Philanthropy for Everyone: Part One

Like many kids, when I was young I dreamed of one day becoming rich. Typical dreams of big houses, fancy cars and exotic vacations. When I matured into young adulthood however, those dreams changed. I realized that if I were rich I could have something far better than material comforts...I could have the power to impact change, to improve the plight of others. I dreamed of becoming a philanthropist. I know, it's crazy. But read on....

Now you and I both have the opportunity to actually participate in philanthropy. The pepsirefreshproject provides $1.3 million each month in grants to individuals, organizations and corporations who submit their ideas for funding. By voting for your favorite ideas (up to 10 votes each day), you have a voice in which projects get funded. Is that awesome or what?

Currently, there are more than 1,000 submissions competing for your vote. If your time is limited and you want some ideas on what projects to support, I can help. (Of course! The point of the article! LOL). I spent about three hours reading, ranking and eliminating projects to come up with a top ten list. These projects will each get one vote per day from me. Perhaps you can find an idea to support among them. Following are the first five on my list. I will publish Part Two tomorrow. Click on each title to visit their proposal page.

#1: WaggleForce Job Clubs
Proposal: Get 10,000 people back to work.
Grant Amount: $250,000
Idea Location: New York, NY
WaggleForce is led by Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire, Workplace Contributor on ABC's Good Morning America, and New York Times best-selling author. She is joined in this grassroots effort by a team of experienced career club leaders, trainers and multimedia gurus dedicated to job search success.


#2: DonorsChoose.org
Proposal: Refresh libraries in public schools across America.
Grant Amount: $250,000
Idea Location: New York, NY
DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Started in a Bronx high school, we improved public education by enabling every teacher to be a change-maker and any citizen to be a philanthropist. Teachers ask. You choose. Students learn.


#3: EDAR (Everyone Deserves A Roof)
Proposal: Distribute mobile homeless shelters.
Grant Amount: $250,000
Idea Location: Los Angeles, CA
EDAR is a nonprofit organization that provides mobile shelters to the homeless. Based on a cart design, the EDAR unit allows for storage and mobility during the day. At night, the EDAR unfolds into a one-person bed, providing shelter and an alternative to a cardboard box or cold concrete.


#4: Sav-A-Vet.org
Proposal: Provide more housing to disabled veterans and law enforcement.
Grant Amount: $250,000
Idea Location: Lindenhurst, IL
Sav-A-Vet.org is a nonprofit organization that provides free housing to disabled veterans and law enforcement personnel in exchange for taking care of retired military working dogs that would otherwise be euthanized after service.


#5: One World Youth Project
Proposal: Expand to 3 U.S. Universities in 2010
Grant Amount: $50,000
Idea Location: Washington, D.C.
One World Youth Project facilitates high quality partnerships between schools for cultural exchange and collaborative service-learning toward the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals. OWYP is preparing the next generation for a globally-integrated world.