Early-stage rationale
Philanthropic pFocus
Philanthropic support is directed to
early-stage humanitarian
organizations whose solutions have identified what is not working and
solves the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution, and
persuading entire societies to take new leaps.
Some well-established organizations have names synonymous with providing
dependable aid in times of widespread crisis and critical need: The Red
Cross, OXFAM, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Feeding
America/America’s Second Harvest, ACCION International, Teach for
America, et al.
We are at an advantage of being able to see these organizations
thriving. However, each of these organizations once traversed a rocky
start-up phase. Their founders overcame the odds, but many times the
personal sacrifice was immeasurable. For each of these successful
benchmark organizations, many others with proven community solutions
have failed to make the transition from start-up to self-sustaining,
established community providers, whose services are a dependable part of
our present culture.
GENEVE SKYE is focusing philanthropic funding towards organizations
whose founders have risked all to bring aid to communities in need, but
who need a capital infusion in order to stabilize. In many ways, we are
providing “gap funding” that will give the founder a
reprieve from the
financial stresses of initial capitalization long enough to assess
long-term self-sustaining revenue models.
In heralding early-stage pioneers there is no devaluing of institutionally established organizations whose services are already bringing relief, instead, GENEVE SKYE provides funding needed for emergent organizations to build a foundation for long-term sustainability, growth and effectiveness.
Raising capital for emerging non-profits can prove challenging for Founders:
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Management and field teams are typically small, overworked and volunteering efforts, or working at a fraction of their former salaries
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Charitable status is not immediately granted by the IRS, and non-profit founders have to seek out solutions for navigating the interim period between the time they file for 501c3 status, and the time it is granted (usually over 9+ months later)
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In addition to raising operating capital, the new founders must add to their already full schedule strict adherence to IRS Regulations for recording and processing donations
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Many well-established Charity rating organizations do not recognize the measurable accomplishments of organizations less than 5 years old, making it more difficult for founders to raise capital for new, seemingly unproven organizations
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Sustainable revenue models are often still being explored by founders who are already providing solutions to communities in need. A focus on urgent financial needs—those that keep services operating—can keep founders from exploring more sustainable solutions
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Often, founders are self-funding sizable portions of the capital needed, at great personal risk. Lack of personal capital can also be a deterrent for many would-be social entrepreneurs who have unlocked solutions to societal problems
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Foundations & grants typically take many months to process, and often requires data that early-stage founders have yet to identify or assess
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Many founders are new to the grant writing process, which means the decision to pursue grants, becomes a time-consuming and often challenging process.
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In determining a grant award, and in order to determine their grant amount, many foundations and grant-making organizations typically want to know which other organizations have already provided funding—creating a circular catch 22 situation that Geneve Skye is purposed to eliminate.
