Our Priorities
One of the reasons we built Pennywise was because we were frustrated by traditional patterns of giving in the nonprofit sector. Too often, even with the best intentions, a one time infusion of financial support gets a project going but that project falters when the money runs out. We think there are better approaches. Pennywise prioritizes programming that has self-sufficiency and sustainability, for both the work and its beneficiaries, at the heart of its design. We envision our grants as investments that will be leveraged to create impacts that grow and last over time.
Here are some of the ways we think that happens:
GIVING FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE.
We support projects that impart skills or development practices that individuals and communities can use to become more productive and independent. This includes direct support initiatives like micro-lending as well as longer term strategies such as increasing access to education or bridging gender and wealth gaps in access to technology.
Recent Projects | Make Every Woman Count, The Zambia Net-Works Project
GIVING FOR WASTE REDUCTION.
We prioritize projects that reduce waste-physical and/or economic. We are particularly excited about initiatives that gather products or materials that would otherwise be disposed of as garbage and recreate, refurbish or redistribute them so that they can fill an identified need.
Recent Projects | The Zambia Net-Works Project, Roberto's Kids, SOIL
BOTTOM LINE SAVINGS.
We believe programs that increase efficiency and decrease costs have the best chance of effectuating lasting change. We support programming that achieves goals while also creating financial savings for project partners, governments and communities.
Recent Projects | Steps to End Domestic Violence, SOIL
COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING.
We prioritize funding for organizations that are engaged in effective collaborations. We are particularly interested in effective public/private partnerships because we recognize that government is often uniquely situated to institutionalize interventions and bring them to a larger scales.
Recent Projects | Steps to End Domestic Violence, Agua Para La Vida,
MORE WITH LESS.
We stand for the premise that small actors and actions can leverage resources to make big differences. To demonstrate that value, we generally only offer small grants (averaging around $10,000 USD) to small organizations (budgets < $2 million USD).
Here are some of the ways we think that happens:
GIVING FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE.
We support projects that impart skills or development practices that individuals and communities can use to become more productive and independent. This includes direct support initiatives like micro-lending as well as longer term strategies such as increasing access to education or bridging gender and wealth gaps in access to technology.
Recent Projects | Make Every Woman Count, The Zambia Net-Works Project
GIVING FOR WASTE REDUCTION.
We prioritize projects that reduce waste-physical and/or economic. We are particularly excited about initiatives that gather products or materials that would otherwise be disposed of as garbage and recreate, refurbish or redistribute them so that they can fill an identified need.
Recent Projects | The Zambia Net-Works Project, Roberto's Kids, SOIL
BOTTOM LINE SAVINGS.
We believe programs that increase efficiency and decrease costs have the best chance of effectuating lasting change. We support programming that achieves goals while also creating financial savings for project partners, governments and communities.
Recent Projects | Steps to End Domestic Violence, SOIL
COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING.
We prioritize funding for organizations that are engaged in effective collaborations. We are particularly interested in effective public/private partnerships because we recognize that government is often uniquely situated to institutionalize interventions and bring them to a larger scales.
Recent Projects | Steps to End Domestic Violence, Agua Para La Vida,
MORE WITH LESS.
We stand for the premise that small actors and actions can leverage resources to make big differences. To demonstrate that value, we generally only offer small grants (averaging around $10,000 USD) to small organizations (budgets < $2 million USD).
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