GlobalGiving

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

GlobalGiving is an online marketplace that directly connects donors with grassroots projects in the developing world. Potential donors can browse and select from a wide offering of projects, organized by geography or by themes such as health care, the environment, and education. Once a donor chooses a project, he/she can contribute any amount, using a credit/debit card, check, PayPal, or stock transfer. Gift registries can be set up for special events, and donors can "give" any project as a gift.

These contributions directly support the entrepreneurial work of project leaders throughout the world, who are bringing innovative, empowering solutions to challenging social problems at the local community level.

All donations made to projects go through the GlobalGiving Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 entity, and are fully tax-deductible. ^[1]

1 Structure
2 History
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Structure

GlobalGiving is partnership between a nonprofit organization, the GlobalGiving Foundation, and a for profit company, Many Futures, Inc. Both founders of the nonprofit receive compensation from the for profit company.^[2]

Companies can use the GlobalGiving platform to allow their employees, customers, partners, or foundation entitites to donate directly to grassroots social and economic development projects around the world. ^[3] And non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative use the system to load projects designed by grassroots groups that they stand behind. ^[4]

Major funding for the launch and early stages was provided by the Omidyar Network, the Skoll Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, and the Sall Foundation.^[5].

[edit] History

Prior to founding GlobalGiving Mari Kuraishi and Dennis Whittle were heads of strategy and innovation at the World Bank. While in that post, they created the first-ever Innovation Marketplace for Bank staff in 1998, an internal competition in which Bank employees pitched their own ideas for fighting poverty worldwide. The winners received grants to make their ideas happen. The competition resulted in some of the most innovative ideas and effective programs the bank has done.

In 2000, they took the concept and competition to the outside world. The Development Marketplace enabled any social entrepreneur in the world to compete for Bank funds. The program was extremely successful - finalists from all over the world gathered in Washington, DC, and $5 million was awarded to the 44 most innovative projects.

Based on the Marketplaces' success, Mari and Dennis created an Internet-based platform to facilitate a broader range of social and economic investments in developing countries. In October 2000, they left the World Bank, and on February 14, 2002, GlobalGiving (formerly DevelopmentSpace) was launched.