ABOUT US
WHAT IS CITIZEN EFFECT?
Citizen Effect is driven by the idea that anyone can make a real and significant impact in the world. It is our mission to provide everyday citizens the tools and networks they need to work directly with communities in need around the world.
We give Citizen Philanthropists the ability to choose their project, leverage their social networks, and communicate directly with their partner community. We are also providing our field partners the tools they need to actively manage their projects so they can seamlessly share information with Citizen Philanthropists and directly report on the impact projects are having on the ground.
Citizen Philanthropists are powerful community builders. They help their partners across the world build more self-reliant and sustainable communities. But they also build stronger communities here at home by bringing people together for a common cause and promoting civic engagement. We believe giving and community building should be a central part of everyone’s life, not something left to weekends or annual drives.
WHY CITIZEN EFFECT?
A woman sells baked goods to provide enviro-friendly solar lanterns for salt farmers in Jogad, India.
Three friends organize a happy hour to repair a well in Devki, India.
A couple uses their wedding registry to raise money for a childcare center in Sedla, India.
Citizen Effect is a completely different approach to philanthropy.
Most nonprofits fund projects by asking for donations. But this can be discouraging. It’s impersonal, and often, a lot of money only seems to make a small difference. Even then, it’s hard to trace the impact of your dollars.
Citizen Effect works a little differently.
We are seeking people that do not just want to give $50, but want to bring their friends, family and social network together to raise $1,000 or $5,000 or $10,000 and to make a real and significant impact in the lives of a community in need. That is a Citizen Philanthropist. And they come in all shapes and sizes - retired teachers, yoga instructors, accountants, high school students, churches, synagogues and mosques, baseball teams and chess clubs, small business and corporations. What makes them all similar is their desire to take control of their giving experience, connect their social network to a community in need and to see the real, sustainable change they have created. Sound like you? Be the solution and be a Citizen Philanthropist. Sound like a friend of yours, tell them to be a Citizen Philanthropist. Or tell the world on Facebook, Twitter and My Space.
No one alone can help 1.4 billion people living on less than $1.25 per day escape poverty, or provide clean water for 2 million people. But you can partner with one community and help them build a more self-reliant and sustainable life by completing a small but critical project. Be the solution. Join Citizen Effect.
FIELD PARTNERS
MEET OUR PARTNERS
SEWA
The Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) is a trade union of 1,000,000 poor, self-employed women workers founded by Ela Bhatt in 1972. This informal, unorganized labor group is 93% of the labor force. They do not have the rights and protection under the law afforded to formal businesses, and women workers themselves remain undercounted and invisible. However, SEWA has set about changing that for over 30 years.
SEWA's main goals are to organize women workers for full employment & self-reliance. Full employment means employment whereby workers obtain work security, income security, food security and social security (at least health care, child care and shelter). SEWA organizes women to ensure that every family obtains full employment. SEWA strives for a woman’s self-reliance so she can be autonomous and self-reliant.
For more information, visit http://www.sewa.org/.
Coprodeli USA
Coprodeli USA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that aids Peruvian families in need by providing for fundamental needs, promoting education and job training, and developing strong self-sustaining community programs. Founded in 2000, Coprodeli USA supports the innovative grassroots development work carried out by Coprodeli Peru to serve poor and marginalized areas surrounding Lima, and throughout the earthquake-devastated Ica Region in the south of the country. Coprodeli has completed more than 140 projects benefiting more than 110,000 people annually in some of the most impoverished communities in Peru.
For more information on Coprodeli, please visit http://www.coprodeliusa.org/
Forge
FORGE is a US-based nonprofit organization that works with displaced communities in Africa. We build upon the capacity of African refugees to cultivate empowered communities and lay the foundation for peace and prosperity.
Since its founding in 2003, FORGE has implemented over 60 community development projects that have served more than 70,000 refugees in the four refugee camps in Zambia & Botwana. An official Operating Partner of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), FORGE works in Zambia, hand-in-hand with refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan.
Among FORGE's many projects are three solar-powered computer training centers, a network of libraries serving 50,000 individuals, a rights advocacy program, health education services, women's empowerment projects, multiple preschools, arts, music & writing programs, and repatriation resource centers. FORGE also operates a Microfinance Institute serving refugees in Zambia, and an Education Fund that provides school sponsorships for refugee youth who would otherwise be unable to afford school. For more information on FORGE, please visit http://www.forgenow.org/.
Children of Vietnam
"Children of Vietnam works to change the lives for the better of poor, orphan, homeless, disabled, and vulnerable children in Vietnam."
Children of Vietnam (COV) works to change the lives for the better of poor, orphan, homeless, disabled, and vulnerable children in Vietnam. COV achieves its mission with the dedicated support of volunteers in the United States and a small, hardworking staff of seven in-country Vietnamese nationals who manage all of our programs in Danang City, Quangnam Province, and the eight surrounding provinces.
COV has two overarching goals: a) to assist children, youth and their families in breaking the cycle of poverty, ill health, and homelessness; and b) to provide immediate assistance to children and their families who are hungry, ill, homeless, or at-risk for homelessness. COV offers the opportunity for a bright future to Vietnamese children through four initiatives: medical, education, housing, and nutrition. Also COV has two special initiatives focusing on children with disabilities and single women head of households. We work collaboratively with local government agencies, other charities, and businesses to leverage our resources with the talents and skills of those with similar interests and goals. For more information on Children of Vietnam, please visit http://www.childrenofvietnam.org.
WHY DO WE WORK WITH PARTNERS?
There are over 1 billion people in the world today living in poverty, and it’s impossible to help them all. But with the help of our partners, we can start to. Our partners link us to communities in need. They’re respected and they have a huge presence in the areas where the work. They aren’t imported—they’re local organizations with deep roots. They understand local communities and what they need, and they have contacts and relationships within the region. Because of them, Citizen Effect knows exactly what projects are needed where, and what’s needed most. Through their updates, we know exactly how our projects are impacting communities- like what kinds of toys children are playing with in the new childcare center and how much money their mothers can now make.
WHY DO OUR PARTNERS WORK WITH US?
Our partners work with us because we have acces s to a very special resource—you. With the help of Citizen Effect, Citizen Philanthropists have the tools to mobilize their entire community’s to support a project. CP’s also make Citizen Effect “the gift that keeps on giving”- Many CP’s find the experience so rewarding that they sign on for another project. Also, our partner organizations receive 100% of funds raised by CP’s- Citizen Effect doesn’t take a cent. Most importantly, though, organizations choose to work with Citizen Effect because of the personal connection Citizen Effect forges between a partner community and a community in need. Through Citizen Effect, CP’s and their partner communities can send pictures, videos and emails back and forth- some CP’s even visit their projects. You can see this need for a personal connection in the expressions of CP’s opening letters from their partner communities and on the faces of children watching footage of the event that funded their new childcare center. Organizations partner with Citizen Effect because of the experience Citizen Effect provides. While projects themselves may be finished within months, the bonds created in the process last indefinitely.
FRIENDS OF CITIZEN EFFECT
Special thanks to ThriveSmart for leading the design and development of the Citizen Effect web platform. ThriveSmart specializes in developing the next-generation of web applications. www.thrivesmart.com
Special thanks to Miles Design for partnering in the design of the Citizen Effect website and user experience. Miles Design focuses on developing premium brand experiences and cutting-edge websites. www.milesdesign.com
Special thanks to Environmental Defense Fund for their support and helping Citizen Effect expand it's clean energy program to include biogas plants. www.edf.org.
PRESS KIT & CONTACT
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A quick Summary of Citizen Effect's story.
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MAY YU
O - (202) 640-1845
info@citizeneffect.org
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
Now that you know how Citizen Effect works, become a Citizen Philanthropist today! Choose your project, and get started!
Answer a few simple
questions below, and find
your perfect project!
WORK AT CITIZEN EFFECT
We are currently seeking a Social Media Intern to join the Citizen Effect team and expand our national presence.
Responsibilities include:
- Actively promote Citizen Effect using a variety of Social Media Platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Ning, Reddit, LinkedIn, etc.
- Research effective communication and outreach with the blogging community
- Promote Citizen Effect events, speaking engagements, and fundraisers
- Maintain media lists and communication outreach
- Work in a supportive, inclusive atmosphere. All interns work as part of the Citizen Effect team, and are given substantial autonomy and exposure to all organizational aspects of a start-up nonprofit in international development.
- Have fun!
Qualifications:
- Must possess excellent writing skills and research ability
- Expert and addict in Social Media platforms, knowledge of SEO practices, RSS feeds, blogging, and more
- Self-starter with the ability to keep deadlines and commitments
- A creative outlook, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective on social media for positive change.
Interns are required to commit to at least 10 hours a week, and can work remotely. Though unpaid, academic credit can be organized when required.
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Citizen Effect at info@citizeneffect.org with Social Media Intern in the subject line.
Citizen Effect Program Development Interns are given a unique opportunity to shape how Citizen Effect works with local NGOs and Citizen Philanthropists to complete small-scale development projects.
You will work with the Project Manager, and Citizen Effect’s field partners to identify and select projects and edit project proposals that will be marketed online to Citizen Philanthropists. In addition, you will also create impact reports with metrics and data from field partners to keep our Citizen Philanthropists updated on their projects.
Other responsibilities include light research on Citizen Effect focus areas and international development policies; writing blog posts on Citizen Effect projects and events; supporting Citizen Philanthropists with their fundraising approaches; conducting research on new partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia; and updating the website with new project information.
The position offers several unique benefits:
- The opportunity to work in a face-pace, start-up organization
- Flexible work hours
- A fun, dynamic work experience
- The opportunity to work closely with social entrepreneurs and grassroots NGOs
Qualifications:
- Must possess excellent writing skills and research ability
- Background in international relations or areas studies preferred
- Interest in monitoring international policies
- A self-starter with the ability to keep deadlines and commitments
- A creative outlook, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective
- Interest & prior experience in nonprofit development and/or organizing is preferred, though not required
- Web programming skills a plus.
The ideal candidate 1+ years in post-collegiate job experience, and is planning on pursuing graduate studies in international development.
Highly qualified undergraduate students are also encouraged to apply, and internship dates can be flexible to accommodate the school year.
Though unpaid, academic credit can be organized where required.
To apply, please email a cover letter, short writing sample, and resume to Citizen Effect at info@citizeneffect.org with Project Development Intern in the subject line.
