In the past decade or so, disruption has been one of the key terms everyone hears in technology and other industries. What many people may not realize is that young entrepreneurs have been revolutionizing the world of philanthropy, too. They’re doing this with many of the same tools that spell success in the for-profit world.
GiveDirectly is just one example of how technology has made it possible to make big changes in the world of philanthropy. Founded by Michael Faye, the CEO of Segovia Technology, this charity gives money directly to families in need in Africa. GiveDirectly allows donors to send money to people in need directly from their cell phones. What’s more, GiveDirectly gets great reviews from organizations like GiveWell and news outlets like The Guardian. Faye’s understanding of economics and development is comprehensive. He earned a Ph.D. in the subject at Harvard and has also studied Math and Classics. In addition to running GiveDirectly, Faye serves on the Council of Foreign Relations. His vision for the world will be making waves for years to come.
Or take Yuva Unstoppable, a non-profit working in the developing world. Founder Amitabh Shah had just finished his MBA at an Ivy League school when he founded this non-profit. It was inspired by the abuse faced by his former nanny. Shah had the chance to work for JPMorgan, but gave that up to go to India and find a way to make a difference for some of the world’s poorest people. His fledgling organization offered volunteer services to the elderly, slum-dwellers, and children. That was 14 years ago. Yuva Unstoppable has a presence in dozens of Indian cities today and serves millions of children.
SeekHelp, founded by Dr. Rachel Wurzman and Jennifer Nicolaisen, helps address gaps in the addiction treatment market. This organization is based in Western North Carolina, an area that has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic. There is a growing number of online options like www.recoverydelivered.com where addicts can get medication to fight their addiction but a serious lack of support from real-life clinics that addicts can go to. After a friend of Nicolaisen’s emerged from detox with no good options for follow-up care, she worked hard to create one. By partnering with Dr. Wurzman, she was able to develop a program that helped keep addicts from lapsing back into isolation and disorder thinking. In just over a year, over 100 people joined their program. People suffering from various forms of addiction and substance abuse may want to consider checking themselves into a rehab center and making use of the services on offer there. Of course, each rehabilitation center offers something different and so finding the right one can be difficult, as what works for one individual may not work for another. It is important to make sure that research is done beforehand and that the facility will meet all of the requirements that the person battling addiction has. For example, some centers specialize in the privacy executives need and others are focused on specific substance abuse. It’s all dependent on the individual but to overcome something like addiction, then greater care will be needed.
About The Author
Yuri Vanetik is an Entrepreneur, Private Investor, Coalition Builder, and Philanthropist in Orange County, California. He is the Managing Partner of Vanetik International, LLC, a management consulting firm which offers advisory services and strategic planning to businesses and industries. He is also the Managing Partner of Dominion Asset Management, a technology-driven opportunity real estate fund that invests in undervalued real estate throughout the United States. Yuri Vanetik brings over 20 years of professional experience in a variety of roles, and has been featured in notable publications, including the Wall Street Journal, California Business Journal, Forbes, and Bloomberg Law.
