About a dozen Ohio health causes — including a pioneer of pediatric medical devices in Cleveland, a summer program for high-risk teens in Columbus and a group that encourages breastfeeding in Barberton — think they have great ideas, so they’ve applied for grants from an unlikely source. Pepsi.
PepsiCo Inc. is “giving away millions to fund great ideas” that make a positive impact on society, according to advertisements for the beverage company’s Pepsi Refresh Project.
The project has accepted 1,000 applications and given away $1.3 million in grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 each month since February. But there’s a catch. The grants are awarded to organizations that get the most votes online. Voters can choose up to 10 of their favorite ideas every day.
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So organizations with a lot of members who have time to vote every day — say a high school full of students who want a new weight room — stand a better chance of winning than organizations of busy professionals, no matter how noble their causes.
Even social media campaigns don’t seem to overcome the annoyance factor for grown-ups of logging in and voting every day. No offense, kids.
Though many of the 11 health organizations in Ohio have reached out to their Facebook and Twitter networks, as well as their email “contact” lists, for votes, the best ranking for these organizations among four grant amounts is 43rd. That would be for the Encourage Breastfeeding idea from the Barberton Health District. The district does not appear to be urging Pepsi votes at its website. That’s a missed opportunity.
Yet, the Build a Weight Room for the Kicking Mules of Bedford idea in Temperance, Mich. is first for the top grant of $250,000. The top two vote-getters at that grant amount win each month. Looks like the 1,700 students in the Bedford school district have been casting a lot of votes.
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Or maybe it’s the parents, alumni, coaches and fans of Bedford High School, collectively known as Mule Muscle, that have been wearing out their computer keyboards. Mule Muscle is promoting the Pepsi vote at its website. If the Mules hang on to their No. 1 ranking until June 30, their high school will get one of two $250,000 grants this month.
The Education category, to which the Mule Muscle effort belongs, has won the most grants since February when the Refresh Program started — 30. The Health category has been second, with 22 winners, and the Neighborhoods category, third, with 16 grants awarded. The Planet has had the fewest grant winners — 5.
Two Ohio health causes have single-digit rankings in this month’s vote: Free Condom Distribution to Prevent STDs and HIV in Our Community, sponsored by the The Red Ribbon Connection in Canton, is 80th for a $25,000 grant; and Create a Multi-Sensory Study for Adults with Autism, sponsored by Safe Haven Farms Inc. in Middletown, is 98th for a $50,000 grant.
At 167th for the $250,000 grant, PediaWorks, the not-for-profit organization in Cleveland that works with medical professionals to develop pediatric medical devices, doesn’t have a chance.
“We found it a bit challenging because we can’t expect our contacts to vote every day,” said Tim Moran, PediaWorks founder. “We’re at a disadvantage to organizations that have large numbers of members who personally benefit and that can motivate their members to vote every day.”
But Moran still sees value in the Pepsi program. “It’s a great way for nonprofits to get access to money they otherwise might not have been able to get,” he said. “I’d much rather see a program like this than not see it.”
Moran just wishes he and his thousands of busy contacts had to vote only once. “That seems more equitable for organizations that don’t have large numbers of members but still have the ability to do outreach,” he said.
Pepsi, please take note.
