WHY CotM

COTM first and foremost, will educate its donors on the organizations we are funding together. While large foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation or the Lilly Endowment fund incredible work, and have made major differences in many areas, it is nearly impossible for them to be transparent about what they fund. If a donor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation wanted to know where his/her money went, he/she would need to find their IRS Form 990 and sift through a 1,271 page pdf file to find where all of its disbursements went.

These foundations do publish clear and accessible funding criteria, but donors to these organizations give of their money, and place a great deal of trust on the Foundation to use their funds in a way that the donor would approve of.

This has a distancing effect on the donor. One of the major assets of philanthropic giving is the positive feeling one gets when one gives of their time talent and treasure. This positive feeling actually keeps the donor coming back time and time again, but the middle-man almost completely removes this feeling. COTM would make it clear up front, which organization we will be funding and allow the donor to learn about the organization.

Sophisticated donors look at donating as an investment, and many ask for specific metrics to ensure that they are funding a healthy organization. Young donors do not have time nor the interest in doing this important background work, but most would still like to know that the money they are giving is being put to good use. COTM will do this work for the donor, and a COTM stamp of approval can be trusted by the donor who wants a positive ROI.  

Individuals who have grown up in the digital age know the phrase “I’ll sign up with my junk email.”

While people under 40 are more likely to fund a wide variety of organizations, that doesn’t mean that we want to stay permanently connected with that organization.

COTM gives the donor the resources to get connected with the organization of choice should they choose to, however for donors that don’t want endless solicitation emails, and direct mail, COTM will allow the donor to contribute to a cause, while not giving up their personal information to the organization.

While other Foundations collect money up front, and decide behind closed doors what to fund, COTM will take suggestions from its donors, and consult with subject matter experts based on the ITC in question.

This allows donors to have a true say in where their money goes, and allows for greater buy in.