Nearly two years after its launch, Johnson & Johnson’s crowdfunding website for global public health projects in underserved communities has raised almost $500,000 for 51 projects to date.
The percentage of projects posted on the website that are funded has increased from 33 percent one year ago to 65 percent this year, according to an email from Fetzer.
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CaringCrowd Cofounder Derek Fetzer, who serves as a director of global public health at J&J, said the group launched the platform with Cofounder John Brennick, Sara Gorman and Steve Ruhmel in September 2015. The website was recently recognized in the form of the People’s Choice award at the SXSW Interactive Innovation Awards in Austin.
“I think people were pleased to see the marriage of technology with the need to deploy technology in an altruistic manner,” Fetzer said in a phone interview.
Funding priorities outlined on the website include physician supply, diagnosing and treating particular illnesses, educating people about their health, and
providing better equipment and more medications to hospitals and clinics. The website seeks to help NGOs improve their visibility to would-be supporters. To qualify, these organizations must be registered 501(c)(3) non-profits and based in the U.S.
J&J has pledged to match all donations (up to $250 per person per project) until the company reaches a project cap of $150,000; so far it has provided more than $118,000 in matching funds.
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CaringCrowd doesn’t charge a fee for organizations to highlight their projects on the website. To process transactions it uses Stripe.
The majority of projects on the website are centered on prevention, treatment and healthcare services, and health education and training. HIV/AIDS, malaria and diarrheal diseases top the infectious disease priorities. Other categories that have produced many projects include nutrition, hygiene, water and sanitation, maternal health and infant survival. Mental health, a category Fetzer described as a priority last year, has been the subject of 10 projects.
Although projects in developing countries across Africa, South America Asia make up account for most of the programs, there are also some in the U.S. such as a Meals on Wheels program in rural Iowa and one project to support women with HIV in San Diego.
The Center for Suicide Awareness raised nearly $4,000 for a project to produce “Challenge Coins” for military veterans. The idea is to provide these coins to police officers and first responders so they can distribute them to veterans who are struggling with post traumatic stress disorder.
A Bangalore-based program to give 3D printed prosthetic arms and hands to children has also nearly completed its funding. The money raised for AarogyaSeva‘s project is intended to Identify, measure, print and fit the prostheticlibs as well as provide follow-up and rehabilitation care.
Fetzer noted that the website recently began offering electronic greeting cards that allow users to make donations in a parent or friend’s name as a gift to them.
“Our focus over the year to come will be to continue to make the website easier for project owners to use.
Photo: CaringCrowd website