Redefining Charity.
... The 100% model means 100%
of every dollar donated, that the
public gives, goes directly to the field to
fund water projects. Even if you donate
$10 dollars, all of that goes to a water
project. We even reimburse credit card
fees if you give by credit card.”
monitor the status of their current water projects. How it works is
this: the sensor in the well detects when something is wrong and
alerts a team of local mechanics trained by charity: water, which
then goes out and fixes the issue, usually having water flowing
within a few days.
This is how they see the future: a system of local leaders,
innovative technology and trained mechanics working together
with communities to keep water flowing for thousands of people
around the world.
The future
charity: water operates in a way most other non-profits don’t—
their investment in content and focus on opportunity (how water
changes everything)—is how they have been able to cut through
the clutter and impassion donors. “We are great story-tellers,”
explains Choe. “That helps mobilize a diverse group of supporters.”
However, they don’t just stop there. The organization’s Dollars to
Projects program, gives donors a complete experience—they can
see the impact their fundraising efforts and dollars are making—
inspiring them to continually give.
To date, charity: water has served 5.2 million people through
over 16,000 projects—totaling about 100 million dollars. In 2014
alone, they served over one million people. The organization’s
main goal is to continue this upward trend. “There are still 748
million people without access to clean drinking water, so that is
a huge number, but it is tangible. We hope to bring that number
down. In a longer term approach, our approach is to reinvent
charity, so we’re trying new things…We are trying to figure out
how to best inspire and motivate our donors in a way that hasn’t
been done before,” Choe said. “So not only do we hope to bring
water to the 748 million people that currently don’t have access to
clean water, but also redefine and reimagine what charity actually
means and how it looks.”
A Call to ACT
Fostering a passion for water is what charity: water
does best, and it shows through their campaigners.
charity:water differentiates itself from other non-profits
in that it’s not about having donors just give money;
it’s about giving them a meaningful platform to act.
The goal is to have donors commit to fundraising by
creating and maintaining their own campaign and use
their own social network to inspire others to donate.
To date, more than 190,000 members have raised over
$35 million dollars through their mycharity: water
platform—the site where the organization provides
donors everything they need run a successful campaign.
charity: water’s campaigners
come from all walks for life
and all ages. Cosette is
just one example of the
organization’s long line
of campaigners working
tirelessly to help end the
water crisis—and she’s
only 4 years old. Like
many of charity: water’s
other donors, Cosette focuses
on changing the world based on what she can do right
now (she’s not your typical toddler).
When she found out there were people without food,
water, and other basic necessities we all take for granted,
Cosette determined to make a change. She began to
save money in a jar to raise money to buy a cow from
one of charity: water’s implementing partners, World
Vision. Eventually, a plan was made to sell her paintings
in an effort to increase donations. Within four months,
Cosette was able to raise $1900 and bought not only
a cow, but an alpaca and sheep as well. Her current
campaign running the mycharity: water platform has
raised approximately $2900 of her $4000 goal.
View her campaign site and donate here:
https://my.charitywater.org/cosettes-paintings-with-a-purpose
For more information on charity:water visit:
www.charitywater.org
Gabriella Hunt is the Social Media and Marketing Coordinator at Westminster Consulting.
She can be reached at [email protected]
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