Dollars to Projects is a mycharity:water feature that tracks online where every dollar raised is being used in the world. The new initiative allows donors to track their donations to specific projects and receive reports of where that money goes and how it has been used. The reports, which include Google Maps and photo galleries, detail exactly how the money was used, who the project affects and who else donated. The reports can be shared out to friends via social media channels.
The organization has helped 2.06 million people in 19 countries via more than 250,000 donations in the past five years, according to founder and CEO Scott Harrison. However, said Harrison, that only accounts for around 1/500th of the global problem.
His new goal is to reach 100 million people in the next decade with clean water projects. To do so, charity:water will need to raise $2 billion. This, said Harrison, is a goal that many people think is impossible in a shrinking non-profit sector. Charity:water, though, has been experiencing significant annual growth in the past few years -- revenue was up 85% in 2010 and is up 65% so far this year.
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One of the reasons the organization has experienced growth is the power of proof. Harrison talked about how powerful it is to show people exactly how their money is being used. Dollars to Projects is another tool that charity:water will offer donors to feel connected to the money they give.
"Water is provable -- you can know that you solved the problem and saved people's lives," said Harrison, who also noted that the organization receives 73% of its donations online. "Water changes everything when it's brought into communities."
Today, the non-profit's website has many social elements, including user profiles tracking donations and actions.