WildAid: Coming to the Aid of Wildlife

WildAid, a San Francisco-based environmental organization, has a unique mission – to reduce the worldwide demand for wildlife products. In its efforts to spread the word about its mission, the non-profit organization works with Western and Eastern celebrities as well as business leaders in various industries in dissuading people from the purchase of wildlife products. Among its celebrity ambassadors are Jackie Chan, Yao Ming, Harrison Ford, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Hudson, Jane Goodall, and Amitabh Bachchan.

Aside from these celebrity endorsers, WildAid also maximizes the power of broadcast and social media to spread its message. Its methods of information dissemination and persuasion include educational initiatives and public service announcements, which can reach roughly 1 billion people per week in the Chinese mainland alone.

WildAid also works with national and local governments, local partners and communities, and media organizations with the aim of promoting wildlife conservation as a worldwide priority especially in endangered areas. Its Galapagos Islands-based field program apprehends poachers and smugglers while also providing local communities with alternative sources of livelihood.

Robin Hood Foundation: Pioneering Venture Philanthropy

Contrary to its name, the Robin Hood Foundation does not steal from the rich to feed the poor. The non-profit organization was a pioneer of venture philanthropy, a philosophy of charity that embraces free market principles and practices for charitable purposes. The foundation is also known for its early use of metrics in the measurement of the cost efficiency and results effectiveness of grants.

Established in 1988, the Robin Hood Foundation is considered as the Big Apple’s largest poverty-fighting organization, over 25 years of making a positive impact on the socio-economic landscape of one of the world’s richest cities. Its dedicated men and women have focused their talents and efforts on finding donations, funding programs, and creating projects that generate life-changing results for individuals and families in the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

Such is its popularity and integrity among donors that the Robin Hood Foundation has raised over $1.95 billion in funds as well as products and services. These donations were then used in providing grants for selected poverty-fighting organizations in New York City, such as those that provide soup kitchen services, shelter for homeless people, and job-training programs as well as educational institutions, among others.

And to top it all off, 100% of the donations made by third parties to the Robin Hood Foundation are directly funneled to the identified poverty-fighting organizations. All of the administrative, fundraising and miscellaneous costs are paid for by the foundation’s board of directors – truly, a unique business model that ensures every dollar donated will make a meaningful impact.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2013, the Robin Hood Foundation granted over $126 million to more than 200 of the most effective poverty-fighting organizations in New York City. Another $56 million was disbursed as aid for the people affected by the strong hurricane.

By harnessing the power of the haves, the Robin Hood Foundation provides the have-nots with a fighting chance at making better lives for themselves.

Two Ten Footwear Foundation: Giving the Footwear Industry Two Feet to Stand On

Two Ten Footwear Foundation is a unique non-profit organization because of its special focus on the members of the footwear industry. The non-profit organization provides its beneficiaries with a wide range of assistance ranging from financial to emotional support especially in crisis situations. The foundation may have been born out of the concern of its founders for the quality of life of the footwear industry’s workers during the 1960s economic uncertainty but it has remained relevant to this day.

The foundation’s services are provided on a 27/7, 365 days a year basis with responds to requests usually provided within 48 business hours. All of its services are also provided on a 100% confidential basis, thus, contributing to the beneficiaries’ sense of dignity even in the face of a crisis.

The non-profit organization provides financial assistance for individuals in crisis situations involving payments for utilities, mortgages for houses and cars, and other basic needs; crisis counselling via telephone; and community resources to help members get back on their feet.

ArtsinStark: Nourishing the Arts for a Better Community

While ArtsinStark has only been formally established in 2004, the non-profit organization has its roots stretching back to 1968. Its foundation is the present-day county’s art council, which was established in 1968 and which built the Cultural Center for the Arts. Its focus then was two-fold, namely: first, the effective and efficient management of the Cultural Center for the Arts, an arts facility; and second, the operations of the eighty United Arts Fund drives, which was involved in fundraising for five organizations. These organizations included Canton Symphony Orchestra, Canton Ballet, Players Guild Theatre, Canton Museum of Art, and Voices of Canton, Inc.

Today, ArtsinStark has a broader reach and influence in the community. It has welcomed two organizations, namely, the Canton Palace Theatre and the Massillon Museum, into its operating umbrella. It has also broadened its fundraising efforts for the benefit of a wider range of beneficiaries including artists, schools, and non-profit organizations.

Its main thrusts: To award grants for deserving arts-related projects and artists; to manage the Cultural center for the Arts; and to run the Annual Arts Campaign.

In 2015, ArtsinStark agreed to the granting of over $1.2 million in grants to 69 active special projects as well as to 2020 Vision programs and SmArts projects. All of these grants are designed to benefit the people who live, learn, work and play in Stark County. The 2015 grants, which was the largest grant in the organization’s history, were made possible with the 2014 Annual Arts Campaign’s success.

The SmArts Mini Grants are used to support projects including video storytelling for technology connections (Hartford STEAMM Academy), manufacture of musical instruments for musical instruction (Glenwood Intermediate), and design of clothing from recycled materials (Early College Academy), among others.

The 20/20 Vision Grants are provided to individuals and groups that promote ArtsinStark’s 20/20 plan across Stark County. Other grants are provided to Stark County’s large arts organization that strengthens the arts in the community.

Oceana: Winning Victories for the Oceans One Policy At a Time

In the modern world, meaningful change can come from policy changes – and that’s exactly what Oceana works for as part of its advocacy. Oceana wants to promote the biodiversity of the oceans one policy at a time especially in countries with the biggest influence in global marine biodiversity.

Established in 2001, Oceana is widely regarded as the largest international advocacy organization with an exclusive focus on ocean conservation. Its worldwide offices work in cooperation with each other and with their partner organizations in winning strategic campaigns that result in SMART outcomes.

Their common goal: To make the oceans more abundant and more bio-diverse.

The non-profit organization was established by several foundations, namely, Marisla Foundation, Oak Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. The group founded Oceana after realizing that there was no single organization dedicated to the protection of the world’s oceans.

Since then, Oceana has achieved more than a hundred policy victories as well as provided protection for over a million square miles of the world’s oceans.

Earth Island Institute: Making Our Island Better

The Earth Island Institute, a non-profit environmental group based in Berkeley, California, recognizes that the Earth is the only island in the universe that humans can survive in, so far. Its programs and projects are then geared toward environmental conservation in general and toward supporting activism for environmental issues in particular.

Its business model: To provide for fiscal sponsorship for individual projects with the organizational infrastructure in place.

Since 2000, the institute has also presented the Brower Youth Awards to six youth environmental leaders. The award is named for its founder, David Brower.

The Earth Island Institute’s projects have been praised for their forward-thinking results including:

• The Borneo Project. The institute provides its local partners with the support that best suits their specific campaign needs, such as online actions, small grants, and international advocacy on issues like forest conservation and climate change. The partners include Partners of Community Organizations, Borneo Resource Institute, and Sahabat Alam Malaysia.

Emphasis must be made that the institute does not initiate the campaigns but only provides the support for the partner organizations.

• The Borneo REDD program. This is part of The Borneo Project with an emphasis on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) particularly on the aspect of international policy. This is a concerted effort toward the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, which are partly caused by the destruction of forests in areas like Borneo, in the island. This is also designed to provide indigenous populations with the tools necessary to alleviate their poverty especially among communities that rely on the forests for their livelihood.

Other projects include dolphin-safe tuna labelling in cooperation with the S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Earth Island Institute is also a mother organization for many independent non-profit organizations including the Mangrove Action Project. It is also the parent organization for previously separate groups, such as the Center for Safe Energy.

Friendship Bridge: Bridging Poverty and Empowerment in Women

First established as a non-profit organization providing medical supplies and literacy to Vietnam’s impoverished populations, Friendship Bridge has since then shifted its focus and its geographical influence. Its dedicated men and women now provide a wide range of empowerment-related services in microcredit finance, education, and health as well as social impact to Guatemalan women.

The organization’s main focus is microcredit finance, a program significantly aided by investments from American donors. More than 22,000 women have availed of microfinance loans for their small businesses, such as embroidery, weaving, livestock and poultry raising, and crop production. With access to low interest rate capital, the women entrepreneurs have opportunities for higher yield and income.

Of course, women are not just the sole beneficiaries of the microfinance program. Their families also benefit in the form of better food, clothes and shelter as well as more access to basic services.

Friendship Bridge makes its presence known mostly in rural areas with indigenous populations since these are the places where the poverty rate is at its highest.

Fund for Armenian Relief: Going Beyond Emergency Relief

The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) was founded in 1988 as the Armenian-American community’s response for their fellow Armenian’s cry for emergency relief after the devastating earthquake in their native country. In 1993, it officially became known as the Fund for Armenian Relief and recognized as a private voluntary non-profit organization in the United States.

FAR has a two-pronged approach in extending assistance to Armenians. First, it provides essential short-term emergency relief particularly to the most vulnerable segments of society (e.g., children and the elderly). Second, it implements various development programs for social and economic development as well as for professional and educational advancement.

The organization’s overriding goal is to contribute toward the progress and development of Armenian society. Since its creation, FAR has implemented $250 million worth of humanitarian assistance across Armenia, of which most comes from voluntary contributions through cash and gift forms. Planned giving is also encouraged.

FAR is committed to cost-efficient and results-effective operations. Proof: 89% of its donations are spent on programs; 9% are spent on administrative costs; and 2% on fundraising costs.

The non-profit organization has headquarters in New York as well as three offices in Karabagh and Armenia. Most of its employees – an estimated 93% - spend their time with the direct beneficiaries in communities across Armenia, such as in Gyumri, Yerevan, and Stepanakert.

FAR makes it a point to emphasize its status as an independent group especially from Diasporan political parties. However, the organization has also emphasized that Diasporan contributions continue to provide the funds for the delivery of various services to Armenians. These include providing individuals and families with food, clothing and shelter as well training for Armenia’s next generation of leaders.

Its partnerships with Aznavour pour l'Armenie and Lincy Foundation, among others, have contributed to its success. Truly, FAR will go far in its mission of helping Armenia and its people become great again!

Angel Foundation: Facing the Big C Together

Cancer is a dreaded disease with several set of challenges from the physical and psychological toll to the financial difficulties. Fortunately, Angel Foundation provides cancer patients and their families with non-emergency financial assistance – truly, a compassionate way of facing cancer together as a community.

Established in 2001, the Angel Foundation has grown in its scope of services and geographical reach. In 2005, for example, the non-profit organization established a program known as Facing Cancer Together for children whose parents or grandparents are dealing with cancer. The program has provided children with a deeper understanding, hope and strength in facing cancer and its effects with their adult family members.

The Angel Foundation’s flagship program is the Emergency Financial Assistance Program. Individuals who are 18 years old and above, with a cancer diagnosis, and in active treatment, such as radiation, chemotherapy, and transplant, can apply for financial assistance for utilities, rent or mortgage, and gift cards.