Technology enables us to overcome obstacles of distance - it helps us, for almost no-cost, meet people all over the world, and understand other cultures without leaving the comfort of our own home. And now, technology can also help you revolutionize the way you do charity.
Feathers Project, a start-up nonprofit organization, is starting to transform the way people do charity with the use of technology.
Typically, whenever a person decides to sponsor a less-fortunate person or family through a non-profit organization, there’s a 90% chance that the sponsor will neither ever meet nor talk to their beneficiary during the whole course of the sponsorship program. Due to this, there’s very little to no actual interaction that happens between the sponsor and beneficiary - this tends to make the sponsorship experience less meaningful.
Feathers thought that the sponsorship experience could be improved with the help of technology. With Feathers, sponsors and beneficiaries are now connected in a virtual meeting, via web conference (think “Skype” or “FaceTime”). This virtual meeting enables the donor and sponsored family to learn more about each other – allowing natural human connection to occur during the process. And not just that, it also allows both parties to learn about other cultures, the spirit of giving, and a foreign land all in one experience without leaving their own home or incurring expense of travelling.
As of June, Feathers has already helped 64 families. According to a recent survey Feathers has conducted in January, 100% of their beneficiary reported that they experienced an increase of income after being part of Feathers since 81% of them used the Feathers financial assistance to pay for job application-related costs, while others used it as seed money for a small business. These are just some of the many positive changes the beneficiary families have experienced through Feathers.
Donations given to the sponsored families are given to them 100% – without overhead and transaction fees. This is made possible by corporation donations of Buy-It-Forward companies, Civicom and TeamSpan. Feathers is currently helping the community of Muntinlupa, but is planning to expand its operation in the near future.
The Feathers Project accepts referrals of the “poorest of the poor” families that you may know who need help. They accept donations, too. The Feathers Project is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID Number: 47-5431677) in the United States, and a registered non-stock, nonprofit corporation in the Philippines.
If you want to know more information about Feathers, visit their website at www.feathersproject.org. (PR)
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| Feathers Project |
Feathers Project, a start-up nonprofit organization, is starting to transform the way people do charity with the use of technology.
Typically, whenever a person decides to sponsor a less-fortunate person or family through a non-profit organization, there’s a 90% chance that the sponsor will neither ever meet nor talk to their beneficiary during the whole course of the sponsorship program. Due to this, there’s very little to no actual interaction that happens between the sponsor and beneficiary - this tends to make the sponsorship experience less meaningful.
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| The slums in the Muntinlupa City, Philippines |
Feathers thought that the sponsorship experience could be improved with the help of technology. With Feathers, sponsors and beneficiaries are now connected in a virtual meeting, via web conference (think “Skype” or “FaceTime”). This virtual meeting enables the donor and sponsored family to learn more about each other – allowing natural human connection to occur during the process. And not just that, it also allows both parties to learn about other cultures, the spirit of giving, and a foreign land all in one experience without leaving their own home or incurring expense of travelling.
“One night while staying with a Filipino family in extreme financial pain, it occurred to me that it would be possible to give affluent families in other countries a glimpse of what I was experiencing by using web conferencing technologies that are almost free today. One cannot be exposed to such conditions at some level without wanting to help,” said David West, founder of Feathers Project.
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| Virtual Meetup between sponsors and beneficiaries |
As of June, Feathers has already helped 64 families. According to a recent survey Feathers has conducted in January, 100% of their beneficiary reported that they experienced an increase of income after being part of Feathers since 81% of them used the Feathers financial assistance to pay for job application-related costs, while others used it as seed money for a small business. These are just some of the many positive changes the beneficiary families have experienced through Feathers.
Donations given to the sponsored families are given to them 100% – without overhead and transaction fees. This is made possible by corporation donations of Buy-It-Forward companies, Civicom and TeamSpan. Feathers is currently helping the community of Muntinlupa, but is planning to expand its operation in the near future.
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| Volunteers of Feathers Project |
The Feathers Project accepts referrals of the “poorest of the poor” families that you may know who need help. They accept donations, too. The Feathers Project is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID Number: 47-5431677) in the United States, and a registered non-stock, nonprofit corporation in the Philippines.
If you want to know more information about Feathers, visit their website at www.feathersproject.org. (PR)
