SumOfUs

SumOfUs is a global advocacy organization^[1] and online community that campaigns to hold big corporations accountable on issues such as climate change, workers’ rights, discrimination, human rights, animal rights, corruption, and corporate power grab. It’s a non-profit organization operating in three languages currently reporting ten million members over 130 countries.

Founder and executive directors

Australian-American activist Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman is the founder of SumOfUs and was its executive director from 2011 to 2016. In November 2016, Hannah Lownsbrough became the new executive director of SumOfUs.

History

SumOfUs was launched in 2011 with campaigns targeting Google’s links to the US Chamber of Commerce,^[2] a campaign to thank Starbucks for supporting equal marriage in the United States,^[3] and calling on Apple to force its suppliers to treat their workers better.^[4]

Since its launch, SumOfUs has expanded to have members in nearly every country with the greatest concentrations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France and Germany.^[5][6]

SumOfUs has staff in the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Lithuania, Colombia and the Netherlands.

Notable campaigns

In December 2013, after a week of pressure from SumOfUs members, Zara and major UK retailers Topshop and Asos committed to stop selling Angora from rabbits that were plucked live for their fur.^[7]

In February 2014, Kellogg’s and Wilmar both signed commitments to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains in the next two years. ^[8] SumOfUs demanded in a petition that "the cereal maker [Kellogg’s] get tough with Wilmar or end its supply and distribution joint venture with the company".^[9]

In 2015, SumOfUs helped to push airline companies like Delta to stop shipping hunting trophies,^[10] lobbied Canadian officials to charge Nestle responsible water rates for drawing water from public lands,^[11] and helped get Standard Chartered Bank to cancel its financing of Adani's giant Australian coal mine.^[12]

Methodology

SumOfUs uses digital technology to organize and communicate globally, connecting consumers, workers and investors from around the world.^[5]

One of SumOfUs’ primary functions is to amplify other corporate accountability organizations' campaigns by launching rapid-response campaigns.

The online campaigning NGO operates using lean start-up methodology, by adapting the “minimum viable product”^[13] model to the online campaigning field. SumOfUs mirrors corporations’ global perspective and power base – and transcends national boundaries to take advantage of transnational companies’ vulnerabilities.^[13]

Financial contributors

SumOfUs is a registered 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit. Around 85% of SumOfUs funds come from small donations from its members.^[14] SumOfUs publishes the source of revenues every year on its web site.^[15]

Community

SumOfUs campaigns in English, French, and German and has members in over 130 countries. Since its launch, the SumOfUs community represents 10 million people from around the world have taken action with SumOfUs.

According to its 2015 report-back, the SumOfUs community took more than 17 millions actions this year.

See also

• Internet activism
• Slacktivism

References