Direct Change

Overview

Direct Change, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, was founded in 2006 to connect people who care about Africa with projects that are effective in helping Africa's children.

Direct Change's projects in Africa are carried out by partner organizations that are either African-based groups with low overhead costs or American groups that spend 100% of funds received from Direct Change on their programs in Africa.

Mission

Direct Change helps you raise support for grassroots African projects that make a direct change in the lives of children.

Program

To increase American grassroots public support for African projects, Direct Change has developed an innovative approach that empowers supporters by providing them with the tools to raise support for the projects of their choice.

Instead of spending donations on a bureaucracy to disperse aid, each project is carried out by efficient partner organizations. All of these organizations are either African-based groups with low overhead costs or American groups that spend 100 percent of funds received from Direct Change on their programs and activities in Africa.

Instead of utilizing high cost fundraising tactics including direct mail, large fundraising events and phone solicitation, Direct Change recruits supporters to raise funds from their own networks. Supporters are provided with online fundraising tools that allow them to launch their own fundraising campaigns.

Impact

In less then one year of operations, Direct Change has funded projects throughout Africa including the construction of a medical clinic in southern Sudan. For every $1 that was contributed to help create Direct Change over $5 was raised to support grassroots projects in Africa.

Chief Executive

Ken Deutsch

Chief Executive Profile

Ken Deutsch has over 20 years of experience managing and consulting with non-profit organizations. An early innovator of the use of the Internet as a tool to assist non-profit organizations, he has served as a consultant and oversaw the development of the web sites and applications for over 30 major organizations. Mr. Deutsch was a principle at Issue Dynamics where he was employed for 12 years and most recently served as Executive Vice President. In his role at Issue Dynamics, he oversaw the development of a technology division. His non-profit management experience includes serving as Organizing Director at the New York Public Interest Research Group where he managed a full time staff of 24 and temporary staff of over 200. He also has served as organizing director at Public Citizen and was the principle field organizer for Earth Day New York City 1990 (one of the largest political demonstrations in history).

Board

Ken Deutsch, President
Sylvain Browa, Board Member and Advisory Committee Member
Tom Foster, Board Member
Chandler Howell, Board Member
Jennifer Silberman, Board Member
Sarah Cohen Wood, Board Member

Countries of Operation

Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, United Republic of, Uganda

States of Operation

District of Columbia, Massachusetts