Last week a lady emailed me saying that she wanted my help in fundraising to build a community center in Nicaragua, and she wanted to start now. “I know you were able to build a school in Malawi; how did you even begin that process?” … Continue readingWhat do you call activism without personal sacrifice?
Imagine two different types of carpet: Carpet 1 is filthy, dirty, torn up and has stains everywhere. Carpet 2 is nearly pristine with the exception of a single red wine stain. It’s easy to see why we’re naturally wanting to clean up Carpet 2. With … Continue readingHow the global 1% gets distracted by low-impact activism
Effective immediately, DonorSee will be imposing a $450 max on all future projects posted on our platform. After spending a year and a half fundraising for projects that raise from a few bucks to tens of thousands of dollars, we have decided to focus our … Continue readingDonorSee Imposing $450 Max On All Future Projects
The very planet that we share is inhabited by human beings living in destitute poverty. And the most influential institutions that have been set up to help those human beings often end up harming them instead. This is because the interests of charitable institutions and … Continue reading8 Ways Charities Can Prioritize The Poor
Luxury yachts, cigars and playboys fanning themselves with money are not images you would expect to see in the twitter feed of a development organization. But Oxfam, as a precursor to the 2018 World Economic Forum, can’t stop tweeting them as part of a new … Continue readingOxfam’s Simple Minded Rhetoric About Inequality
When I lived in Malawi, I was told by “development experts” that I shouldn’t use the phrase “helping the poor” because the word “helping” was “paternalistic and demeaning.” At the time, I nodded my head and did my best to follow their instructions. When communicating … Continue readingThe Cold Distance Language Posturing Puts Between Us And The Poor
Consumerism works because the customer both pays for the service and benefits from it. If the service is lacking, the customer stops paying. If the service is great, the customer comes back and tells their friends. But, what if the customer making the purchase isn’t … Continue readingCharity & Consumerism: A Match Made In Hell
I’m proud of my 2017, but not because I “crushed it.” Upon reflection, I did some things this past year that I hope to never do again. Each point below represents (1) my biggest mistakes of 2017 and (2) my correlating resolution for 2018. I … Continue readingMistakes I’m Glad I Made In 2017
I saw more pain and sadness during my 3 years in Malawi than most Americans will see their entire lives. Recently someone asked me how I’ve dealt with being around it so much. These are my practical tips for dealing with the harsh realities of our … Continue readingPractical Advice For Dealing With Global Suffering
Today is Wednesday. Like most Wednesdays, the default outcome is that it will be an unremarkable day. Nothing exciting, exceptional, or noteworthy will happen. Unless, of course, you do something about it. A few weeks ago I asked you to join me in fundraising a … Continue readingMake Today Remarkable