this passion every day from nonprofits and their supporters on FirstGiving.com, and we’re constantly inspired by the thousands of people raising money online for the causes they care about. Taking the time to focus in and generate awareness worldwide about a cause that impacts everyone is a terrific idea. It’s very much in line with our values as a company, and we’re honored to take part again this year.

What are you planning to write about or do for Blog Action Day today? What’s your position on the issue of climate change and how does your organization address it?

One of the first things that comes to mind about climate change for FirstGiving is energy consumption. As an online company, energy consumption is a necessity. We rely on technology, and our technology relies on energy. But energy consumption can be smarter. Today FirstGiving is blogging about a partnership between the Solar Electric Fund, a nonprofit organization, and John, an individual supporter. They’re working together to make energy sustainable for the segment of the population who are impacted most by climate change: the poor. These are the kinds of relationships that FirstGiving facilitates and nurtures—very exciting stuff!

What impact do you see this issue having in the world in the next 10 or 20 years?

Climate change affects everyone, and those who are least able to cope to a greater degree. FirstGiving is encouraged to see people taking responsibility and action on a daily basis by raising money and engaging their social networks on issues like climate change. These people are having a real impact on the world.

How do you think bloggers can make a difference in social issues like climate change in the offline world?

Simply by being authentic. It’s good to blog about making a difference; it’s better to live it out. People spend a lot of time translating things like social networks from offline to online paradigms, but we should make sure that how we live online isn’t divorced from how we live offline.

What sorts of social media initiatives have you done in the past? What are some things you’re working on now that bloggers and social media users can get involved in?

FirstGiving empowers people to engage their social networks and to raise money using social media—with personal fundraising pages, widgets for personal blogs, and Fundraising (a Facebook application). We keep the conversation going between nonprofits and fundraisers by posting spotlights and stories to the Online Fundraising Blog as well as updates to Twitter and Facebook, and we love hearing from people .

Any other thoughts or ideas you’d like to share?

Thanks for having us, and thanks to the thousands of other bloggers contributing today!

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Thanks to Beth and FirstGiving!

Register now for Blog Action Day (8,857 blogs so far) and sign the petition (6,832 signatures so far)!