Today, the Wall Street Journal had an incredibly interesting article titled "
What's Wrong with Charitable Giving - and How to Fix It." The article, written by Pablo Eisenberg, details the gap between what charitable organizations need and what foundations and individuals are giving.The great thing about the article is that it does more than call out issues, it gives possible solutions to this problem.
Eisenberg highlights a number of reasons for why this gap is happening, sighting the bureaucracy, inflexibility, caution and short-sightedness as issues plaguing foundational practices. He also calls attention to the current economic situation and how it isn't helping either. Mr. Eisenberg goes on to deftly break down the solution into nine categories:
1. Increase distribution percentage
2. Increase general operating support
3. Increase multiyear funding
4. Adopt rolling grant making
5. Allocate more funds to the truly needy
6. Reach out to local groups and underserved regions
7. Simplify application and reporting procedures
8. Improve public accountability
9. Fund the watchdogs
All of these will definitely make a difference and most relate specifically to the behaviors of foundations and corporations. However, he forget to add one thing to the list.... Project 7. No, we aren't trying to say we are the answer to everything, just a great conduit for the real solution - you, the consumer.
As part of the article, Eisenberg included the below charts and graphs that break down philanthropy by the numbers. Low and behold, individual donors made up 75% (or $229.28 Billion) of the contributions made in 2008. What does this mean? We as individuals make a huge impact when it comes to charitable giving. And, when each individual contribution is added to the pot it makes a big difference.
So, how does Project 7 play into this and help provide a solution? In a few ways:
1. By harnessing the power of the consumer and giving them a way to give back without changing their every day activities.
2. By providing transparency and accountability on where the funds are going and how they are being used.
3. By allowing the consumer/individual to choose where the funding goes
Project 7 puts charitable power in the hands of the people making most of the charitable contributions - you. So go ahead, give a little to change a lot.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and soldier of Fort Hood. Just a few hours from our office, Fort Hood is the largest active duty armored post in the United States. Regardless of your personal feelings about the current military operations, take this community into your hearts as they try to cope with the senseless, November 5th act of violence. This horrific event claimed the lives of 13 people and injured an additional 30.
Again, we at Project 7 are with this community as they move forward in the healing process. We hope they find a moment of peace today.
Don't believe me? Read on...
This morning i was checking out
Good Magazine online and came across an article that astounded me. It details a book called "Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal." The book talks about all of the different ways in which food waste contributes to environmental degradation, global warming, soil erosion, habitat destruction and starvation. That's right, wasting food doesn't just deny someone something to eat, it hurts the planet!
They had some pretty horrific stats to back up how much food waste the U.S. is guilty of. Are you ready for this?...
• 10 years ago, the United States Department of Agriculture estimated that more the 96 billion pounds of edible food went to waste.
• According to anthropologist Tim Jones, the United States throws away half of the food it produces.
• New York City has an annual surplus of about 50 million pounds of food.
In addition to these stats, the book chronicles some ridiculous food behaviors we have that create such an astronomical amount of waste. Things like carrots being thrown out for being slightly crooked, edible fish being dumped back into the ocean after they are dead and farmers, who must, by contractual obligation, eradicating healthy crops.
The problem is huge and overwhelming... but there are some easy things that can be done to make a real impact. Try starting with the following:
1. Cook only enough food to eat
2. If you do cook more than enough food, make sure you eat the leftovers.
3. Plan out meals so you only buy necessary perishable items so you don't have to throw any away
4. Start composting. If you don't know how,
click here for a quick guide.
If you have other easy (or may be not so easy) ways to help cut down on food waste send us your comments.
A phrase often parodied on comedy shows and low brow humor movies... but, none the less so true.
We believe that a world that teachers their children to care for one another is a world that takes care of its self. With that in mind, we've decided to offer children's clothing as well! Our latest t-shirt design, the all cause, multi-color shirt, will be offered in a variety of children's sizes.
Check it out!
Now both you and your child can support positive change in the world simply by getting dressed each day! Look for more designs coming soon.
