New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof writes on my favorite charity, in an article titled "Clean, Sexy Water."
The next two months, I am going to embark on a series of articles focusing on the need for clean water around the world. I will share about meeting Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water, personally; planning an art show to benefit this charity; and what I've experienced as the growing attention paid to the global water crisis.
Statistic: The average American uses about 150 gallons of water per day. The average third world person struggles to find 5 gallons of water per day.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
How a slice of pepperoni pizza and a large coke changed it all
A few years ago I decided that I would make every attempt to give whenever someone asked for change on the street. At the time, it seemed radical and maybe a little foolish. But it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in recent years and has really shaped my personal philosophy on money and philanthropy.
The first time I responded to someone’s request was one December night eight years ago. I took a friend for a snack downtown as our friends secretly prepared a surprise birthday party for her. As we walked down the main street, a middle aged man standing with hands crossed in front through frayed gloves, politely and eloquently asked whether I had some change to spare.
I prepared to shake my head, look away, and silently pass by with kindergarten-trained instincts not to talk to strangers. But she stopped. So, I stopped. And she gently asked “It’s Victor, right? I’ve seen you around.” Feeling a little guilty for waiting to just pass by, I fished out all the change I had in my pocket. Full of trepidation, I nervously watched the conversation continue. “Who is this person? How does she know him? What did she have in mind?”
She met him through some volunteer work with the homeless. Towards the end of the conversation, with warmth like talking to an old friend, she asked what he needed then if she could buy him some dinner. A slice of pepperoni pizza and a large coke. We brought him two slices and an extra large.
Shortly after that experience I started a habit of keeping a folded one dollar bill in the front fold of my wallet, precisely for occasions like this. Those one dollar bills led me to fascinating conversations with strangers including trading recipes with a former chef, hearing about different wars from veterans, talking to a former psychologist, diffusing arguments with people suffering from dementia, hearing women escape from abusive relationships, and much more. I’ve learned that circumstances can lead anyone (including me) to similar positions, so why not be generous when one can?
One dollar turned into five dollars, because what can anyone buy with one dollar anymore? And now, I dedicate $50 a month just for unplanned generosity including cash, meals, and other needs. I have and continue to learn so much about the needs of the poor, how charity leaps off your checkbook to the very street you live on, and how transforming even small gifts can be.
"What If" Charge: What if the next time someone asked you for change to spare, you asked for what? What if you give that person a dollar or treated them to a slice of pizza and a large coke?
The first time I responded to someone’s request was one December night eight years ago. I took a friend for a snack downtown as our friends secretly prepared a surprise birthday party for her. As we walked down the main street, a middle aged man standing with hands crossed in front through frayed gloves, politely and eloquently asked whether I had some change to spare.
I prepared to shake my head, look away, and silently pass by with kindergarten-trained instincts not to talk to strangers. But she stopped. So, I stopped. And she gently asked “It’s Victor, right? I’ve seen you around.” Feeling a little guilty for waiting to just pass by, I fished out all the change I had in my pocket. Full of trepidation, I nervously watched the conversation continue. “Who is this person? How does she know him? What did she have in mind?”
She met him through some volunteer work with the homeless. Towards the end of the conversation, with warmth like talking to an old friend, she asked what he needed then if she could buy him some dinner. A slice of pepperoni pizza and a large coke. We brought him two slices and an extra large.
Shortly after that experience I started a habit of keeping a folded one dollar bill in the front fold of my wallet, precisely for occasions like this. Those one dollar bills led me to fascinating conversations with strangers including trading recipes with a former chef, hearing about different wars from veterans, talking to a former psychologist, diffusing arguments with people suffering from dementia, hearing women escape from abusive relationships, and much more. I’ve learned that circumstances can lead anyone (including me) to similar positions, so why not be generous when one can?
One dollar turned into five dollars, because what can anyone buy with one dollar anymore? And now, I dedicate $50 a month just for unplanned generosity including cash, meals, and other needs. I have and continue to learn so much about the needs of the poor, how charity leaps off your checkbook to the very street you live on, and how transforming even small gifts can be.
"What If" Charge: What if the next time someone asked you for change to spare, you asked for what? What if you give that person a dollar or treated them to a slice of pizza and a large coke?
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Microfinance in China, Helping the Rural Poor
Several months ago, a young individual shared a story with me about his experience giving a microloan to China. Through Wokai, an organization facilitating microloans to the rural poor, he made a small contribution to help another person living in Inner-Mongolia. Wokai are the Chinese words for “I start” and demonstrate their commitment to enable the poor to help themselves. I invited him to write this contributed article sharing about his enthusiasm for Wokai.
"I was first introduced to Wokai when I attended a talk by Courtney McColgan, one of the co-founders of Wokai. Wokai is a Kiva for China, connecting lenders in the first world with micro-borrowers in rural China through the Internet. Courtney and her co-founder Casey initially intended to spearhead the formation of Kiva China, but soon realized that Kiva would have regulatory difficulties expanding into China. They decided to form their own organization instead. Many thousands of dollars, months, and the formation of a Chinese on-shore corporation later, Wokai officially launched in the fall of 2008.
"When considering which organizations to support, Wokai has risen into the top of my list for the following reasons:
1. Money lent to a Wokai borrower will be recycled into a new loan of the lender's discretion. Although lenders will not be able to repatriate their money due to regulatory issues in China, this means that contributions will have years to change many lives!
2. Every gift, however small, is a very efficient use of capital. Because the loan amounts requested are small (hundreds of dollars), every marginal dollar contributed to a borrower has a large impact.
3. Wokai's operations are currently focused on Inner-Mongolia, which just so happens to be where my father's family is from."
Links:
[1] Wokai. http://www.wokai.org
[2] “About a gift that keeps on giving” yGive, giveandtell.
Disclaimer: The information presented here is based on the contributing author's research and experience, and in no way reflects the official opinion of Wokai or Kiva.
Editor, give and tell
"I was first introduced to Wokai when I attended a talk by Courtney McColgan, one of the co-founders of Wokai. Wokai is a Kiva for China, connecting lenders in the first world with micro-borrowers in rural China through the Internet. Courtney and her co-founder Casey initially intended to spearhead the formation of Kiva China, but soon realized that Kiva would have regulatory difficulties expanding into China. They decided to form their own organization instead. Many thousands of dollars, months, and the formation of a Chinese on-shore corporation later, Wokai officially launched in the fall of 2008.
"When considering which organizations to support, Wokai has risen into the top of my list for the following reasons:
1. Money lent to a Wokai borrower will be recycled into a new loan of the lender's discretion. Although lenders will not be able to repatriate their money due to regulatory issues in China, this means that contributions will have years to change many lives!
2. Every gift, however small, is a very efficient use of capital. Because the loan amounts requested are small (hundreds of dollars), every marginal dollar contributed to a borrower has a large impact.
3. Wokai's operations are currently focused on Inner-Mongolia, which just so happens to be where my father's family is from."
Contributing Author
Links:
[1] Wokai. http://www.wokai.org
[2] “About a gift that keeps on giving” yGive, giveandtell.
Disclaimer: The information presented here is based on the contributing author's research and experience, and in no way reflects the official opinion of Wokai or Kiva.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Roses, 5 gallon buckets, and Ethiopia
What do roses and five gallon buckets have in common in Ethiopia? Water. Last month, I attended an event where the speaker showcased a compelling story about water use in Ethiopia. In an example highlighting the intersection of water and jobs, he told a story from his visit near Debre Zeit about women who walk for miles to fill a 5 gallon bucket with unfiltered river water. Just a few miles down, the same water was being used to water greenhouses filled with roses belonging to large, multinational corporations. In a matter of days, these rose farms export, auction these roses in the Netherlands at one of the largest rose auction houses, then ship the roses across the world to their final destinations.
While the juxtaposition of one well-resourced and the neighbor in need is not new, this example and pictures made me think about the importance of water access. Although water for drinking is a forgettable portion of global water use, clean drinking water has huge public health and quality of life benefits. One of my favorite charities of 2008 has been on a campaign to bring clean drinking water to the 1.1 billion people in the world without it.
Feature: charity:water
A few months ago, I bought the most expensive bottle of water of my life - $20 for a 0.5 L. But in return, I was given the promise that the funds would go to provide one person with clean drinking water for 20 years. Not too bad when you put it that way. I fell in love with charity:water through photographs - a toddler holding up a glass of dirt-brown water, a woman with hands cupped filtering leaches out of the water, a hospital with muddy water from a faucet, a well being built, crystal clean water and smiling children. More here. charity:water works with local organizations to build the infrastructure needed for clean water access.
How did they start? Scott Harrison, a New York event planner and consultant, took time off to be a photojournalist on a Mercy Ship and returning heartbroken, founded an organization with their first initiative for water access, charity:water. That was three years ago. Last September, charity:water hosted a multi-million dollar campaign to build 333 wells in Ethiopia. I contributed enthusiastically. Consider hearing about their stories in Bangladesh, Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Hondorus, India, Kenya, Liberia, Milawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, or others.
Links:
[1] "Is your water footprint bigger than your carbon footprint?" giveandtell.
[2] charity:water. http://www.charitywater.org
Disclaimer: The information presented here is based on the author's research and experience, and in no way reflects the official opinion of charity:water or charity global, inc.
While the juxtaposition of one well-resourced and the neighbor in need is not new, this example and pictures made me think about the importance of water access. Although water for drinking is a forgettable portion of global water use, clean drinking water has huge public health and quality of life benefits. One of my favorite charities of 2008 has been on a campaign to bring clean drinking water to the 1.1 billion people in the world without it.
Feature: charity:water
A few months ago, I bought the most expensive bottle of water of my life - $20 for a 0.5 L. But in return, I was given the promise that the funds would go to provide one person with clean drinking water for 20 years. Not too bad when you put it that way. I fell in love with charity:water through photographs - a toddler holding up a glass of dirt-brown water, a woman with hands cupped filtering leaches out of the water, a hospital with muddy water from a faucet, a well being built, crystal clean water and smiling children. More here. charity:water works with local organizations to build the infrastructure needed for clean water access.
How did they start? Scott Harrison, a New York event planner and consultant, took time off to be a photojournalist on a Mercy Ship and returning heartbroken, founded an organization with their first initiative for water access, charity:water. That was three years ago. Last September, charity:water hosted a multi-million dollar campaign to build 333 wells in Ethiopia. I contributed enthusiastically. Consider hearing about their stories in Bangladesh, Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Hondorus, India, Kenya, Liberia, Milawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, or others.
Links:
[1] "Is your water footprint bigger than your carbon footprint?" giveandtell.
[2] charity:water. http://www.charitywater.org
Disclaimer: The information presented here is based on the author's research and experience, and in no way reflects the official opinion of charity:water or charity global, inc.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Your own foundation for $50
Today, I started my own foundation, named it, and seeded with $50. That’s right, for $50 USD, or more specifically 500 rand, one can start and name their own Giving Foundation with the GreaterGood for South Africa’s South Africa Social Investment Exchange. So it’s not a foundation in the traditional tax-exempt sense, and it’s not a stock exchange in the traditional Wall Street sense either, but it is a different and terrific way of giving.
Who is GreaterGood for South Africa, and what is a social “stock” exchange?
GreaterGood for South Africa is a four year old online giving marketplace based in South Africa. In their own words, “GreaterGood South Africa brings good causes and committed givers together in meaningful and innovative ways to end poverty in South Africa.” By bringing donors and volunteers together they have been able to quantify their impact since their launch as having donated over 16 million rand (about $1.7 million USD), about 45,000 volunteer hours, and over 500,000 surplus or second hand items.[1] But what I found really intriguing was their social “stock” exchange called the South Africa Social Investment Exchange (SASIX).
Briefly, SASIX “makes carefully selected social development projects available as investment opportunities with a social return.” One can browse funding opportunities by geography, sector (for example food security, environment, HIV/AIDS), and risk (based on, for example, concept, design, capability, control, sustainability). With so many options one can identify a giving opportunity matching many personal values. Once a project has been identified, and if it is not fully funded, one can give by “investing” in “shares” of the project. A share can be a fixed cost at say 50 rand ($5 USD), and a project might be for example 230,000 rand (about $24,000 USD) to refurbish the psychiatric ward of a hospital. A project is fully funded when all shares have been purchased. And “shareholders” are updated regularly with detailed reports.
Setting up a Giving Foundation
More interestingly, a donor has the option of setting up a Giving Foundation – an individualized and personalized charitable fund set up by a family, individual or business. A major benefit for South African tax-payers is tax-efficiency – tax benefits upfront while donations can be distributed throughout the year. But for those outside South Africa, it’s still a fantastic and easy way of discovering, contributing and following projects and charitable donations.
One of the things I appreciate most about this organization is their effort to quantify impact. Knowing how to describe impact has been one of the major challenges and opportunities facing many charities and there is growing demand from donors for comparable metrics of impact. I think GGSA and SASIX are onto something unique not only in how they calculate these metrics, but also how they present it in an accessible way for the new donor or investor.
A low cost to enter
For just 50 rand ($5 USD), one can own a share of a project, and participate in something really special. I find it worthwhile that my small gift can be ever so slightly redemptive for a country historically overlooked by parts of the world. Consider exploring opportunities for greater good in South Africa.
[1] Annual Report. GreaterGood South Africa. April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008.
Disclaimer: The information presented here is based on the author's research and experience, and in no way reflects the official opinion of GreaterGood for South Africa.
Who is GreaterGood for South Africa, and what is a social “stock” exchange?
GreaterGood for South Africa is a four year old online giving marketplace based in South Africa. In their own words, “GreaterGood South Africa brings good causes and committed givers together in meaningful and innovative ways to end poverty in South Africa.” By bringing donors and volunteers together they have been able to quantify their impact since their launch as having donated over 16 million rand (about $1.7 million USD), about 45,000 volunteer hours, and over 500,000 surplus or second hand items.[1] But what I found really intriguing was their social “stock” exchange called the South Africa Social Investment Exchange (SASIX).
Briefly, SASIX “makes carefully selected social development projects available as investment opportunities with a social return.” One can browse funding opportunities by geography, sector (for example food security, environment, HIV/AIDS), and risk (based on, for example, concept, design, capability, control, sustainability). With so many options one can identify a giving opportunity matching many personal values. Once a project has been identified, and if it is not fully funded, one can give by “investing” in “shares” of the project. A share can be a fixed cost at say 50 rand ($5 USD), and a project might be for example 230,000 rand (about $24,000 USD) to refurbish the psychiatric ward of a hospital. A project is fully funded when all shares have been purchased. And “shareholders” are updated regularly with detailed reports.
Setting up a Giving Foundation
More interestingly, a donor has the option of setting up a Giving Foundation – an individualized and personalized charitable fund set up by a family, individual or business. A major benefit for South African tax-payers is tax-efficiency – tax benefits upfront while donations can be distributed throughout the year. But for those outside South Africa, it’s still a fantastic and easy way of discovering, contributing and following projects and charitable donations.
One of the things I appreciate most about this organization is their effort to quantify impact. Knowing how to describe impact has been one of the major challenges and opportunities facing many charities and there is growing demand from donors for comparable metrics of impact. I think GGSA and SASIX are onto something unique not only in how they calculate these metrics, but also how they present it in an accessible way for the new donor or investor.
A low cost to enter
For just 50 rand ($5 USD), one can own a share of a project, and participate in something really special. I find it worthwhile that my small gift can be ever so slightly redemptive for a country historically overlooked by parts of the world. Consider exploring opportunities for greater good in South Africa.
[1] Annual Report. GreaterGood South Africa. April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008.
Disclaimer: The information presented here is based on the author's research and experience, and in no way reflects the official opinion of GreaterGood for South Africa.
Friday, December 19, 2008
How to host a philanthroparty
In a time of economic uncertainty and need for our country, I have been trying to practice deeper gratitude for what I do have. With the holidays approaching, I decided to throw a philanthroparty as way to celebrate the year with friends, and as an opportunity for charitable giving.
A philanthro-what?
This time of the year is one of the most generous times of the year for charities. But charities are not robust to the downturn of the economy, and in fact, many have been disproportionally affected in a time when needs for services are rising. So this month, I chose philanthropy as the theme for my annual holiday party. Instead of a white elephant gift exchange with re-wrapped, unwanted gifts or a secret Santa with uncertain gifts to the stranger, I decided to make this party memorable with something novel.
A different way of giving
Each guest was asked to bring either a $25 gift certificate for an online giving marketplace or a $25 donation to the charity of their choice. Everyone was encouraged to select a cause that reflected something they were personally connected to with examples including international, health and education. One by one, guests took an envelope containing the gift from the Christmas tree. And with each unveiling gift, the donor shared a brief introduction to the cause and why they were enthusiastic about it. The exchange obeyed some of the rules of other familiar gift exchanges. For example, each guest had an option to “adopt” a previously opened charity from another guest, which made the exchange a little lively at times.
To my surprise, a diverse spectrum of charities was represented. They spanned size from a newly started scholarship fund for Thai students to international online giving marketplaces. They covered the globe from China and India to inner city American schools. All had something different to share.
At least one
My biggest hope from the evening was that each guest, including myself, left having connected with at least one charity in a new way. At least one. Whether it was the charity they brought or left with or one shared during the evening, I was glad to see the philanthropic interest of others sparked. I was thrilled to receive an email from a guest the next day sharing that she had left thinking about an international relief agency and had a few enthusiastic café conversations about it that next morning. For myself, I learned new things about the hearts of people I have seen regularly for years and new organizations whose cause to support.
Might you consider doing something different this holiday season, maybe for at least one?
A philanthro-what?
This time of the year is one of the most generous times of the year for charities. But charities are not robust to the downturn of the economy, and in fact, many have been disproportionally affected in a time when needs for services are rising. So this month, I chose philanthropy as the theme for my annual holiday party. Instead of a white elephant gift exchange with re-wrapped, unwanted gifts or a secret Santa with uncertain gifts to the stranger, I decided to make this party memorable with something novel.
A different way of giving
Each guest was asked to bring either a $25 gift certificate for an online giving marketplace or a $25 donation to the charity of their choice. Everyone was encouraged to select a cause that reflected something they were personally connected to with examples including international, health and education. One by one, guests took an envelope containing the gift from the Christmas tree. And with each unveiling gift, the donor shared a brief introduction to the cause and why they were enthusiastic about it. The exchange obeyed some of the rules of other familiar gift exchanges. For example, each guest had an option to “adopt” a previously opened charity from another guest, which made the exchange a little lively at times.
To my surprise, a diverse spectrum of charities was represented. They spanned size from a newly started scholarship fund for Thai students to international online giving marketplaces. They covered the globe from China and India to inner city American schools. All had something different to share.
At least one
My biggest hope from the evening was that each guest, including myself, left having connected with at least one charity in a new way. At least one. Whether it was the charity they brought or left with or one shared during the evening, I was glad to see the philanthropic interest of others sparked. I was thrilled to receive an email from a guest the next day sharing that she had left thinking about an international relief agency and had a few enthusiastic café conversations about it that next morning. For myself, I learned new things about the hearts of people I have seen regularly for years and new organizations whose cause to support.
Might you consider doing something different this holiday season, maybe for at least one?
Sunday, December 14, 2008
About a gift that keeps on giving
I don't know about you, but I want every dollar I spend to work hard for me. There is a certain grand satisfaction in knowing that I just helped make the world a better place, and maximizing that effort maximizes that joy.
Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency
I came across a Charity Navigator top-10 list one day that shames 10 charities that are drowning in administrative costs, consuming more than half of your donated dollars for anything not directly related to the mission you intended to support. I got curious about thinking about the most efficient ways to give financially and I ultimately landed at opportunities in microfinance, particularly with an organization called Kiva. Giving to Kiva is wonderfully efficient because 100% of your donation goes to the project you want to fund, and afterwards you can make a separate designation for Kiva if you wish (their suggestion is only 10% of your transaction). Also, once the loans have been repaid, you can relend that money to other projects perpetually.
It takes money to make money
Microfinance is a banking principle of providing financial services like small loans to clients with few or no assets, and in my area of interest to the poor in developing countries. With Kiva, you and several other investors can choose to bankroll any amount of the small business needs of any number of people in a shopping cart style. Once they get their need met, they go and make use of the money and return the loan at low-interest. It is said that credit is an incredibly powerful financial tool, and it is, but it is quite generally unavailable to the world's poor. The poor of the world then are not able to take on costly endeavors that jump-start their small business and bring themselves out of poverty: it takes money to make money. Therefore, microfinance has its place in the fight against systemic poverty.
Give it a spin
Microfinance is an incredibly rewarding experience for me, though admittedly I'm helped by never having experienced a default on my loan (but most people don't, since the average default rate is less than 4%). Instead, I've seen people all around the world make wonderful use of their immense individual resourcefulness and my small, humble, financial contribution. If you're interested in business and investing, and you want to see people do well with just a small kick start, microfinancing just might be the game for you.
Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency
I came across a Charity Navigator top-10 list one day that shames 10 charities that are drowning in administrative costs, consuming more than half of your donated dollars for anything not directly related to the mission you intended to support. I got curious about thinking about the most efficient ways to give financially and I ultimately landed at opportunities in microfinance, particularly with an organization called Kiva. Giving to Kiva is wonderfully efficient because 100% of your donation goes to the project you want to fund, and afterwards you can make a separate designation for Kiva if you wish (their suggestion is only 10% of your transaction). Also, once the loans have been repaid, you can relend that money to other projects perpetually.
It takes money to make money
Microfinance is a banking principle of providing financial services like small loans to clients with few or no assets, and in my area of interest to the poor in developing countries. With Kiva, you and several other investors can choose to bankroll any amount of the small business needs of any number of people in a shopping cart style. Once they get their need met, they go and make use of the money and return the loan at low-interest. It is said that credit is an incredibly powerful financial tool, and it is, but it is quite generally unavailable to the world's poor. The poor of the world then are not able to take on costly endeavors that jump-start their small business and bring themselves out of poverty: it takes money to make money. Therefore, microfinance has its place in the fight against systemic poverty.
Give it a spin
Microfinance is an incredibly rewarding experience for me, though admittedly I'm helped by never having experienced a default on my loan (but most people don't, since the average default rate is less than 4%). Instead, I've seen people all around the world make wonderful use of their immense individual resourcefulness and my small, humble, financial contribution. If you're interested in business and investing, and you want to see people do well with just a small kick start, microfinancing just might be the game for you.
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