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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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Spotlight on nominee World Central Kitchen

Nominee World Central Kitchen

Next in our series of posts about new Charitocracy nominees, we have nominee World Central Kitchen, nominated by donor Stephanie. They're a group of chefs creating smart solutions to hunger and poverty. 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 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 World Central Kitchen

José Andrés founded World Central Kitchen after the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti with the belief that food can be an agent of change. We have expanded globally and have developed into a group of chefs creating smart solutions to hunger and poverty.

Today, World Central Kitchen uses the expertise of its Chef Network to empower people to be part of the solution, with a focus on health, education, jobs, and social enterprise.

  • Health: Cleaner cooking with clean cook stoves and food safety/sanitation training.
  • Education: School kitchens to support feeding programs that encourage school attendance and provide a source of sustainable revenue for the school.
  • Jobs: Culinary training to elevate the hospitality workforce, increase earnings, enhance quality of life, and strengthen Haiti’s economy.
  • Social Enterprise: Food ventures that increase income, create jobs, and provide transferable vocational skills to low-income communities.

Since our inception, our work has affected communities in Brazil, Cambodia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nicaragua, Zambia, and the United States.

Join us as we use the power of food to empower communities and strengthen economies.

So visit World Central Kitchen's page on Charitocracy to vote for, like, or discuss this cause! And watch this Washington Post story on WCK's relief for federal employees during the recent government shutdown:

January 2019 winner The You Rock Foundation

Charitocracy's 29th check to January winner The You Rock Foundation for $1893

We have good news about January winner The You Rock Foundation, right after this quick update...

Double the Benj, Double the Fun

For the new year, I've worked out a new schedule with my day job that permits me to devote both Thursdays and Fridays to Charitocracy while I'm home. (All bets are off when I'm traveling for work!) But this should nearly double my Charitocracy productivity. Or as I like to call it, my Charictivity.

It still leaves me overwhelmed by all the things I'd like to get done in those 2 days each week. Thanks to all your poll responses over the last 2 weeks, I'm armed with a bit of guidance on some of the low-hanging fruit to pursue:

  • Make it immediately clear that we're a legit 501(c)(3) run strictly by volunteers where 100% of your donation goes to winning causes. We're not skimmers or scammers! We use optional 8.3% tips and employer matching donations to cover our minimal costs.
  • Amplify the positive theme that resonated the most with our donors: that while they can only afford relatively small monthly donations, they love the group-giving aspect that super-sizes their donation into a bigger, more meaningful one.
  • Don't spend more on ads. Instead, we should seek media attention to grow. If you have any leads as to where/how we should pitch a story about Charitocracy, please do get in touch!

January 2019 winner The You Rock Foundation

Last night we named Charitocracy's 29th monthly winner. Congratulations to The You Rock Foundation, and to donor misadowling for nominating it! At You Rock, rock musicians share their stories to spread awareness and help battle stigmas attached to mental illness. 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 You Rock next week.

Before you go, check out The You Rock Foundation's latest video featuring Brandon Mendenhall, star of the award-winning documentary, Mind Over Matter, and feel good about your part in our collective $1893+ grant to help with their work!

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

Spotlight on nominee First Candle

Nominee First Candle Safe Sleep Guidelines

Next in our series of posts about new Charitocracy nominees, we have nominee First Candle, nominated by donor Jbarefoot. They work to prevent SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths, and support grieving families. You can find their web site here. First Candle provided grief support to Jbarefoot and her husband after tragically losing their healthy one-month-old daughter to SIDS.

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 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 First Candle

Our Mission

First Candle is committed to the elimination of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths through education and research, while providing support for grieving families who have suffered a loss.

Who We Are and What We Do

First Candle is dedicated to reducing the rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and preventable Stillbirths by educating caregivers and families, and supporting research. We are also committed to offering bereavement support for grieving families.

This has been our role for more than 35 years. In 1994 we partnered with the National Institutes of Health on the Back to Sleep campaign, which led to a reduction in the rate of SIDS by more than 50%.

Despite this, SIDS remains the leading cause of death for babies one month to one year of age. Due to SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths, including accidental suffocation, more than 300 babies every month may not live to see their first birthday. Infant mortality rates in the U.S are also higher than in the 20 wealthiest nations.

Our objective is clear: saving babies and supporting families. Working with local organizations throughout the country we are educating new and expectant parents on the importance of providing a safe sleep environment for their baby. And for those families who have tragically lost a baby we are here to offer bereavement support and counsel.

We are a national member in good standing of Community Health Charities, have a Gold ranking on Guide Star, and a 3-star ranking on Charity Navigator. We are proud to maintain administrative costs well below the nonprofit industry standard of 25 percent.

So visit First Candle's page on Charitocracy to vote for, like, or discuss this cause! And watch their important video covering safe sleep guidelines for infants: