StartSomeGood: The Blog

Crowdfunding for non-profits

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:18:24 -0700

Non-profits are the original crowdfunders. The first time someone went door-to-door asking for contributions, or collected donations on a street corner, they were essentially crowdfunding, by collecting numerous smaller contributions to fund social impact projects that couldn’t otherwise get off the ground.

So non-profits should be naturals at using the new generation of fundraising platforms which have been given the crowdfunding label. But many are hesitant about giving it a go, put off by a fear of failure or a lack of understanding about what’s involved. Hopefully this blog post can help encourage more to make use of this great opportunity!

At StartSomeGood, we’ve hosted scores of successful non-profit crowdfunding campaigns and are passionate about helping non-profits (and for-profit social enterprises) take advantage of crowdfunding to raise the funds and rally the community you need to make a difference.

We wanted to share some advice and answer some common questions from non-profits looking to take the leap.

How is crowdfunding different to other fundraising activities?

Non-profits were crowdfunding before it was cool – before the term was even coined. The underlying dynamic of many people pooling their contributions to make impact on a social problem they care about still remains. What today’s version of crowdfunding offers you is improved game dynamics, greater transparency and the additional momentum of social media.

Crowdfunding projects are:

Shareable: just one click and your cause is in front of a community you’ve never connected with before, as your current supporters reach out to their family and friends
Tangible: the project page gives you the opportunity to set a concrete goal and give backers the sense that they can really make it happen.
Personal: your project video enables you to talk one-on-one with your backers, to share your emotional connection with the work you’re doing.
Rewarding: crowdfunding gives you the opportunity to overcome ‘donor fatigue’ by offering genuinely exciting, covetable rewards that make your campaign more fun than guilt-inducing.
Transparent: by making your progress towards your goal completely transparent you inspire greater attention and participation from your supporters. By making the tipping point goal all-or-nothing you leverage game dynamics which make people more likely to give.

Pro-tip: It’s easy to define your crowdfunding campaign when you’re engaged in discreet projects such as pilot programs or once-off infrastructure creation. But non-profits are often doing long-term, ongoing work, so it can seem difficult to create a tangible project to crowdfund. Consider how you could reframe ongoing activities as discreet “chunks”. For example, you could aim to fund your operations for a particular time period, expand to an additional location or hire a new much-needed member of staff. Then try to quantify the impact of the changes you can make with the additional funds you’re seeking.

How does offering rewards help?

Crowdfunding gives you the opportunity to combine a social change story (inspiration) with a great product/reward (acquisitiveness) plus personal networks (relationships) to make contribution uniquely compelling.

Pro-tip:

Don’t dial it in when it comes to rewards. Apply your experience and skills from traditional fundraising to the crowdfunding setting. If you’ve ever tracked down prizes for a raffle, you’ll know how willing local businesses can be to sponsor prizes. If you often have a keynote speaker at gala events, consider offering tickets to a talk as rewards. Here are some more ideas on choosing rewards.

Question: We’ve never crowdfunded before – how can I inspire confidence within our organization and amongst our supporters?

Look to the track record of the crowdfunding platform you’re using, and ask them to point you to similar organisations to yours who have succeeded. At StartSomeGood, we can connect you with success stories from similar non-profits and give our view on what helped them connect.

For supporters, trust is particularly important when non-profits turn to crowdfunding. If I’m buying a Pebble Watch and it arrives late, I might be a little miffed. But if I’m funding an organization that claims to be making the world a better place but leaves me wondering where my money went, then bigger things are at stake.

Pro-tip:

Be explicit and accountable. Set out on your project page exactly how you will use funds, and then update your contributors after the campaign to let them know how their support has made a difference. Think credibility when choosing a crowdfunding platform. We vet all projects on StartSomeGood according to a transparent set of values and criteria, so your project won’t be featured next to a Romanian Viagra scam.

Question: What happens after the project is funded – how can I harness that momentum when we need ongoing support?

The excitement and personal interaction around a crowdfunding campaign make supporters feel more engaged with your organisation than a typical once-off donation. If you’re starting something new, backers will feel like co-founders of your new venture, they’ll want to join you on that journey. This is an opportunity to expand your community that you can’t afford to miss.

Pro-tips:

Use every means possible to connect with your supporters both during and after the campaign. On StartSomeGood, use the Updates feature, and give regular reports on your progress over social media.
Ask your supporters to sign-up to your newsletter and social media channels after the campaign, and offer them opportunities to volunteer.
Having said that, respect their privacy – include opt-out links in further communications.
Ask questions – what would your backers like to see you do next? Fulfil your rewards as efficiently as possible to express your gratitude for their support.

Hopefully, this has given you some food for thought on how crowdfunding can work for your non-profit organisation. We’re here to help if you have any questions, or if you’d like to do some more reading, check out our page on how to run a successful crowdfunding campaign. Ready to StartSomeGood? Get started here.

Using solar power to boost productivity at an ethical sewing enterprise in India

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:55:00 -0700

For many disadvantaged women living in rural India, their reality is living in a cycle of constant and crippling debt just to stay afloat. Vandanamu Ethical Cottons wants to break this cycle by providing these women with sustainable employment so they can feel empowered to provide for their families and secure a bright future for their children and community.

Vandanamu Ethical Cottons sources wholesale orders for cotton bags in the UK and has them produced at their sewing unit, which employs women from a small town in Southern India. These lovely bags are printed by hand and then sewn by the women employed at the sewing unit. Unfortunately, the unit has been suffering from daily 12-14 hour power cuts, which greatly affects productivity. When productivity suffers, turn around time is slower and urgent large orders are lost.

Luckily, Vandanamu Ethical Cottons has a solution! These women’s livelihoods can be saved and all it takes is a few solar panels to generate electricity for 20 sewing machines. Obtaining and installing these panels will cost about £4,990. Not only does this mean more work and better pay for the ladies who need it most, it also means the sewing unit will become ultra green by going completely off the grid. So let’s help Vandanamu Ethical Cottons reach their goal of empowering women in South India. And, in the process, pick yourself up a beautiful handmade cotton bag as part of your backer rewards!

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What good do you want to create? Visit StartSomeGood today to learn about how to start your own campaign.

StartSomeGood News: lacrosse camp for minority girls and a website to tackle the fossil fuel industry

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:00:31 -0700

Brand New Good! StartSomeGood’s newest campaigns:

Orlando First Stick Lacrosse started off their campaign with a ton of momentum, tipping almost immediately after launching. This program teaches at-risk & minority girls in Orlando to play lacrosse. They’re raising funds to buy equipment for a pilot program this summer. The city of Orlando will allow a 6-week pilot program during the girls’ regular summer camp, but to make the project work, each girl will need her own equipment.

Help inspire youth to identify their greatness and pursue their dreams. Inner Hero is a no-cost program for 4th through 7th graders that focuses on self-awareness, individuality, conflict management, and positive thinking. Reaching a $2,500 tipping point would enable the program to operate 4 times per week until the end of 2013.

The Perot Museum of Nature has generously donated a Digitalis Alpha 2+ planetarium projection system to Nomad Domes for use in Kenya to help children understand, and inspire them to preserve, the amazing night skies in East Africa. The $8,000 tipping point will cover shipping costs to Kenya and training for the Amateur Astronomy Society of Kenya staff members so children across East Africa can begin to explore the beautiful Kenyan skies.

350 Australia is a grassroots global movement working to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis. Following Bill McKibben’s widely successful “Do the Maths” tour, they’re ready to tackle the fossil fuel industry head on by launching the “Go Fossil Free” website. This will provide tools for individuals, universities, and institutions to switch from banks that are funding fossil fuel projects in Australia. Just $10,000 will help initiate this project to preserve the Australian landscape.

GET Local Ireland creates local employment and delivers quality local Irish food to empower communities to become more resilient and sustainable. They’re currently developing the boabox system. The biabox will allow people to order fresh, local, and fairly priced food online and have it delivered to their doorsteps. This will also make it easier for local producers to enter the marketplace and create sustainable employment. They’re looking to recruit and train 3 ambassadors and support and train 6 new local food producers.

A group of filmmakers, photographers, and sociologists aim to empower Tibetans through digital storytelling. Via digital channels, Tibetans will be able to record and share the increasing challenges and dramatic changes they face on a daily basis. These films can help ignite social change! Through Their Eyes seeks $9,100 to run the first digital storytelling workshop and purchase 5 cameras and 2 laptops to train up to 20 participants in the first year.

There are many children growing up in the UK who learned English as a second language and therefore face an achievement gap when compared to their English fluent counterparts. SmartNative aims to combat these educational struggles bilingual children face in the UK. Campaign funds raised will enable them to launch an interactive website to aid schoolteachers in improving the academic performance of bilingual children.

Uncle Jack Charles is one of the most well known and loved Indigenous Australian Actors. Stolen from his family at a young age as part of an experiment to merge Aboriginals into white society, he struggled with addiction and abuse in his life and was able to overcome great odds. He is now a greatly respected Aboriginal Elder and role model. Leonie Rhodes is an artist seeking $1,000 for materials and studio rent to make the first original piece of her ‘Significantly Small’ collection. It will be a highly detailed sculpture of Jack Charles that will help share his story and highlight and bring awareness to prejudice issues that still exist in Australia.

Shawn D. Ross

I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me @shawndross and visit my websites: sdrinspire.tumblr.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com.

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship: Ashoka's social change summer reads and Echoing Green announces the 2013 fellows

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:09:39 -0700

The vacation is planned, the dates circled in red, and you are determined to have some “me” time this summer. Whether you are go away or staying close to home, summer is a great time to get in some relaxation and quality reading. You can do both by choosing a few titles from Ashoka’s list of 30 Social Entrepreneurship Reads for Aspiring Changmakers. Written by innovators, Ashoka fellows, social entrepreneurs, and leading experts, these titles will inspire and fire up your ideas.
Echoing Green has announced their 2013 class offellows.Continuing the 25-year legacy for pioneering social change, this class of 28 organizations was selected from a pool of 2,872 applicants. Among this class of ultra impressive social entrepreneurs are two ventures that used StartSomeGood to successfully crowdfund their projects! Of course, we’re so excited for Wecyclers and Anjna Patient Education, but also join us in congratulating the entire the 2013 Class of Echoing Green Fellows!
Starting an impact-driven for-profit business is unique, with mission-focused difficulties that need to be navigated properly. Impact Engine has designed a 16-week program with this in mind. They will teach you the best practices all types of social entrepreneurs should know to launch and grow a successful business. Apply by June 30th and start making an impact.
Do you lead a venture designed to deliver social and/or environmental impact at the Base of the Pyramid in India? Do you need early stage capital to begin further developing it? If you’re reading this and screaming “YES!” you may be eligible to apply for the Artha Venture Challenge, where the winner is awarded $50k in match funding and investment readiness support to add value to their venture. The deadline to apply is June 17th.
Doing Well & Doing Good: Opportunities in Social Innovation is a class for folks wanting to find work with meaning but still be able to pay off those pesky student loans. This class will offer an overview of some of the leading players and activities working in the social innovation space and help you understand where to look for job opportunities.

Shawn D. Ross

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email Nicole (Nicole @ StartSomeGood.com)

How one non-profit raised over $3,000 to put an escape manual in the hands of domestic violence survivors

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:03:55 -0700

Erin Biebuyck was working with domestic violence survivors for the Middle Way House when she discovered a real need within the community. Middle Way House is a non-profit domestic violence program and rape crisis center in Bloomington, Indiana. They provide emergency shelter and a plethora of other services for women and children who have survived domestic violence. When Erin realized the local libraries in the Middle Way House service area were lacking critical books related to understanding and overcoming domestic violence, she decided it was time to take action…

The Pages for Change display in the Bloomfield Library in Greene County, IL. (source: Middle Way House)

What sparked the idea for the Middle Way House’s Pages for Change project?

I was working as an advocate for domestic violence survivors, and I found myself wanting to recommend books to many of the women I worked with. Books like Lundy Bancroft’s Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men and Ginny NiCarthy’s Getting Free: You Can End Abuse and Take Back Your Life can help domestic violence survivors to understand that they are not alone and that the abuse is not their fault. These books also provide information about safety planning, the characteristics of abusers, the likelihood that an abuser could make a permanent change, and resources that are available to domestic violence survivors. Reading a book like this can help a domestic violence survivor make an informed decision about her future.

I wanted to recommend these books to the clients I worked with, but many of them could not afford to buy a copy. I began searching for the books at the libraries in Middle Way House’s service area, thinking that I could tell my clients to check the books out from the library. I was very disappointed by the selection of books on domestic violence and sexual assault in our local libraries. The more I read and the more I worked with clients, the more convinced I became that we needed to do something to fix that problem and make these books available in our community.

What made you decide crowdfunding was the right platform for Middle Way House?

As a small non-profit providing free services to our clients, Middle Way House didn’t have money to buy the books and donate them to libraries. We thought about simply asking the libraries to buy the books themselves (and a few larger libraries did), but many of the libraries in our service area are small libraries with small budgets.

I had heard of Kickstarter, and I thought that soliciting donations online might be a good way to fund Pages for Change. Middle Way House had never done a crowdfunding campaign, and I was excited to try something new. After discovering that Kickstarter does not allow non-profits, I asked my intern, Lindsay, to research crowdfunding sites for non-profits and charities. We decided on StartSomeGood because the site takes a smaller cut of the donations than some other sites, and we found the site to be more attractive and user-friendly than similar sites.

You were able to raise over $3,000 for your Pages for Change project. What do you believe were the main contributors to your success? Any insider tips for crowdfunding rookies?

The biggest contributor to the success of our campaign was the support of friends, family, and supporters of Middle Way House. Most of the people who donated to our campaign had a personal connection with me, Lindsay, or Middle Way House. We promoted the campaign heavily on Facebook and Twitter, and personal connections were really key to our success. We also raised awareness about Pages for Change through posters, radio ads, newspaper articles, and tabling at our local farmer’s market. Through these outreach efforts, we were able to reach people we didn’t know personally, which helped to put our campaign over the tipping point.

I’m currently preparing for a new crowdfunding campaign, and this time around, I am starting much earlier. My hope is that by spreading the word about this new project well before the launch of the crowdfunding campaign, we will be able to reach more people outside of the personal networks of those involved in the project. When we finished Pages for Change, I realized it would be really helpful to ask donors how they heard about the project. Having that information would be very helpful in running future campaigns, and if StartSomeGood hasn’t added that question to the check-out process, I will add it to the Google form that we use for rewards after the campaign has ended.

The Pages for Change project was initiated to get important books about domestic violence and sexual assault into libraries you serve in Indiana. Do you have any updates to share with us on how this project turned out?

The project turned out great! We were able to buy over 250 books for our partner libraries, and we put a bookplate with Middle Way House’s crisis line number in each book. The libraries were happy to receive the donations, and the books are being checked out. My colleagues and I are now able to refer clients to the library to read these books and learn more about domestic violence and the resources available to them.

Several of the libraries that we donated books to put up displays in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The displays helped to educate library patrons about domestic violence and sexual assault, and they spread the word about the new Pages for Change books that donations from our campaign’s supporters made available to library patrons. Above is a photo from the display at the Owen County Library in Spencer, Indiana.

You said you’re planning to run another crowdfunding campaign on StartSomeGood in the near future. Can you give us any teasers about this upcoming campaign?

The new campaign will be to raise money for Middle Way PAWSS. PAWSS stands for Providing Animals and Women with Safe Shelter, and the goal is to create a network of volunteer “foster parents” to care for the pets of women and children coming into shelter at Middle Way House. The link between domestic violence and animal abuse has been well established, and we want to make sure that our clients do not have to choose between their safety and their pets’ lives or safety. This campaign will be much larger than the Pages for Change campaign, and we will use the money to pay for routine vet care for PAWSS pets, offset the cost of fostering pets, and establish an emergency fund for life-saving veterinary care.

For more information about Pages for Change, check out their campaign page on StartSomeGood. And, of course, keep your eyes peeled for the new Middle Way PAWSS campaign coming to StartSomeGood very soon!

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Now…what good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

Dorje Gurung and GalliGalli know education is freedom for the children living in rural Nepal

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:57:56 -0700

GalliGalli exists to assist the citizens and visitors of Nepal navigate the city and government services in an effort to literally get most of Nepal on the map. In their second campaign with StartSomeGood, they are raising funds to help provide high quality education to children in rural Nepal.

Dorje Gurung was born into a family of low socio-economic status in a small town in Nepal, which meant he had to attend a local government school. These local government schools suffer from poor infrastructure, a lack of resources, poorly trained teachers, high dropout rates, and very low exam pass rates. A teacher recognized Dorje’s potential and helped get him into a high quality school in Kathmandu where his education was subsidized by the owners. This simple step was a real life-changing moment for Dorje. He was able to attend college on scholarship and become a teacher. He realizes how much education has contributed to his success and his freedom and now wants to give back to his community by helping one of the government schools he visited last summer.

(a typical government school classroom in rural Nepal)

The government school in Sindhupalchowk needs an overhaul, and Dorje is ready to help its students succeed. His $28,135 tipping point goal will help him and GalliGalli begin a holistic intervention at this school and find a sustainable source of income to keep it growing. Projects include building a playground, updating the teaching methods for Science and English, building a community-based fishery as a sustainable source of income for the school, and building the first floor of a new school that will include two classrooms. Funds beyond the tipping point will help the team build a library and a second floor to expand the school from 8th grade to 12th grade. If you believe education can change the lives of the children of Sindupalchowk for the better, please help Dorje and GalliGalli reach their fundraising goals!

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What good do you want to create? Visit StartSomeGood today to learn about how to start your own campaign.

StartSomeGood News: an ethical cotton bag producer goes solar and Australian farmers connect with local food enthusiasts

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 08:57:17 -0700

Brand New Good! Recently launched campaigns:

It will take £4,990 to install enough solar panels to power 20 sewing machines in rural southern India where Vandanamu Ethical Cottons employs and empowers marginalized women to produce cotton bags. Unfortunately, Vandanamu suffers from daily power cuts, which results in lowered productivity and loss of wages. Going solar would improve productivity and improve the lives of those depending on power to complete their jobs.

CommuniToy Toy Hacking workshops bring people together to make new exciting hybrid creations out of toys destined for landfills. These free workshops hosted by Exploring Senses encourage people to develop and learn new skills while simultaneously reducing landfill waste. Exploring Senses needs £2,500 to host six CommuniToy Toy Hacking workshops in Brighton and Hove.

Let’s Celebrate! Recently Tipped Campaigns:

Food Connect Sydney connects city dwellers with farmers, hopefully increasing their awareness about how food is grown. They are launching a series of local farm tours and were able to raise $6,402 to help get the ball rolling on a local scale.

World Wellness Group raised enough funds to expand and move their healthcare clinic for marginalized migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers into a bigger space. They’ve raised over $15,000, which means they can find a new space and begin to cover rent so they can provide services to more patients in need.

Access Afya is creating a chain of ultra mini-clinics, which provide standardized health services for the extreme poor in Nairobi slums. With over $10,000 raised and still 11 days to go, they’ll be able to begin construction on a second mini-clinic.

Shawn D. Ross

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship: Ashoka seeks nutrients for all & StartingBloc introduces its next class of social innovation fellows

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Ashoka’s Nutrients for All and Ashoka Changemakers are seeking your innovative solutions that will ensure the availability of nutrients for healthy farms, food, and people. Nutrients for All: Vitality for People and the Planet is looking for solutions that have grown beyond the conceptual stage and demonstrated impact and sustainability. With $45,000 of unrestricted funding to boost your project you can’t afford not to enter!
What exactly is Acumen? Join NY+Acumen Tuesday, June 11th for two, one-hour sessions: Acumen 101 and Acumen 201. These sessions will introduce you to the work of Acumen and answer questions like: What is patient capital? How does Acumen choose and make investments? And, what is Acumen’s impact? They’ll also dig deeper into patient capital and lead an interactive case study on a real Acumen investment. NY + Acumen is a volunteer-led chapter that aims to support Acumen, so any donations for the classes would be largely appreciated!
The hunt for changemakers has begun! The Ashoka Associate Program through Ashoka United Kingdom: World Leaders in Social Innovations is seeking bright sparks to join their year-long associate program starting in July 2013. Apply by Friday, June 14th.
Meet the most diverse group of social innovation leaders in NYC on June 9th. Hosted by StartingBloc, the NY ’13 Institute for Social Innovation Launch Party is where you need to be to meet and mingle with the newest class of social change leaders.
Millions of people worldwide participate in the Social Good Summit each September and out of that comes some amazing things, but what about the people that are doing amazing things each and every day? In classic Mashable style, they have created +SocialGood to address this gap, a platform providing online tools to assist in creating social good events. This platform will help build a global community around social good.

Shawn D. Ross

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email Nicole (Nicole @ StartSomeGood.com)

"Do or die" for migrant health

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:51:43 -0700

There’s a prominent and growing gap in access to affordable, quality, and culturally relevant healthcare for migrants and refugees in Australia. Because of this, they hold off on seeking help until it’s too late, resulting in higher costs for everyone involved. This quickly escalates into a lose-lose situation; the migrants are extremely sick and are therefore an even larger burden on the public healthcare system.

World Wellness Group is a not for profit started by a group of professional healthcare practitioners striving to address health inequality in Brisbane. Last year, they launched the World Wellness Clinic, a makeshift operation that they set up with no financial support at the Brisbane Multicultural Centre. They have been operating there in two rooms rent free for the past year, but they have quickly outgrown their capacity and need to set up something larger and more permanent.

World Wellness Group has tapped into an unmet need, but this means the demand is now exceeding their available resources. Just $60,000 will secure them rent for an entire year, in addition to allowing them to set up the administrative services necessary to support a much larger clinic. This will help accommodate the growing list of healthcare practitioners who want to join the center in providing services to migrant patients in need of support. It’s “do or die time” for the clinic and your help will mean contributing to the health of countless migrants in need.

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What good do you want to create? Visit StartSomeGood today to learn about how to start your own campaign.

StartSomeGood News: Tinker Tour raises over $50,000 to teach students about free speech and Nepalese students get educated by GalliGalli

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:28:13 -0700

Let’s Celebrate! Recently Tipped Campaigns:

Mary Beth Tinker and the Student Press Law Center raised over $50,000 to fund Tinker Tour, a two-month tour during the 2013-2014 school-year meant to inform students about free speech and civics education.

23 young entrepreneurs will represent Australia at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Summit in Moscow because the Enterprise Network for Young Australians was able to raise $12,265.

The need for literacy training, especially among low income youth, is extremely high. With funds raised through this project, Access to Meaning can now collaborate with schools in Southern Berkshire County to offer intensive reading instruction to low-income youth in the region.

Brand New Good! Recently launched campaigns:

GalliGalli’s second campaign with StartSomeGood, Education is Freedom-Nepal, will allow them to provide a high-quality education to children in rural Nepal. This will give children the freedom to pursue their dreams and provide hope for a better future.

The Cambodian Children’s Trust (CCT) strives to give vulnerable Cambodian children the best chance at leading a happy, fulfilling, and successful life by teaching them critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The $2,241 tipping point goal will pay for half of the pilot project.

Around the world, thousands of people are working to create a better future. NGOpolis brings these people together to share their ideas and work. NGOpolis seeks £16,000 to maintain their website, hire two people, and generate content to inspire and support those working for conservation, aid, and development.

Ü berfoods wants to produce automated food production systems, or smart gardens, as an alternative to the current food options. These EcoGardens will empower communities to provide themselves with their own food. Reaching their $8,000 tipping point goal will allow them to cover pre-revenue material costs and their website launch.

The idea behind BOGO Bowl dog food is simple: For every bag of food purchased, we donate another bag of food to dogs in need. Over 50 animal welfare organizations in 25 states are BOGO buddies that have already given away thousands of bowls of food. This project will help connect these organizations and send BOGO Buddy kits to help shelters, rescues, and pet food pantries.

Student volunteers and doctoral students from UCLA will travel to 11 remote villages in Fiji to bring clean water and sanitation to improve the health of 8,000 local residents. This rural water and sanitation assessment program will ensure proper wastewater treatment and disposal and provide residents with knowledge of sanitation issues in the hopes that public environmental health will improve.

People driven from their lands; conservation funding misused—you can help change this story. The Conservation Justice Video will promote the conservation of our natural world in ways that ensure the rights of those living in or around conservation areas are respected.

Shawn D. Ross

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship: building local economies, a series of nonprofit webinars, and a new generation of philanthropy in Australia

Fri, 31 May 2013 09:20:15 -0700

You’re invited to one of Philanthropy Australia’s most exciting events of the year, the inauguration of their New Generation of Giving program. They are bringing a US young philanthropist and CEO to Australia, Daniel Lurie, one of the luminaries of Silicon Valley and San Francisco. He founded the grantmaking organization, Tipping Point Community, which is now backed by Google co-founder, Sergey Brin. Daniel will join Katrina Strickland, Deputy Editor of the Australian Financial Review Magazine, on June 11th at the Sydney Opera House and June 12th in Melbourne.
4Good Webinars hosts 3 free webinars each week covering all aspects of nonprofit management, strategy, and technology. Check out upcoming webinars here and make sure not to miss the one Tom hosts on June 5th, Crowdfunding: Not just for first-world problems. When registering for a webinar, please mention that StartSomeGood sent you.
In the next NY+Acumen Speaker Series, four inspiring women leaders—Donna Campbell, Melissa Kushner, Tricia Morente, and Catherine Rohr—will discuss what it means to stand by the new manifesto of Acumen. Hosted by NY+Acumen this Thursday evening, June 6th, this speaking series will also include networking and light refreshments, including doughnuts and drinks, after the discussion.
The 2013 BALLE Conference is a can’t-miss gathering, a who’s who of innovators collaborating to build a new economy. From international thought leaders and on-the-ground social entrepreneurs, to policymakers, network builders, local economy funders, and philanthropists, this conference takes place in Buffalo, NY at Buffalo State College Wednesday, June 12th through Friday, June 14th.
Join MakeSense on June 8th in London for SenseCamp UK 2013-Best business is Social Business. This gathering will bring together social entrepreneurs, social business enthusiasts, and the MakeSense gang for a full day of inspiring talks, workshops, and networking. Tickets to the event include entry into the Hub, lunch, and, of course, the chance to be an integral part of expanding the social business movement in the UK.

Shawn D. Ross

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email Nicole (Nicole @ StartSomeGood.com)

How Bachhara raised $8,000 to fund an ethical fashion startup in Bangladesh

Thu, 30 May 2013 09:15:00 -0700

Amanda Ryan was inspired to start Bachhara, an ethical fashion line, while she was in Bangladesh helping to run a free school for slum children. In the wake of the garment factory tragedy in Bangladesh, even more of an emphasis needs to be placed on manufacturing clothing in an ethical manner. Instead of treating workers as a means to an end, Bachhara exists solely to empower and educate women via fashion. Amanda raised over $8,000 to bring her stunning 2013 Summer Collection to Australia and remind Australians that, by purchasing her clothing, they are contributing to a better way of delivering fashion to the public.

You raised over $8,000 to bring your 2013 Summer Collection to Australia. Can you take us through the campaign process? Is there anything you did to prepare leading up to the launch? What strategies worked particularly well during your campaign?

We certainly could have launched a much bigger campaign but as our first time trying this platform and with the limited resources we had, we used our mainly our internal networks. We contacted our newsletter and supporter lists and gave shout outs on our online social media platforms. Bachhara had an advantage with this as we already have some very dedicated women and great men who support our work and have done since our beginning. We love our community at Bachhara and are so proud to have been able to achieve such great results because of them.

What was it about your experience in Bangladesh that inspired you to start Bachhara?

There were three main things that influenced my decision to start Bachhara. The first being my frustration of running a small grassroots school that was always in desperate need for funding to get by every month, making it next to impossible for us to make the changes and improvements we could see we needed to make. I was learning the hard way that relying on charitible funds is really not a sustainable way to be running a school. We had 600 plus students lining up to get admission into our school and we only had the means to accept 40. Our school is in the Rayer Bazar slum which has a population of over 20,000 people and to have to turn away children that would have given anything for a chance to attend school was heart breaking. This is the reason why I became so interested in social enterprise, if we could generate enough of our own income we would be much more empowered to run our organisation and school the way we desired and needed.

The second reason was that most of our students were in the desperate situation they were in because they came from homes with single or widowed mothers (the single women were usually child brides that were abandoned by their husbands once they aged). As women earn significantly less money than men in Bangladesh and are also usually the sole care taker of their children, the mothers of our students would struggle to make enough money to pay rent and feed their families with the most basic meals each month. This meant that a lot of the time the children, our students, would have to go out and work either begging or collecting rubbish to contribute to their families survival. Because of this they would come to their classes tired and would never be able to do the homework they needed to do and would fall behind. I went to Bangladesh to help Jaago because I believe every child has the right to be a child and to have dreams. Sadly a small percentage of children all over the world actually get to live their lives like this.

The third reason was because many of the children’s mothers became my friends and as I learnt about their lives and their stories, I saw a fight and a drive in them that I had never seen in anyone before. These women were so determined and were prepared to do anything for their children and families’ survival. I knew if only given a chance they could move mountains for their families and their communities as a whole. Women are amazing creatures and when times are tough you really see our natural strength and power shining through.

What made you choose crowdfunding as a means to fund your project?

I have never done a fundraiser for Bachhara before as in the beginning I was so determined to make Bachhara a self sufficient enterprise that I didn’t want to even receive charitable donations to get started. Instead I started our work off by taking personal loans and support from angel backers. As I have come to navigate the reality of running an ethical fashion line and social enterprise, I have come to know that you do need support and probably always will need support, at least at the very beginning. Both fashion and social entrepreneurship are tough industries to be in, but oh so very inspiring.

I believe in order for life to flow there needs to be an equal balance of giving and receiving. I love that with the StartSomeGood platform, it is not just about charitably donating money and feeling good; you also receive something tangible back for your money and time. This is very important to me. With this form of giving, giving gains more momentum rather then depleting and burning up. Since our campaign finished, I have had some of our supporters ask to me to donate their reward to another cause we support within Australia. A gift that keeps on giving is the best gift of all. I felt this form of fundraising was also very important as our women who work in the Bachhara sewing centre don’t need or want a free ride or sympathy—they just desire respect and an opportunity to show how highly capable they are.

What advice do you have for crowd funding rookies looking to launch a campaign for the first time?

Really work on your campaign plan and use as many different mediums of connecting with people as possible. Don’t only rely on social media, and don’t post the same thing every day. Show the true you and shine on.

What’s next for Bachhara? And, of course, how can readers get their hands on your beautiful 2013 Summer Collection?

Bachhara’s next collection that Startsomegood contributed to making happen will be available in September, just in time for Australian Spring fashion season. You can get your hands on it on our e-boutique shop.bachhara.com. I’m currently pregnant and about to take time off to bring my baby earthside, so you never know—perhaps maternity and baby wear may be in the pipeline.

On behalf of myself and the entire Bachhara team in Australia and Bangladesh we would love to thank Startsomegood and all of our contributors for their amazing support. Our experience has given all of us an injection of inspiration to continue the work we do!

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Inspired by Amanda’s story? What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

High-tech, low cost mini-clinics revolutionizing healthcare in Kenya

Tue, 28 May 2013 09:03:23 -0700

Access to basic healthcare is fundamental to our quality of life. Unfortunately, in Kenya, access to medical care is primarily determined by wealth. This leads to the startling fact that almost a tenth of children die before their fifth birthday. Access Afya is tackling this problem by creating ultra-mini clinics that will provide health services to the neediest families in Nairobi.

Access Afya’s approach to providing medical care is distinct; designed to assist the extreme poor who are less likely to access preventative and life-saving treatments, use family planning, and seek out their HIV status. They will provide a clean and private health experience for patients who live in Nairobi’s slums, where conditions tend to exacerbate disease. This will regulate medical processes that are typically unregulated and help reduce preventable deaths. Their model is based on a strong foundation of technology, using computers to keep records, store medical histories, communicate with patients, and manage medical resources.

Currently, Access Afya has assisted 400 patients for various conditions ranging from asthma treatment to HIV counseling. Now, they intend to further their impact by creating a second clinic. Reaching their $10,000 tipping point goal will allow them to begin building this clinic and $26,000 will help them provide salaries, buy various supplies, and, most importantly, begin to make the clinic self-sustaining. With 24 days left in the campaign, they are so close to reaching their goal—let’s help get them there and contribute to a better future for the 20 million Kenyans living in poverty that Access Afya will empower to take charge of their own health and well-being.

Learn more about Access Afya’s campaign on StartSomeGood

Asibi Danjuma

I am a 23-year-old Londoner currently in law school. I have a BA in Politics and International Relations and an LLB in law. I have worked as a Student Facilitator for the British Red Cross, taught at local schools in Berkshire and have done a lot of pro bono legal research for Amnesty International and the Arizona Capital Trials Project. When I finish law school, I hope to start saving the world by working in developmental research and perhaps move to Paris to eat macaroons, dabble in photography and write stories. I’m also an avid reader, white wine drinker and world traveler.

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What good do you want to create? Visit StartSomeGood today to learn about how to start your own campaign.

StartSomeGood News: veterans take on CrossFit and toy recycling gets a boost

Mon, 27 May 2013 08:50:44 -0700

Let’s Celebrate! Recently Tipped Campaigns:

Johnny America Clothing aims to improve the mental and physical health of our veterans through physical fitness and community support. Helping fund scholarships to veterans for memberships at local CrossFit affiliates means having a direct hand in improving their lives. Johnny America Clothing has already raised over $1,500 and can now formally establish itself as a non-profit organization.

Second Chance Toys NSW delivers gently used toys to children in need. They have kept over 10,000 used toys out of Australian landfills in the past two years and aspire to increase that number to 50,000 over the next two years.

Brand New Good! Recently launched campaigns:

The Gateway Children’s Fund is a multi-level child development project in Papua New Guinea aimed at releasing children from poverty and ensuring they can realize a brighter future. They need a bus to transport children to school from Port Moresby’s urban slums. The Children’s bus to an Education project will be able to provide that transportation by hiring a driver when they reach their $5,000 tipping point goal.

Hub3c’s mission is to provide cutting edge technology to non-profit groups for free. communityHUB is a free service provided by Hub3c that offers software solutions to non-profit groups to make it easier for them to run their operations and deliver on their initiatives. Funds raised through this campaign will help them complete their platform development.

The Dragonfly Sail Transport Co. provides an emissions-free delivery system to outlying harbor towns by sail. They aim to prove the viability of transporting products by sailboat on a regional scale. Working with merchants in harbor towns around Northport, Michigan, they look to re-establish trade routes between communities.

Shawn D. Ross

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

This Week in Social Entrepreneurship: the Ashoka Future Forum, the Holstee Fellowship, and a happy hour in Nairobi

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:07:47 -0700

Come join a group of amazing changemakers and 400 of the foremost social innovators, business entrepreneurs, and philanthropists sharing their problems and celebrating their creative solutions on May 30th and 31st in Washington DC at the Ashoka Future Forum. Regardless of your field or discipline, if you have a passion for making the world a better place you’ll find meaningful connections here with others on this same life journey.
There are social innovators all over the world and Nairobi is no exception. Social entrepreneurs based in Nairobi, take note—One Acre Fund hosts a monthly event, Nairobi Social Entrepreneurs Happy Hour, where an organization presents something thought-provoking and innovative. This month will feature special guests Lindsey Stradley and Ani Vallabhaneni, Sanergy co-founders, who will talk briefly about making hygienic sanitation affordable and accessible in urban slums. Come out on Tuesday, May 28th and enjoy cheap drinks, networking opportunities, and a rousing discussion with some really special social entrepreneurs.
Holstee is seeking its next fellowship grant honoree. Beginning June 1st, The Holstee Fellowship will offer one member of the social innovation community a $1,000 grant each month. They want to support people who have been dreaming about an inspiring idea, but need a push in the right direction to really get started. Application deadlines are due on the 10th of each month two months prior to the month you are applying (i.e. to be considered for August, apply but June 10th). Holstee exists to encourage mindful living and help more people live their dreams.
The last Thursday evening of every month at HUB Kings Cross, London HUB hosts the London HUB Club to create a closer network between its members and supporters by sharing projects, ideas, hobbies, or interests. The topic on May 30th will be Local meets Social, where five speakers will discuss how they and other HUB members are tackling social issues in the local context.
It’s graduation season! Are you a recent college graduate? You may be thinking, “Okay, so what’s next?” Well, ReWork may have the answer. Do you love to learn about business, human behavior, and personal development? Are you motivated to make a difference? Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? If so, this ReWorkApprenticeship may be just what you’re looking for. Apply by May 31st for the opportunity to become an apprentice with ReWork and get a crash course in entrepreneurship, marketing, and community management.

Shawn D. Ross

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email Nicole (Nicole @ StartSomeGood.com)

StartingGood Episode 3 - Interview with Jennifer Windrum

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:25:54 -0700

The third episode of StartSomeGood’s podcast has just gone live! This month Alex interviews Jennifer Windrum, a social entrepreneur who created one of the most successful campaigns in StartSomeGood history: Sock Monkeys Against Cancer. Jennifer discusses her inspiration for starting the campaign and how important creating a community is to entrepreneurs of all types.

You can hear the podcast by visiting http://startinggood.podomatic.com/entry/2013-05-22T10_14_35-07_00 or subscribe to it via iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/startinggood-podcast-from/id623915434

Remember—if you subscribe to us, please leave us a review! It helps other people find us!

Boost farm-to-table food culture and get a fresh produce "thank you"

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:44:30 -0700

Local seasonal produce is fresher and more sustainable than produce sold at large supermarkets and it promotes relationships between consumers and local farmers. Cutting down on miles traveled means less food waste, less fuel used, and, of course, tastier fruits and veggies!

Food Connect Sydney highlights these many advantages of sourcing produce locally. Their mission is to grow healthy food communities by delivering boxes of fresh and seasonal produce direct from local farmers around Sydney. They stress the importance of knowing the farmers who grow our food and how it is grown and believe large supermarkets have created a disconnect between us as consumers and these local farmers.

Now Food Connect Sydney wants to take the farmer-consumer relationship one step further and bring YOU to meet local farmers. They are running a series of sustainable farm tours where you will be guided through local sustainable farms that supply Food Connect Sydney, connect with farmers, participate in a Q&A session, learn how to cook with the farm’s produce, and have to opportunity to purchase delicious in-season fruits and veggies. What’s really great about this campaign is your money goes directly to paying the farmers for their time. Just $35 buys you a farm tour ticket and a little extra will get you the ticket plus a harvest pack from the farm.

Join Food Connect Sydney in getting to know your local farmer!

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.

Texting for good! It’s easy for us to forget that...

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:07:00 -0700

Texting for good! It’s easy for us to forget that sometimes your livelihood can depend on things as simple as the weather report and what the price of food is. Lima Links is working on a program to provide these basic necessities to merchants in Zambia through SMS updates, helping them climb out of poverty by eliminating waste and increasing their income. How can you support Lima Links? Visit them on StartSomeGood at http://www.startsomegood.com/limalinks

#StartingGood Twitter Chat connects you with StartSomeGood’s most successful ventures.

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:31:00 -0700

We are committed to empowering changemakers with the knowledge and resources to launch social good projects. So who better to connect you with than those who have ‘been there and done that’?

Each week, StartSomeGood invites one our most successful ventures to answer your questions about crowdfunding and social change in the #StartingGood Twitter Chat. #StartingGood gives you the opportunity to pick the brains of our most inspirational changemakers (and the StartSomeGood team!)

Join us every week: Wednesday 6pm US Eastern Time/3pm US Pacific Time/11pm London Time/Thursday 8am Australian Eastern Time. Follow #StartingGood and @StartSomeGood.

For more information about participating in a Twitter Chat check out this helpful article.

To catch up on all the past #StartingGood chats head over to our Storify page.

Here’s some of the best advice to come out of #StartingGood so far!

Crowdfunding

@StartSomeGood

Here are some more secrets to #crowdfunding success from previous ventures on our site buff.ly/15PWfQ #StartingGood

@herahussain

Summary so far of #StartingGood: 1- Build credibility 2- Be known for your passion 3- focus on story of project rather than product 4- work!

@HildyGottlieb

When seen thru the lens of PEERfunding, it’s less about the $ and more about giving ppl one more way to engage. #startinggood

@HildyGottlieb

Lesson: #Crowdfunding is 1) opport to engage existing circles 2) opport to learn 3) opport to raise $$ - in that order. #startinggood

@Hesperian

Final words are to think of every #crowdfunding campaign as a conversation. Each part of the process helps improve the project #StartingGood

@DoGoodBus

It’s hard asking people for $. But if show your plan, offer unique rewards and let your passion shine through…it can happen. #StartingGood

@ComVetwithPTSD

They said ‘you are not asking for money - you are asking them if they want to be a catalyst for change’. #StartingGood

Preparation

@MikeyLeung

If you have 90 days to crowdfund: 30 days to plan, 15 to launch, 15 to discovery, 15 for evaluating and 15 for final push. #startinggood

@outtmob

I would say one of my best resources was also looking at the other campaigns that were going and learning from them #startinggood

@StartSomeGood

We recommend lining up your first 5 supporters pre campaign and having them ready to pledge as soon as you launch #StartingGood

@jenniferwindrum

Biggest advice I have for others: PLAN. Write language, FAQs, email responses, everything in advance. YES to perseverance. #StartingGood

@KelsBran

#Crowdingfunding is like running a political campaign. You need to have an agenda: goals, reasons, and outreach plan #startinggood

@hackofalltrades

I asked them to tell me if they’d be able to support on Day1, before wider promo. many did=good start :-) #StartingGood

Promotion

@StartSomeGood

Here’s a guide to various ways to promote before, during and after your #crowdfunding campaign: buff.ly/13e2MGm #StartingGood

@Preciva

We used Facebook, personalized emails, promoting at conferences, in-person meetings. We talked it up for weeks ahead of launch #StartingGood

@outtmob

start strong and end strong, use hootsuite or other tools to auto set posts #startinggood

@outtmob

and I think people like urgency, so its important to keep that in the messaging through out the campaign but def in last days #startinggood

@StartSomeGood

The most effective forms of promotion are personalised! Read more here buff.ly/1747aWG #StartingGood

@ProjectPODER

A main tip for #crowdfunding projects: Establish regular virtual connections w/ donors via social media, e-mail (key 4 us). #StartingGood

@ProjectPODER

Outreach to #thoughtleaders and #opinionmakers in your thematic area is crucial. TW is ideal for that. Also, YouTube/Vimeo. #StartingGood

@KelsBran

One liners are great too for #crowdfoudning. For @LaborofLovefilm i created: Preserving #lesbian herstory, one clip at a time.#startinggood

@KelsBran

@zhu_man Personal, personal, personal! Write personal emails to every person you know about your cause. Makes a HUGE diff. #StartingGood.

@rachaelstott

ALL of our larger donors ($200 plus) had met and connecte with myself or my cofounder @tamrock76 personally #startinggood

@KelsBran

Another great tip is to hold offline events businesses or organizations interested in your cause. Bring a face. #startingood.

@jenniferwindrum

“SMAC!-down” was basically a Girls Night Out, but with social good twist. Set up laptops and they pledged right there. #StartingGood

Rewards

@StartSomeGood

For rewards consider acknowledgment, campaign souvenirs/merch, unique experiences, output from the campaign itself (1/2) #StartingGood

@DoGoodBus

@phamous_tk It’s important to know WHO you’re speaking to. Our rewards were very specific to our audience. #StartingGood

@hackofalltrades

I asked Twitter what they’d want ;-) …also, some good tips fr/ Mike fr/ @StartSomeGood who’s been great! #StartingGood

Fundraising Goals

@StartSomeGood

Here’s a good starting point on deciding how much money you can raise buff.ly/YM0t80 #StartingGood

@DoGoodBus

We had a specific budget to make our project a reality. Against suggestions to start small, we jumped in and went for it….#StartingGood

@StartSomeGood

Early momentum is crucial for your campaign. Find out how @SMACancer raise $5K on day 1! tmblr.co/ZPkp1yZCpjY8 #StartingGood

Campaign Video

@StartSomeGood

Crowdfunding campaigns with videos raise around twice as much as those without! #StartingGood

@StartSomeGood

For some great examples of effective video storytelling have a look at buff.ly/UDuJRQ #StartingGood

StartSomeGood News

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:03:43 -0700

Brand New Good! Recently launched campaigns:

The need for literacy training, especially among low income youth, is extremely high. With funds raised through this project, Access to Meaning can collaborate with schools in Southern Berkshire County to offer intensive reading instruction to low-income youth in the region. Raising $2,000 means one student can receive intensive one-on-one instruction this summer.

Community Boost Consulting is sending 3 recent college graduates on the Social Impact Tour to help inspire aspiring social entrepreneurs. They will travel over 3,000 miles in 30 days, speaking to over 300 social entrepreneurs and thought leaders in the entrepreneurial space. The goal is to create inspiring online content that will capture the attention of aspiring entrepreneurs. $5,000 is the minimum amount these grads need to cover basic transportation and food.

Goddess Graduates with a Vision is combating the lack of female leadership in Australia by giving girls charismatic confidence and possibility thinking to pursue leadership positions in business and politics. This campaign needs at least $5,000 to develop a pilot program for 100 young women graduates.

Eliminating homelessness in the U.S. by 2020 seems like an impossible task, but to Project Homeful it’s an achievable goal. Project Homeful is building an online web portal that will be used to bring providers together to support those in need of places to live. The $11,000 tipping point goal will allow Project Homeful to begin web development.

Progreso y Oportunidades Magazine is a free publication aimed at supporting the formation, growth, and integration of the Hispanic community in the United States. It will provide positive content to improve the quality of life of Hispanic immigrants and give them tools to support and strengthen their families. Linda Coelho, the brains behind this initiative, needs at least $10,000 to launch the magazine and distribute 15,000 copies.

People Pledge is the first and only online fundraising platform that empowers Australians to help a loved one as they endure a medical crisis. They want to run free workshops in Australia to reach families stressed with medical bills and help them fund raise online. They need $3,000 to set up free workshops in Western Sydney and across regional and rural NSW.

Compassionate Earth Walk is a 1,800+ mile pilgrimage along the northern leg of the keystone xl pipeline from Hardisty Albeta, CA to Steele City, Nebraska. This pilgrimage will hopefully encourage others to deepen their relationship with self, community, nature, and divine purpose. This campaign is looking to fund a camp of 25+ pilgrims to complete the walk.

Let’s Celebrate! Recently Tipped Campaigns…

Gearing Up provides women in transition from abuse, addiction, and incarceration with the opportunity to improve their physical, emotional, and social health by riding bicycles. Gearing Up helps women through regular coaching, mentoring, and support, encouraging them to adopt healthy lifestyle changes. Gear Up and Change a Life raised $4,815 to get 12 women through their first 100 miles.

Kick at the Darkness – A Photographic Journey is a documentary photo essay that will capture the psycho-social impact of humanitarian response on aid workers in Haiti. Amy initiated this project while working in Haiti as part of earthquake response and this campaign will allow her to complete it. The funds raised so far will cover her ten day trip to Haiti.

Shawn D. Ross

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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.