There’s something primally satisfying about cooking over an open fire. Maybe I enjoy it so much because I don’t get to do it very often. For a lot of people across the world, it’s an everyday occurrence–and that’s not a good thing. Did you know that “the most dangerous activity a woman can undertake in the developing world is cooking for her family?” StoveTeam International is a Eugene, OR based non-profit that is trying to make cooking safer by helping to start “self-sustaining businesses [that] produce safe, affordable, fuel-efficient cookstoves to replace dangerous open cooking fires.”
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In 1961 John F. Kennedy initiated the Alliance for Progress, “a 10-year, multibillion-dollar aid program for Latin America.” The goal was to revitalize relations with our neighbors. In 1964 Partners of the Americas was founded “as the people-to-people component of the Alliance for Progress.” It’s a Washington, DC based non-profit that works to “build partnerships that create opportunity, foster understanding, and solve real-life problems.” This is done through a chapter model that encourages countries and states to build north-south partnerships.
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While I tend to think that the importance of home ownership is overrated by most people in the U.S., I do realize how powerful the psychology of owning something can be. This becomes far more important when it comes to how you make your living. Using someone else’s capital is often the easiest choice, but it gives you very limited control over your future. This may not matter so much if you’re an accountant who is working in a competitive labor market, but it’s a huge deal if you’re farming for subsistence–and that’s what much of the world’s people do. Landesa is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “works to secure land rights for the world’s poorest people– those 2.47 billion chiefly rural people who live on less than two dollars a day.” They do this because they believe that when people own the land, they can invest in improving it without worrying about having to worry about someone else reaping the rewards.
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I haven’t developed much of an opinion on the Syria situation yet, but I know that there are some things that everyone can agree on. One is that we need people looking out for the country’s children. More than a million kids have already fled the war, and there was a non-profit working to help them well before Syria became a staple of the evening news. It’s called Mercy Corps, and it’s a Portland, OR based organization that helps “people in the world’s toughest places survive the crises they confront and turn them into opportunities to thrive.” (Here’s what they’re doing in Syria.) They got their start in 1979 by raising $1 million to provide aid in Cambodia, and ever since they’ve been doing work all over the world.
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Yesterday we looked at Institute for Educational Leadership, one of a seemingly endless number of non-profits devoted to improving educational outcomes. Education seems to be one of the most worthy and, as a result, pursued causes, but I think poverty reduction has to come in number one. Project Concern International is a San Diego, CA based international development non-profit that works to “prevent disease, improve community health and promote sustainable development worldwide.” The core idea behind PCI is that they identify areas with the greatest need and then deliver help in a way that can have lasting community impact.
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Your face is how you interact with the world (even though the Internet is doing its best to change that). Like it or not, how you look matters whether you live in New York City or a small village in India. Cleft lips and palates not only have a tremendous cosmetic effect that can cause shame and isolation, but they can also greatly inhibit the ability to eat and speak. Luckily, clefts are very easily repaired. Smile Train is a New York, NY based non-profit that believes that “every child born with a cleft – anywhere in the world – should have the opportunity to live a full and productive life.” That’s why they’re working towards making one million smiles (they’re already 88.29% of the way there).
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I had 20/12 vision until I was about fifteen. I definitely appreciated, but I didn’t realize how much until I started having trouble reading the chalk board during my Junior year in high school. Soon after I learned how life changing contact lenses (or even just glasses) can be for people with poor vision. Unfortunately, corrective lenses can’t solve all of the world’s vision problems, but there are other options. There are 36 million blind people in the world–at least one million are children in developing countries. Without treatment fifty percent of them will die within two years. SightLife is an organization that saves many of these lives. They’re based in Seattle, WA, and since 1969 they’ve been “the only non-profit global health organization solely focused on eliminating corneal blindness in the U.S. and around the world” (corneal blindness is responsible for just under a third of the world’s blindness).
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As you’ve probably noticed, we cover non-profit internships on the weekends. Occasionally I come across a company that feels like it should be on the weekend, but rules are rules (even if I’ve created them arbitrarily). Social Impact is one of those companies. They’re an Arlington, VA based management consulting firm and “global social enterprise dedicated to helping international agencies, civil society and governments become more effective agents of positive social and economic change.” Social Impact was founded in 1996 has grown to serve five regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia & Pacific, Latin America & Caribbean, Europ & Central Aisa, and Middle East & North Africa.
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The United States’ foreign policy these days seems to have a pretty heavy focus on countries that are about as far away as geographically possible. Our relationships with China, India, and much of the Middle East tend to get more attention (especially in the press) than our relationships with our closest neighbors. Technology has made the world a much smaller place, but it’s still important to keep an eye on our own backyard. That’s what Inter-American Dialogue does. They’re a Washington, DC based non-profit that is “the leading U.S. center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs.”
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Last week in my write up on the U.S. Association Of Former Members Of Congress, I touched on the idea that our politicians might be more effective after they retire from public service. I think this is especially true for members of Congress who have no term limits and constantly need to worry about being reelected, but I think that presidents face similar pressures to follow the polls. Once they’re out of office, former politicians are free to work on the problems that they think are important. For President Clinton this work manifests itself through the William J. Clinton Foundation, which is Little Rock, AR and New York, NY based non-profit organization that aims to “improve global health, strengthen economies worldwide, promote healthier childhoods, and protect the environment by fostering partnerships among governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and private citizens.”
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One of the most impressive things about the United States is how much we do for the rest of the world. We may do our fair share of messing things up and meddling in other people’s business, but the amount of aid that comes out of this country is truly remarkable. There are all kinds of organizations that are doing a variety of things to help the developing world. Many of these organizations are members of InterAction, a Washington, DC based non-profit that “seeks to shape important policy decisions on relief and long term development issues, including foreign assistance, the environment, women, health, education and agriculture.” They represent more than 190 member organizations that combine to do work in nearly every developing country. All of InterAction’s member organizations share the goal of a “peaceful, just and prosperous world of nations with inclusive and sustainable societies.”
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While I love the word isthmus, there’s no doubt in my mind that if I had to pick a favorite geographic feature, it would be rivers (and my favorite river is the Au Sable in Michigan). A lot has to do with my fly fishing addiction, but I’m continuously amazed by the power of moving water. It’s no coincidence that so many of the world’s greatest cities formed along rivers–they really are the lifeblood of civilization. It’s easy to forget this when your water comes out of a faucet and the fish you eat is grown in a pond, but there are still people across the world whose lives are completely intertwined with the rivers they live along. International Rivers is a Berkeley, CA non-profit organization that is “at the heart of the global struggle to protect rivers and the rights of communities that depend on them.” There are all kinds of threats to rivers, but dams are often the biggest ones. Many consider hydroelectric power to green, but they overlook the consequences of stopping the natural flow of a river.
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The domestication of animals has to be one of the biggest developments in human history. They are obviously a wonderful direct food source, but they’re even better as an indirect food source when they provide things like milk, eggs, fertilizer, and more animals. So when we talk about battling poverty, it makes sense to go back to what worked for us in the past: animals. That’s what Heifer International does. They’re a Little Rock, AR based non-profit that enables people to “donate animals to poor countries.” It’s an ingenious idea, and it’s even kind of fun. Not only does an animal provide a source for food and other products, but it also requires responsibility. Caring for an animal is an ultimate life lesson.
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Have you ever bought Easter candy after Easter? They’re usually giving it away at about 90% off. We live in a country where food is so plentiful that it becomes undesirable if it’s not the right color or in the right packaging for the time of year. Those egg shaped Reese’s instantly won’t sell, even though they have a better peanut butter to chocolate ratio than the normal cups. It’s easy to forget how lucky we are to live in a society where one of our biggest problems is an overabundance of calories. The International Food Policy Research Institute is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that serves those who aren’t so lucky. The IFPRI envisions “a world where every person has secure access to sufficient and safe food to sustain a healthy and productive life and where food-related policy decisions are made transparently, including the participation of consumers and producers.”
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The word “results” is extremely common in the business world, but you don’t hear it as much in the non-profit world. That is changing, but I still hear a lot of my friends griping about how ineffective the non-profits they’ve worked in have been. My guess (and hope) is that that’s not a problem at Results for Development Institute in Washington, DC considering that they have “results” in their name. They’re a non-profit organization that “delivers policy analysis, critical information, decision-making tools, and policy advice for governments, civil society organizations, and external funders to use to reduce poverty and accelerate social and economic progress in low and middle income countries.” It’s all about finding the levers that will deliver the highest impact and then finding the right way to pull them.
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Yesterday I picked my parents up from the airport. Because of traffic, I ended up spending more time in the car to do a roundtrip of about 35 miles then than they spent on the plane flying from New York City to Chicago. It’s amazing how far we’ve come in terms of transportation over the course of human history, but we still have a long way to go. Society still has a ton to gain economically and environmentally through innovation in transportation. That’s why the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy exists. They’re a New York, NY based non-profit organization that “works with cities worldwide to bring about sustainable transport solutions that cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce poverty, and improve the quality of urban life.” They have offices in Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, so it’s clear that their mission is as much about international development as it is about transportation.
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There’s no question that America’s future is filled with challenges, and we’re going to be the ones who have to rise to them. It’s a huge opportunity, but it’s also a bit daunting. The New America Foundation is a non-profit organization that “emphasizes work that is responsive to the changing conditions and problems of our 21st Century information-age economy — an era shaped by transforming innovation and wealth creation, but also by shortened job tenures, longer life spans, mobile capital, financial imbalances and rising inequality.” They’re based in Washington, DC (and Sacramento, CA), and they’re working to ensure that every American generation is able to live better than the one that came before it.
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Last Sunday we took a look at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and how they’re promoting democracy across the world by helping build strong electoral systems. Today we’re going to look at an organization with similar goals, but a very different approach. The Center for International Private Enterprise is a Washington, DC based non-profit that “strengthens democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform.” We often emphasize the political freedom part of democracy, but I’m convinced that economic freedom is just as, if not more, important. The Center for International Private Enterprise or CIPE is all about helping countries build an economic system that encourages a democratic way of life.
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For me water is all about recreation. It’s a place to fish, swim, kayak, and hopefully one day learn how to surf. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy drinking water–I’ve had servers at restaurant tell me that I drink more water than any other customer they’ve served–but it’s mostly an afterthought. Unfortunately, for nearly a billion people across the globe water is neither fun nor an afterthought. “Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.” charity: water is a non-profit organization that is “bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.” They’re based in New York, NY, but they’re doing work all over the world. One of the most interesting things about charity: water is that they’re able to put 100% of the public donations that they receive towards clean water projects. This is possible because a small group of private donors has committed to covering the organization’s operating expenses.
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When I hear the word innovation, I usually think high-tech. It’s really just about finding new things that work, even if they’re old ideas. Innovations for Poverty Action is a New Haven, CT based non-profit organization that is “dedicated to discovering what works to help the world’s poor.” By using the scientific method in everything that they do, Innovations for Poverty Action is able to optimize their programs for maximum return on investment. That means they’re able to help more people with less money, which is absolutely essential when you’re fighting poverty. It’s pretty cool that they’ve been able to create a system for reliably developing new innovations.
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The last century or so has been all about mass produced goods. Everybody wants what everyone else has. If all your friends had a Chinpokomon, then you’d want one too. That’s starting to change. More and more people are interested in handcrafted, bespoke goods. Consumerism is changing, albeit slowly. Additionally, more and more people are looking to do good when they make purchases. Whether it’s wearing a Livestrong bracelet or TOMS Shoes, people like showing off their inner “do gooder.” Ahkun is a New York, NY based non-profit that serves the intersection of these two consumer trends. They “work with entrepreneurs who have received microloans” by connecting “them to the global marketplace–creating sustainable businesses and closing the gap between microfinance lenders and borrowers, consumers and producers.” In other words, Ahkun allows you to buy handmade goods from people who are doing their part to grow developing economies.
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I’m constantly amazed by the quantity and breadth of non-profit organizations that are working to solve society’s many problems. While we often take a look at the larger organizations because they have more job and internship opportunities, you shouldn’t overlook the smaller non-profits that are deeply embedded in their communities and focused on solving a small set of problems in a specific area. These organizations are especially well equipped to make things happen, even if they can only do it on a small scale; however, they can also be limited by their size and local focus. Foundation for Sustainable Development is a San Francisco, CA based non-profit that “works to enhance the capacity of small non-governmental organizations around the world to address local health, social, environmental, and economic issues.” In other words, they help these smaller organizations by giving them access to some of the resources of larger organizations.
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It’s hard to find a kid in the United States who doesn’t take school for granted. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I actually wanted to go to school in the morning, yet I had classrooms with computers, books, great teachers and more. In the developing world schools barely have any books or even decent structures to teach lessons in, yet the students are filled with enthusiasm. Room to Read is a San Francisco, CA based non-profit that “seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education.” It all started in Nepal when a Microsoft executive named John Wood who was traveling in Nepal and invited into a school in a small village. He was alarmed by how little they had to work with, so he quit his job and decided to build “a global team to work with rural villages to build sustainable solutions to their educational challenges.”
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Everybody feels for Japan right now. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and potential nuclear meltdowns are scary enough on their own, but I can’t imagine dealing with all three at the same time. Luckily, Japan is both economically and technologically strong enough to have been well prepared to deal with such disasters. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t need our support. Plenty will come from our federal government, but there will also be support sent from city to city. Why? Because of the relationships formed through Sister Cities International, a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that aims to “promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation–one individual, one community at a time.” They pair cities across the world to be sister cities (smaller cities may have one sister city while larger cities could have dozens). For instance Riverside, CA is Sendai, Japan’s (the epicenter of the earthquake) sister city, so the people in Riverside are already working to coordinate their part in the relief effort for Sendai. It’s exactly the “people-to-people, citizen diplomacy initiative” that President Eisenhower proposed in 1956.
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There’s something special about non-profits that start on college campuses. They’re born with a sense of scrappiness and youthful idealism. It’s just the combination that can make amazing things happen. Nourish International in Chapel Hill, NC is a perfect example of this. It all started with a UNC student named Sindhura Citineni. She started a student group called “Hunger Lunch.” They’d sell “rice, beans and cornbread in the Pit for $3 and use the profits to fund Nourish’s first project: a nutrition project in Hyderabad, India.” Since then the mission has continued to be “to eradicate poverty by engaging students and empowering communities,” but they’ve certainly expanded their reach. Students raise money on campus throughout the year, and then they travel abroad in the summer to fund and conduct community development projects.
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It’s hard to imagine anything more precious than childhood. It’s a period of life that is meant to be carefree and full of potential. Yet so many children across the world endure suffering and hardship, and even worse there is little or no hope for a brighter future. Plan is an international development non-profit organization that works “to promote child rights and lift millions of girls and boys out of poverty.” They do work in “48 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas” while raising funds in 21 countries. In the 70 years that Plan has been operating, they’ve improved the lives of more than 1.5 million children in communities totaling 9 million people. That’s massive impact. Plan is headquartered in Warwick, RI, and they also have a presence in Washington, DC. By focusing on children, Plan is able to not only help those who are most vulnerable, but also to help build a future generation that is prepared to offer a better life for their children.
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During my vacation I’ve been reading a number of books including President Bush’s Decision Points
. I’ve enjoyed it so far, and the chapter on Afghanistan reminded me to take a look at the U.S. Agency for International Development (better known as USAID), which a reader recommended I write about a few months ago. They are “the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.” Right now they’re playing a huge role in moderating the impact of the war in Afghanistan on civilians, while they’re also heavily focused on helping those in Pakistan who have been affected by the earthquake. While USAID’s budget is less than one half of one percent of the federal budget, their impact feels much greater.
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Believe it or not, I’ve been on vacation in Aruba for the past week (I’m sneaky like that). I have a few friends who are locals, and one of them was telling me that he will soon be moving out on his own. His expected rent is dirt cheap at $400 per month, but he expects that his electricity and water bills will easily surpass the monthly rent. We often take affordable clean water and electricity for granted in the United States, but even in a highly developed tourist destination like Aruba they can be insanely expensive. Now just imagine living in a developing nation with low income and high energy costs. Electricity is an extreme luxury. But not for much longer if Duron Energy has their way. They’re a company that came out of Idealab, and they are “a leader in affordable power products designed for off-grid use in emerging markets.” Duron Energy is headquartered in Bangalore, India, but they also have offices in Ahmedabad and Lucknow (both in India) as well as in Los Angeles, CA.
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What do you want most in the world? Maybe it’s changed since yesterday because of something left under the Christmas tree, but chances are that changing the answer to that question isn’t so easy. For a small boy begging on the streets of India, the answer was pretty simple. A pencil. Adam Braun is a guy who gave a kid a pencil, a smile, and a promise of a better future. Adam Braun continued backpacking across the world, and giving out pens and pencils—thousands of them. Eventually his idea turned into a non-profit organization called Pencils of Promise. They’re based in New York City, and they now build schools for the 75 million children in the world who don’t even have access to a pre-school education. As important as schools are, the pencils and backpacks still play a huge role in what Pencils of Promise does.
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It’s amazing what a single person can do to change the world. These days it’s as easy as ever. Whether you build a website that millions of people use or do volunteer work in a small town in Africa, you can have an amazing impact all on your own. And even better, you can find tons of people and organizations whom you can work with to magnify your impact. One of those organizations is Visions in Action. They are a Washington, DC based non-profit international development organization that “is committed to achieving social and economic justice in the developing world through grassroots programs and communities of self-reliant volunteers.” They work in Mexico, Liberia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and even in the United States.
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