Crowdfunding. It’s something that everyone’s talking about, and with an estimated $5.1 billion in funds disbursed in 2013, it’s no wonder. But the crowdfunding that most people talk about are bands promoting their new albums and young designers pre-selling cool watches and gadgets. What’s that got to do with social change? This panel is your answer. With more than 1,000 for-profit platforms globally, fewer than ten are mission-driven nonprofits. Learn about the power of crowdfunding in bringing access to resources and capacity for low-income entrepreneurs, classrooms, individuals and activists. This never before seen panel features leaders at the cutting edge of this emerging field!

Speakers

Oliver Hurst-Hiller, DonorsChoose.org

Megan Kashner, Benevolent

Liezl Van Riper, Kiva

Brandon Whitney, ioby

Allison Fine, Personal Democracy Forum (moderator)

This event is hosted by the New York Chapter of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) and is generously sponsored by the Surdna Foundation. Free refreshments will be available while they last!

Speaker Bios

Oliver Hurst-Hiller, DonorsChoose.org

Oliver Hurst-Hiller is Chief Technology Officer and Head of Product at DonorsChoose.org, a platform allowing public school teachers across the U.S. to fundraise for their classroom projects. Oliver is responsible for the technology and user experience that power DonorsChoose.org’s unique and successful philanthropic marketplace that has revolutionized the way we conceive crowdfunding for K-12 public schools. A frequent speaker for technical and business audiences, Oliver is dedicated to social entrepreneurship.

Megan Kashner, Benevolent

Megan Kashner, a clinical social worker, founded Benevolent (benevolent.net) in 2011 with the goal of introducing a new perspective on the experiences of low-income Americans who had for too long been publicly denigrated. Benevolent redesigns the way we experience the stories of low-income families and how we act as small-dollar donors and advocates making a real impact on Americans’ lives.

Liezl Van Riper, Kiva

Liezl Van Riper is Director of Development (East Coast) for Kiva. Since 2004, Kiva has leveraged the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, allowing individuals to lend as little as $25 to help create economic opportunity around the world. Liezl is responsible for creating Kiva’s fundraising, loan-raising and program-related partnerships with foundations, corporations and philanthropists on the East Coast and Midwest. Spearheading the launch of Kiva NYC in 2014, Liezl is dedicated to extending micro-finance to thousands of underserved entrepreneurs across the region.

Brandon Whitney, ioby

Brandon Whitney is the co-founder and chief Operating Officer of ioby, a digital crowd-resourcing platform that supports citizen-led, neighbor-funded initiatives that make neighborhoods stronger and more sustainable. Since 2008, ioby has supported projects across the United States, and it works in special partnership with NYC, Miami-Dade County and the City of Memphis.

Allison Fine, Personal Democracy Forum

Allison Fine, a Senior Fellow at the Personal Democracy Forum, is the best-selling author of “The Networked Nonprofit” (Wiley & Sons, 2010) and “Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age” (Wiley & Sons, 2006). In her work, Allison focuses on social media and social change. She has published articles on young people and new media activism in the 21st century democracy, is a frequent contributor to HBR.org and hosts a monthly podcast for the Chronicle of Philanthropy.