Press Release:
Micro-charity SmallCanBeBig celebrates 2-year anniversary and $200,000 in small donations for families facing homelessness.
SmallCanBeBig proves unique online-only micro-charity model is successful and sustainable.
Waltham, MA 1/10/2010 - SmallCanBeBig, an all-volunteer micro-charity created by Boathouse Group, turns 2 years old, celebrating the positive impact its donors have on the lives of families and children, and the power of its innovative model.
"Back in January 2009, the concept of micro-charities and Web-only charities operating with zero overhead was new to the Internet," said John Connors, founder of SmallCanBeBig and CEO of Boathouse. "Today, we are in an era of well-publicized donor frustrations with large charities—charities that are plagued with massive overhead and accusations of corruption. The success of SmallCanBeBig shows that donors are looking for a new model for their charitable giving."
SmallCanBeBig's Unique Micro-charity Model
SmallCanBeBig's innovative micro-charity model is different from any other Web-based charity in three key ways:
- 100% of every dollar donated is applied directly to a specific family and their needs
- Personalized stories on the website disclose each carefully selected family's unique situation and needs
- After receiving assistance from SmallCanBeBig, families should require no further assistance to sustain themselves
Best Measure of Success
"Every other day, on average, our donors help keep a child in their home. And that may be the measure of success of which I am most proud," said Amanda Zarle, volunteer Executive Director of SmallCanBeBig.
At the milestone of its 2-year anniversary, SmallCanBeBig has raised over $200,000 in donations.
That $200,000 in donations has kept nearly 200 families and 400 children from becoming homeless. Each family receives an average of 20 contributions from donors who, on average, help at least two families. The most common donation value is $15.
"Even though SmallCanBeBig helps Massachusetts families, we have received donations from all 50 states, with 50% of our donations coming from outside of Massachusetts," said Zarle.
Looking Forward to 2011
"We used our first year to establish our brand, technical platform and industry relationships," said Zarle. "Our second year has been focused on deepening our relationships with our partners and volunteers. We have also had great success growing our donor base with the help of social media.
"Based on what we have heard from our donors and volunteers, there is a massive opportunity to use the power of social media to drive even more success and keep many more families in their homes in 2011."
Press Contact
SmallCanBeBig.org
P: 781-663-6600
F: 781-663-6601
media@smallcanbebig.org
About SmallCanBeBig.org
SmallCanBeBig.org, founded by Boathouse Group, is the latest venture in online charitable giving. SmallCanBeBig is an all-volunteer-based organization working from the simple premise that whether it’s money or time, even small donations can make a big difference. Because we rely on volunteers, we can maintain zero direct overhead so that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to support a family in need.
For more information, visit the SmallCanBeBig website, find SmallCanBeBig on Facebook or follow SmallCanBeBig on Twitter.
About Boathouse Group
Boathouse redefines creativity online and off by developing brands, campaigns, companies and, in this case, a charitable giving site. A selection of Boathouse’s 2011 clients includes Bank of America, Caritas Christi Health Care, Harvard Business School, NSTAR, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and TomTom.
For more information, visit the Boathouse website or follow Boathouse on Twitter.
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