How does a traditional tzedakah fund that works with down-on-the-ground organizations doing good for their communities find the next generation of “good people” who spend their time in the “cloud”? That’s the question Good People Fund founder Naomi Eisenberger had been asking herself when she happened to meet Jewcer founder Amir Give’on. Give’on’s response? “It’s not rocket science.” And he should know, he worked as one for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab for years before turning his organizational and analytical skills to building the premiere platform for Jewish crowdfunding.
At first glance, one may wonder why a traditional tzedakah fund would look to the Jewish, progressive on-line fundraising platform, Jewcer, to identify potential new programs to support as grantees. The Good People Fund, which finds unique and highly effective programs led by good people, and invests in their exciting tikkun olam (repairing the world) work, is stepping out of its comfort zone when it comes to a partnership with Jewcer. It is testing the power of online social networking to provide an alternative vehicle to attract new good people, raise funds and match grants. The campaign begins on August 18 with a call for entries and projects; up to five of which will be selected to raise $1,800 through crowdfunding and then get a $3,200 community-matching grant from the Good People Fund. For a non-profit organization that works directly with do-gooders on the ground, this journey into the cloud is a bold and exciting step forward.
So who should apply on August 18th? Passionate individuals who spend their time improving the lives of those who need help; visionaries who see creative solutions where others see problems or turn a blind eye; and anyone who wants to make an even greater impact but just doesn’t have the resources of a development staff or significant budget. The timeline for entries and crowdfunding can be found at www.jewcer.com/GPF.
How does it work? The campaign will launch with a national search for new ideas and programs to potentially become Good People Fund grantees. Up to five finalists will be selected and each will receive Jewcer’s unique personalized guidance to help them reach their funding goal. Upon successfully reaching that goal, The Good People Fund will provide a matching grant and will then step in as a mentor invested in the program’s continued success and growth.
“We have an over 70% success rate in guiding people through an effective crowdfunding campaign,” explains Amir Give’ on, a founder and the CEO of Jewcer. “This program is a tool to foster participation and community engagement. Using social media to raise funds engages the community to invest in the cause because they want the program to happen and they believe it can impact lives.”
“By using Jewcer’s crowdsourcing platform and networking capabilities, we are excited about the chance to attract new potential grantees, whose good work we may otherwise have never discovered,” explains Naomi Eisenberger, founding Executive Director of the Good People Fund.
Jewcer is a natural fit because Give’on shares an approach to working with what he calls “project innovators” similar to Eisenberger’s in working with the Fund grantees. Give’on’s hands-on methodology in developing each Jewcer campaign complements Eisenberger’s hands-on style to which the Fund grantees and donors alike have grown so accustomed.
We’re looking for a few good people. Connect your readers to the campaign! Could the next grantee be from your community?
Founded in 2008, The Good People Fund (www.goodpeoplefund.org), inspired by the Jewish concept of tikkun olam (repairing the world), responds to significant problems such as poverty, disability, trauma and social isolation, primarily in the United States and Israel. We provide financial support and management guidance for small to medium grassroots efforts. Our grant recipients are leading their non-profits with annual budgets under $500,000 and no professional development staff but are driven and determined to make a difference in their communities. With its guiding philosophy that small actions can have huge impacts and its emphasis on the personal connection, the GPF has raised and granted more than $6,000,000 million dollars since its inception. Further information can be found at www.goodpeoplefund.org
Jewcer is a Jewish crowdfunding consultancy offering the platform, the strategy, and the ongoing mentorship needed for successful crowdfunding. We empower individuals, organizations, and leaders to engage with communities through participatory philanthropy. We support programs, ideas, and causes designed to benefit the Jewish community and/or Israel
Contact Rachel Litcofsky at Rachel@goodpeoplefund.org or 508-314-4304 to connect your community with the August 18th launch, for further information or to speak with Eisenberger and Give’on.
