FAQ
Don’t the big aid organizations already work with local organizations?
Some do. But it’s important to look at WHEN local leaders are involved—after all of the decisions have been made? Or at the beginning when the important elements of who, what, and where are still being decided?
Involving local leaders at the end of the process includes them as implementers, but not as decision-makers. And this is a big difference with Move92.
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We partner with local organizations at the very beginning, so that local leaders can design their own solutions before implementing them.
And some smaller organizations get left out of the conversation entirely.
Many big aid organizations require funding applications that are incredibly labor intensive, complicated, and must be submitted in English.
Smaller, local organizations often don’t have the staff to even comply with the requirements…let alone track the data that big aid organizations need for reporting.
The same is true for organizations in remote areas, or ones who don’t have access to reliable internet or computers. Or translators who write in English.
In short, there are so many amazing local organizations that aren’t able to get on the radar of large aid organizations, let alone have the ability to apply, and then adhere to very strict and western-minded reporting requirements.
MOVE92 works with local leaders who are typically serving groups of people who regularly get left out of the big aid conversation.
If you have a special issue or population you are interested in, we will actively seek out local leaders working hard to solve problems in this area. Here’s one example of a grant-maker who had that exact wish.
How do I know I can trust these people who are local leaders?
Curiously, any act of philanthropy is an act of trust.
But in the case of direct grants to local leaders, our way of working invites honesty and transparency right from the beginning.
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Because being authentic and valuing the relationship is at the forefront of how we approach granting, we minimize the risk of people taking advantage of the granting process.
Local leaders know they can talk honestly to Move92 if they run into problems. There’s no barrier, or need to hide anything.
And a Move92 grant is flexible, so it is designed to encourage creativity and problem-solving.
After decades of observation, we have found that the more space you give for innovation and creativity, the more honesty you receive in return.
What exactly IS a local leader?
A local leader is a well-respected and trusted member of the community who understands the formal and informal ways to get things done.
Local leaders know the unique issues of their community inside and out, and have innovative ideas of how these issues can be solved.
They are an integral part of the community. They call it “home” even though some of them may not have been born there originally.
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At Move92, our network is dynamic and diverse, spanning the globe, reaching corners that are often untouched by traditional methods of international aid.
Our trusted local leaders are tackling issues in their community that only they can define and address. And we celebrate their local knowledge by listening to their stories and solutions.
Why does this way of giving shift traditional power dynamics?
Our way of granting directly to local leaders is a game-changer. It completely busts up old ideas of pity-based charity. And it upholds a vision of strength and resilience.
Starting a relationship as a dialogue is the first shift.
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A second shift happens when things may not turn out as planned. This is a major difference in how aid is traditionally managed, because local leaders have the authority to make decisions without having to go back and waste precious time negotiating for this power.
Here’s an example of why this is important.
A third shift happens when it comes time to report results. This process is done personally—in regular check-in conversations. We can’t underscore how different this process is.
The way international aid has been traditionally done, recipients are expected to jump through hoops to “prove” that they used the money wisely, and funders are the people who specify which hoops are required.
Doing reporting through regular conversations opens up a very different world. Not only are conversations efficient, but they are personal and creative. They reveal the true nature of what happens on the ground. And they relieve local leaders from countless hours preparing documents and fitting numbers into formal spreadsheets.
These conversations also offer an opportunity to solve real problems happening in real-time, because they invite honest discussion, ongoing learning, and creative brainstorming.
Why should I try giving directly?
Three reasons:
1) To have a personal impact on the issues you care about,
2) To have your giving make a tangible difference that you can see and understand,
3) To witness smart solutions that come from the community itself (not some western thinktank), and to see how ideas generated from the inside can be powerful and long-lasting.
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Giving directly avoids the problem of western ideas being foisted on a community where they won’t actually work. And it puts you closer to the reality of the situation, allowing you an opportunity for you to learn about situations on the ground.
Here’s an example of what we mean.
What exactly are philanthropic dreams?
Your philanthropic dreams are your unique reasons for wanting to share your resources. They shed light on the kinds of things you hope your money will create, and the kinds of people you want to help. Your dreams signal what is most important to you.
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Move92 will help you explore your dreams, and then together, we will work to make them come true.
Here is an example of what we mean.
(Himalayan Trust Story—TO BE SUBMITTED)
What are the steps to becoming a grantmaker?
1) Contact us here (You can grant as an individual or a group.)
2) Talk with us about your philanthropic dreams.
3) Review the local leaders (s) we suggest.
4) Choose a local leader(s) and make an initial learning grant.*
*We start all grant-maker/grantee relationships slowly to make sure there is a good fit.
Once you make an initial grant, you can review what happened with the grant. Then you can decide if you want to follow up with a longer grant.
5) We will do the necessary paperwork to ensure your grant is tax-deductible.
Can I simply try this out or do I need to make a big commitment?
All granting starts slowly to make sure there is a good fit. Once you make an initial grant, you can review what happened with the grant and assess how you feel about it.
Then you can decide if you want to follow-up with a longer or larger grant.
Here’s an example of how the granting process can evolve.
Are there limits (low or high) to how much I can grant?
Our grants are typically small grants—from $1,000 to $25,000 guaranteed for a period of a year or more. We like to encourage granting that lasts, because it offers more stability to local leaders. If you want to grant more than these ranges, we can certainly help you.
How involved do I need to be once I give a grant?
You can be as involved as you want to be (or not).
You can be included on the catch-up calls with local leaders, or just updated on a regular basis. You can get to know the local leader more personally, or simply let your grant do its work. It’s your choice what level of involvement you are comfortable with.
Have you ever had a grant not be successful?
We have never had a grant fail in making a difference. But we have had an initial learning grant reveal an important misalignment in core values between Move92 and the local leader.
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In this case, we recommended the grantmaker not make a follow-up grant to this particular local leader.
We don’t consider this situation an “unsuccessful” one, however, because this is what the learning phase is for.
We got to know the local leader better, and the grantmaker got to hone in on what was truly important in her personal giving.
This grantmaker chose to make follow-up grants to the other local leaders she funded, and feels positively about the whole experience.
Move92 is a gender equity movement, what does that mean?
It means that gender needs to be in the dialogue. We work with organizations run by men and women, and we encourage grants to projects supporting boys and girls.
But the common thread is that we talk about women’s empowerment and the role that history, culture, and tradition play. These topics are at the forefront of discussion.
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We work with organizations that see the empowerment of girls and women as integral part of social progress–not as just a “womens’ issue.”
Here are some compelling statistics that motivate us to make sure girls and women’s voices are being heard in the communities and organizations we work with:
- When women start small businesses, they spend their earned money on improving the welfare of the family, including education for both boys and girls.
- A United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) study revealed that increases in women’s education make the greatest contribution to reducing the rate of child malnutrition.
- A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of 5.
- Female farmers having the same access to resources as men results in 150 million fewer hungry people.
- Educating women is the most powerful lever available for breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty– in addition to mitigating emissions by curbing population growth.
References: The World Bank. 2005. Improving Women’s Lives. Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTGENDER/Resources/Beijing10Report.pdf * United Nations Population Fund. 2018. UNFPA State of World Population 2018. Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org/swop-2018 * Hawken, Paul (Ed). 2017. Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming.*Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2011. The State of Food and Agriculture 2010-2011. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/i2050e/i2050e00.htm * Hawken, Paul (Ed). 2017. Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming.