GlobalGiving

The genesis of GlobalGiving can be traced back to the World Bank, where founders Mari Kuraishi and Dennis Whittle were spearheading strategy and innovation. In 1998, they conceived the 'Innovation Marketplace,' an internal competition empowering World Bank staff to pitch their own poverty-alleviation ideas, with winners receiving grants to bring their concepts to life. The success of this internal initiative spurred them to extend the concept externally in 2000. The 'Development Marketplace' was born, opening the doors for social entrepreneurs worldwide to compete for World Bank funding. This global competition proved immensely successful, culminating in an event in Washington, D.C., where $5 million was awarded to 44 of the most innovative projects from across the globe.

Inspired by the transformative power of the Marketplaces, Mari and Dennis envisioned an internet-based platform that could facilitate a much broader spectrum of social and economic investments in developing nations. This vision was a direct response to the perceived limitations of traditional, top-down aid approaches. They sought to create a more democratized, transparent, and direct way for individuals and organizations to support grassroots efforts. In October 2000, they departed from the World Bank to dedicate themselves to this new venture. On February 14, 2002, GlobalGiving, initially named DevelopmentSpace, was officially launched. The platform was designed to be fundamentally different from the Development Marketplace; instead of relying on a panel of experts, funding decisions would be crowd-sourced, leveraging social networks and fostering real-time feedback between donors and on-the-ground project leaders. Early and crucial financial backing for GlobalGiving's launch and initial growth stages came from prominent philanthropic organizations including the Omidyar Network, the Skoll Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Sall Foundation. Initially a collaboration between the GlobalGiving Foundation and ManyFutures, Inc., the organizational structure was streamlined in December 2008 when ManyFutures became a formal subsidiary, bringing all operations under the direct management of the GlobalGiving Foundation. Over the years, GlobalGiving has grown into the largest global crowdfunding community, connecting nonprofits, donors, and companies in nearly every country, facilitating support for a vast array of causes from disaster relief to education and health.