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Benj and Jessica launched a nonprofit. Follow our journey as we built a 501(c)(3) and a web site, and now usher in an endless stream of worthy charity nominees and monthly grant winners!

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Happy News gives us a Happy Birthday

The Happy News

September brought with it another Charitocracy birthday! We've been online, spreading your dolla dolla bill to worthy causes, for 3 years now!! Whether you've been with us the whole time, or just joined us recently, THANK YOU. It's your birthday. And we have some happy news to share.

Or better put, The Happy News has us to share! Thanks to donor Ealish Wilson, Jessica and I have been nominated as Everyday Heroes! Aww, shucks. ☺️

Benj Lipchak and Jessica Sands as Everyday Heroes

Big thanks also to Emily Coxhead for publishing Ealish's kind words in her extraordinary newspaper, and for making Charitocracy's birthday extra happy this year. ❤️

Spotlight on nominee Hurricane Dorian Relief @ Red Cross

Nominee Dorian Relief @ Red Cross

Next in our series of posts about new Charitocracy nominees, we have nominee Dorian Relief @ Red Cross, nominated by donor TdotWING. The American Red Cross, among many other things, help people affected by Hurricane Dorian by preparing for, responding to, and helping people recover from this disaster. You can find their web site here.

A few words on Charitocracy

Firstly, for newcomers: here's how it works. Donors pool their monthly contributions, as little as $1. The cause with the most votes each month wins the pot. No matter how much or how little you contribute, each donor at Charitocracy gets one vote. This is where charity meets democracy. So please share this post (scroll down for social sharing icons) and ask your friends to join us and vote! That's how we spread the word and, as a result, grow the monthly pot. The bigger the pot, the bigger our positive impact on the world!

About nominee Dorian Relief @ Red Cross

Hurricane Dorian carved a path of devastation in the Bahamas, leaving behind catastrophic damage and affecting an estimated 76,000 people and more than 13,000 homes.

As the storm continues to move along the U.S. coast, pummeling communities with high storm surge, rain, and tornado threats, the American Red Cross is there to provide food, shelter, comfort, and hope.

Hurricane Dorian Response

More than 2,500 Red Cross disaster responders from across the country have worked with kindness and compassion to support people in threatened communities across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. In preparation for this powerful storm, 110 emergency response vehicles and 104 tractor-trailer loads full of relief supplies, including cots, blankets, and 63,000 ready-to-eat meals, were mobilized near evacuation centers and at-risk communities.

Your gift helps us support hard-hit communities in many ways

  • Pre-position supplies for faster response
  • Open evacuation shelters to keep people safe during the storm
  • Provide shelter and food until families can return home
  • Distribute water, food and relief supplies in impacted neighborhoods
  • Help those who need first aid or medical care
  • Give hope, help, and comfort
  • Provide clean up supplies
  • Assess damage in impacted neighborhoods
  • Create recovery plans to get families back on their feet

So visit the page of nominee Dorian Relief @ Red Cross on Charitocracy to vote for, like, or discuss this cause!

August 2019 winner National Institute for Reproductive Health

Charitocracy's 36th check to August winner National Institute for Reproductive Health for $1335

We have good news about August winner National Institute for Reproductive Health, right after this quick update...

Roadtrip Half Over, or Roadtrip Half Left?

It just so happens that Jessica and I, halfway through our epic family RV trip, find ourselves auspiciously with a real Internet connection at a campground near Mesa Verde, Colorado. Perfect for blogging about our new winner! And today we also celebrate 3 years of Charitocracy being online, but we can save that celebration for the end of our birthday month, when we'll be back home at Charitocracy HQ with proper birthday cake baking capabilities.

August 2019 winner National Institute for Reproductive Health

Last night we named Charitocracy's 36th monthly winner. That's 3 years of winners!! Congratulations to National Institute for Reproductive Health, nominated by donor Bethany (her second winning nom)! They build power to change policy, galvanize support, and normalize women’s decisions about abortion and contraception. You can find their web site here.

Now you have a week to further sweeten the pot with a special one-time donation of any amount, which we'll add straight to the check we write to NIRH.

Before you go, check out this 5 minute film covering how the National Institute for Reproductive Health helps promote reproductive freedom. Then feel good about your part in our collective $1335+ grant to help with their work!

Have a great September and be sure to log into Charitocracy to update your votes or nominate a new cause!