1. What
is a Social Entrepreneur?
2. What are Partners In Empowerment™(PIE)?
3. Why help people in foreign countries?
4. How are EW Geographic Focus Areas selected?
5. How does EW support global programs?
6. Where does my money go?
7. I pay taxes in U.S.A. Is my contribution
tax-deductible?
8. Can I get a tax-deduction outside the US?
9. How does EW measure it's success?
10. What is Sustainable Development?
1. What
is a Social Entrepreneur?
A. Where
a traditional business entrepreneur seeks to generate profit,
a social entrepreneur is motivated to generate social value.
Ultimately, social entrepreneurs are driven to produce a measurable
impact by opening up new pathways for the marginalized and
disadvantaged. The goal of a social entrepreneur is
not only towards immediate, small-scale effects, but often
sweeping, long-term changes.
Defining characteristics of a leading social entrepreneur-
- A social entrepreneur
is possessed by a truly new idea for solving a public problem-
The idea could be a transformational innovation or simply
a skilful tweaking of current practices.
- The person
is creative, both in vision/goal-setting and in problem
solving
- They engage in a process of
continuous innovation, adaptation, and learning.
- A social entrepreneur
has a personal entrepreneurial quality in that they are
committed and determined to transform their vision into
a reality.
- The individual is willing to
spend time and effort dealing with countless, practical
“how to” challenges.
- They act boldly even when challenged
by limited resources.
- A social entrepreneur
possesses a particular ethical and moral quality that makes
them motivated to help others.
- The individual is compassionate,
honest, empathetic and benevolent.
- They exhibit a great sense of
accountability to the people served and outcomes created.
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2. What are
Partners In Empowerment™ (PIE)?
A. EW’s
participatory global network of "social entrepreneurs",
"artists in action", "educational institutions",
"responsible media groups", "sustainable businesses"
and "collaborating non-profits" that actively support
EW programs as volunteers, project partners and donors.
More...
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3. Why help
people in foreign countries, when poverty exists at home in
the USA?
A. EW
sees all of humanity as a vital chain of global security- which
is only as strong as its weakest link, or most impoverished
community. Over 90% of all philanthropy in the United
States, stays in the United States. Meanwhile, we have
one of the highest income per capita ratios on earth, and consume
vastly more global resources (raw materials & non-renewable
energy sources) than any other society. EW is doing its
part to create opportunities for US citizens to address this
disparity, and to develop a new American tradition of global
social and environmental justice. Ultimately, our actions
improve the quality of life- not just around the world but assure
human security and peace for future generations in the USA.
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4. How are
EW Geographic Focus Areas selected and programs started?
A. Primary
criteria for an international community program area:
- Local requests
for EW partnership and commitment to participation;
- Significance
of human environmental security threats, and;
- EW capacity
to beneficially leverage its organizational resources to
have lasting positive impact in the focus area. More...
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5. How
does EW support local implementing partners in global programs?
A. EW
provides essential technical, capital and marketing support
to local partners from start to sustainability – normally
a 5 year process. EW program facilitators make site
visits to guide Local community partners and their local affiliates
through the EW Action Strategy, assisting with monitoring,
evaluation, goal setting, organizational capacity building,
- training them how to maximize EW International opportunities.
More...
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6. Where
does my money go?
A. Donor
funds are directed to vital international poverty eradication
programs where they are needed most and will have the greatest
impact. Local cultural programs, events and PIE forums are
self-sufficient or are income generating. In EW's first five
years of operations, by relying on volunteers and maintaining
strict budgetary discipline, EW has managed to invest over
90% of all funds into vital international development programs.
As an EW investor/donor you are welcome to discuss what programs
need funding most and why with our staff. We also encourage
donors to get involved with projects personally- email an
action team volunteer, or make a site visit.
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7. I pay
taxes in the US. Is my contribution tax-deductible?
A. YES.
Empowerment Works is a registered 501(c)(3) non-for-profit
charitable organization with the IRS. All funds donated
to Empowerment Works!, either online www.empowermentworks.org
by any other method (check, credit card,
stock, etc.) are 100% tax-deductible by US tax-payers.
If in-kind or other non-cash contributions are made, be sure
to notify appropriate EW staff member to confirm/ request
donor receipt.
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8. I am
not a US tax-payer- Can I get a tax-deduction for charitable
contributions to EW?
A.
If your government allows donor tax
deductions, a collaborating environmental, health, human rights,
or international development organization with charitable
status in your country can umbrella donations to EW International
through their charity number.
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9. How
does EW measure its success?
A. As
a young organization with potential to affect a wide and varied
range of stakeholders, Empowerment Works places significant
priority on the monitoring and evaluation of its programs.
EW measures
success based on local project goals -be it the health of
the children in a community orphan care project, number of
indigenous trees planted by a regional youth group, or sustainable
lively-hoods created in a fair trade initiative.
EW's
Executive Director and local staff work collaboratively to
design and implement evaluation tools, and to analyze the
data gathered based on local objectives.
Pre-identified
measurable (quantifiable, and/or qualitative) indicators are
consistently monitored, reported to Community Action Teams
and shared with EW Board and Advisory Committee members, and
utilize the information to improve programming, outreach efforts
and communications as necessary.
Focusing on
improving human and environmental security, we value “quality
of life” - life expectancy, child survival, access to organic
earth, clean water and air, status of human rights, a woman’s
ability to negotiate sex, quantify hours at play vs. work,
maintenance of cultural literacy, native tongues - as indicators
of success, not simply increased consumption per capita.
10.
What is Sustainable Development?
Sustainable
development is defined as balancing the fulfillment of human
needs with the protection of the natural environment so that
these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the
indefinite future. The term was used by the Brundtland Commission
which coined what has become the most often-quoted definition
of sustainable development as development that "meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs."
From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia
more...
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