Global Empowerment Mission (GEM)

At the age of 15, Michael Capponi earned the title “Nightlife King.” However, Capponi also became addicted to heroin at age 21, and homeless. A brain tumor and emergency surgery, followed by the loss of his visionary father Feffo Capponi, led to a more desperate state.

In 1999 Capponi created fundraisers for crises throughout the world—from the war in Kosovo to the aftermath of 9/11 to Hurricanes Charley and Katrina. In 2010 Capponi mobilized and leveraged his powerful connections and logistical know-how to immediate relief efforts in response to the Haiti earthquake. With over 80 subsequent visits to Haiti, Capponi learned firsthand how to cycle through an emergency and empower the survivors.

In 2011, he founded Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) to assist with emergency aid when disaster strikes.  The organization has served in Dominica, the Bahamas, Haiti, Hawaii, Guatemala, Florida, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia and the United States.

GEM is committed to solving the devastating life changing, and threatening, problem faced by individuals and communities following natural disasters – how to survive and thrive when all has been destroyed by mother nature.

Our project focuses on three critical areas after disaster has struck:

Immediate response, search and rescue, life-saving measures

Minimizing “the gap” as defined by the period of time between first response and government infrastructure

Establish sustainable development that uplifts entire communities. This takes the form of building schools, houses and orphanages as well as establishing livelihoods programs.

We harness the power of social media, celebrity influencers, strategic public-private partnerships and a strong, knowledgeable base of experienced volunteers.  Each participant is leveraged by the next and the whole is shared on social media to the general public to maximize the result and elevate humanity.

The problem that we are trying to solve is the short and long-term negative impact caused by natural disasters.  The consequences of not solving this problem results in an internally displaced persons number reaching into the tens of millions.

We see an increase in frequency and intensity of devastating “shock events” such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the 2010 Port-au Prince earthquake in Haiti and the Covid-19 Corona Virus global outbreak 12,662,574 cases 539,058 death globally 3,290,000 cases 137,430 deaths in the United States (as of July 12, 2020).

High-impact events such as earthquakes and tsunamis are not preventable, but such high losses of human life are. We know from historical data that the world has seen a significant reduction in disaster deaths through earlier prediction, more resilient infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and response systems.

Those at low incomes are often the most vulnerable to disaster events: improving living standards, infrastructure and response systems in these regions will be key to preventing deaths from natural disasters in the coming decades.

GEM leverages social media influencers, public-private partnerships and the general public to uplift the most vulnerable individuals and communities in three key phases following natural disasters.

FIRST RESPONSE PHASE - DISASTER RELIEF: In times of crisis, GEM leads groups of emergency first responders firefighters, doctors and nurses to hard-hit areas.

Our work in this phase consists of: a) Reconnaissance and assessment b) Search, rescue, and loss mitigation c) Identify and form strategic partnerships

SECOND RESPONSE PHASE - THE GAP PERIOD Time between first response and government or other permanent infrastructure.

Our work in this phase consists of: a) Temporary housing and shelter b) Establish criteria, beneficiary identification and distribution of vital funds c) Stabilization efforts and sustenance supplies

THIRD RESPONSE PHASE - SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Long Term response in coordination with governments and public private partners. 

Our work in this phase consists of: a) Permanent and durable housing and infrastructure b) Facilitator of economic and educational programs c) Implementing empowerment and livelihood programs 

DONOR SPECIFIC FUNDS & STRATEGIC PARTNERS 

One differentiating factor is donor specific funds with customizable outcomes. Within the architecture of the organization, there are strategic partnerships with its own set of initiatives and goals powered by GEM. 

GEM works with the most vulnerable individuals and communities that have been directly impacted by natural disasters.

To better understand the needs of our beneficiaries GEM establishes a presence on the ground immediately following a disaster.  Working in coordination with government, state and local officials, community leaders (including village elders) and community members themselves GEM will assess the immediate and long-term needs.

 After immediate life-saving work has been completed, GEM organizes townhall type meetings to listen and learn from the community.  When the community has decided on a particular project, for example home rebuilding, GEM will work with local government to identify the geographic area work will concentrate on, source the necessary materials and engage local builders and community members whenever and wherever possible.

The objective is to go from Phase 1, first response to Phase 3, sustainable development, as quickly as possible thereby limiting the Phase 2 gap. 

Several components of the problem, project, and community are well-aligned with The Elevate Prize.  In addition to opportunities for all people, especially those left behind, GEM leverages a vast social media network of influencers to both raise awareness and funds while engaging communities and the general public.  A by product result is giving people the opportunity to realize similarities within us all, shifting and elevating understanding.

After a very difficult passage of drug addiction, brain surgery and losing everything including my father, the lessons of life were very clear, it became clear that I was here for a reason. 

When I returned from surviving the blizzard of 96, (homeless in NY,) I finally understood why that had happened to me. The universe had forced me to see what it was really like on the other side. 

When I returned to Miami in 1999 clean and reborn I watched the Kosovo Crisis on the news everyday. We collected 2 full size semi trucks of aid and sent it off at the time. Soon after, 911 happened and we repeated a similar drive for that tragedy. Then Katrina happened, a series of more hurricanes and then the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Each time, I gathered our local resources and helped bring our community together. In 2010 the Haiti earthquake occurred. I used my track record with local government to get permission to bring our Miami Beach Firefighters to go save lives. When I came home, I was never the same.  A week later we established a 3000 person tent city. By 2011 Haiti Empowerment Mission, now GEM, was formed.

When I was 15 years old, I met a homeless person named Red. When he told me his story I brought him home to my parents apartment. My mom asked me, “who’s your friend Michael?” I replied, this is Red and he is homeless so he’s going to stay in my room for a while.

My mom couldn’t say no to me, after a few days she told me that maybe it’s time I get my own apartment. I moved out at 15 and Red lived in my first apartment. I hired him to pass out flyers for my parties. 

In my days of being a nightlife figure, I got caught up in the lifestyle. When I was fortunate enough to spend 45 days homeless it reignited what was already inside of me, human empathy. 

The universe sometimes forces us to surrender. Being part of that evolutionary process in human consciousness is my biggest drive. We are entering a very powerful time of world wide change. This is my life’s work, the universe has put me through vigorous training to be able to fulfill my destiny. This is my path and what I’m here on this earth to do.

For more than a decade I have been responding to natural disaster in all three phases, first response, temporary relief and sustainable development.  Each of the GEM team members has a unique and special talent that, when taken collectively, creates an ability to mobile substantial amounts of aid quickly and effectively.

The skills and contacts I gained while promoting the most popular nightlife venues in south Florida combined my experience in construction and disaster response positions GEM to execute its mission and solve the short and long-term problem/s experienced by those most affected by natural disasters.

The GEM team has shown over the past decade that its response to global disasters is unparalleled in its efficiency and effectiveness.  Most recently with our response to the devastating hurricane in the Bahamas and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in the United States, GEM has brought together strategic public-private partners, utilized its social media platform and leveraged its significant list of public influencers.  Some results of recent disaster response includer:

• 2 million items of PPE to first responders and frontline workers
• $85 million of supplies delivered
• All 50 states and Puerto Rico serviced
• 122 containers of aid shipped
• 256 homes being repaired or rebuilt in the Bahamas
• 859 emergency evacuations
• 94 planes with aid delivered around the world
• 78 semi trucks with aid sent and delivered across the United States

In order to become a 5 star general, one must fight many battles. I have overcome many harsh tribulations over and over again. Rather than seeing these tribulations as negatives, I view them as necessary forming lessons. A sailor cannot be a good sailor without conquering major storms. How can one truly understand disasters if he has not lived them?

To this day, since 1996, I have never relapsed, and never taken a recreational drug again. I also decided to not go to NA meetings because I wanted to close that chapter and write it off in my head as my greatest lesson. After my latest accident in 2015, I broke 7 ribs, fractured my skull, broke my nose, shoulder and knee. Even during those painful times, I never once thought to relapse. I can honestly say that these tribulations earned me a PhD in humanitarian work. Those trials are only seen by me as positives and not negatives. Overcoming adversity to me earns you those stars that generals wear proudly. I see them only as victories and because of that, I am sometimes able to help people get through their adversities in a way that many can relate to.

In 2017, after hurricane Irma ravaged the Caribbean, we mobilized and collected aid from over 20 states. That aid was send over to a donated warehouse we got and we loaded 106 40 ft containers of aid. 86 of those went to Puerto Rico alone. That entire mission cost less than $400,000 cash. That is because we utilized smart partnerships and used every resource imaginable to do that. This was regarded as one of the largest private aid distributions in US history. The US Gov would spend more than 100 million dollars to distribute 106 containers of aid.  We did it with $400 k.

Establishing the necessary systems to solicit, gather and distribute aid on a global scale and delivering it into the hands of the most vulnerable people both quickly and effectively has defined our organization.  

The ability to amplify our call to action and message by leveraging social media platforms, celebrity influencers and key stakeholders elevates the results we are able to experience.

GEM has several organizational differentiators including:

1) smart strategic partnerships with local organizations in the communities we serve and relevant government agencies.

2) Creative solutions to complex humanitarian emergencies

3) Creation of unique specific funds for donors with customizable outcomes

4) The highest degree of fundraising efficiencies

5) Participates in three planned phases of disaster response

6) Works in the gap period between first response and sustainable development

GEM's unique ability to create donor specific funds with customizable outcomes and its concentration on "the gap" period are both innovative and life-saving.

Within the architecture of the organization there are strategic partnerships with its own set of initiatives and goals powered by GEM. These partnerships are a direct result of alignment and deeper engagement with philanthropists. An example of this is relationship with Bethenny Frankel's #BStrong program. #BStrong is a disaster relief initiative that provides real time emergency assistance to individuals and their families in crisis - powered by GEM.

Additionally, by concentrating on "the gap" GEM is able to help minimize the amount of time after a natural disaster for a community to get back on its feet.  We have seen this gap period last, in many instances, for several years.  The impact of the gap are extensive loss of life, a dramatic increase in internally displaced people and entire generations being lost.

Gem works in three distinct phases following natural disasters and we’ll explore our theory of change in each in this response.

Our phase 1 work involves working with first-responders, firefighters, doctors and nurses in hard hit areas. These teams provide emergency lifesaving care to tens of thousands of people suffering injuries.  The ability to arrive on the scene quickly is critical.  Generally our work in this phase consists of reconnaissance and assessment, search-rescue and loss mitigation, identifying and forming strategic partnerships.

The longer-term outcomes for the community are limiting loss of life resulting in families staying together and decreasing the psychological implications.

Our phase 2 work focuses on the time between first response and government infrastructure.  GEM provides temporary housing and shelter, stabilization efforts and sustenance supplies, and establishing criteria for beneficiary identification and distribution of vital funds in the form of cash cards.  Our work in this phase promotes stabilization and in doing so helps prevent the spread of infectious disease, lowers crimes against women, keeps families together and limits loss of life.

Our phase 3 work concentrates on sustainable development.  Our long-term response in coordination with governments and public-private partners.  Our goal is to create self-sufficient and thriving communities.  Our work in this phase is to provide quality education, diverse vocational training and job creation for people in developing countries.  The objective is for people to have a elf-sufficient and sustainable economy, ultimately eliminating dependency on foreign aid.  Tangible projects in this phase consist of building permanent and durable housing and infrastructure; facilitator of economic and educational programs; creating and implementing empowerment and livelihood programs.

Establishing third-party impact research, impact evaluations and data collection platforms for each of our response phases is a distinct area of need for GEM and something we would hope to receive help from the Elevate team of creating and implementing.

GEM is currently serving three million + beneficiaries and is positioned to provide a deeper response to its beneficiaries with its sustainable development programming.  While it is challenging to forecast future disasters and thereby measure the number of beneficiaries one and five years out, GEM is committed to providing the same response to future disasters as it has over the past decade.  

Importantly, our phase 3 sustainable development response completes the circle of disaster response and lessens the dependency on foreign aid.  In doing so, our work in this phase increases the number of people directly benefiting from our work to include entire families and communities for generations.  The long-term positive effects will be powerful.

The one and five year impact goals for GEM concentrate on organizational growth, program replication and sustainability.  Through these expansion measures GEM will provide sustainable programming to hundreds of thousands of at-risk children and families.

In 2020 GEM will expand its presence in Haiti to include the management and operation of orphanages and schools including the care of special needs orphans.  GEM has been approached by an existing organization that has been operating for 25+ years in Haiti and invited to absorb its operations.  The transfer comes with an over 18 acre of land that is fully functional for agricultural purposes. 

Over the course of the next several years GEM will design and implement a community farming program on the donated land and supply crops to area hotels and restaurants.  The program will employ members of the community and revenue will be utilized to fund the ongoing operations of the orphanages and schools.

This sustainability model is fully replicable by other organizations and GEM plans to make available both through open source applications and direct training models all the necessary components allowing any organization to replicate.

Over the next five years GEM is designing and implementing its sustainable development model allowing communities and programs to become less dependent on foreign aid.  We are initiating the program in Haiti.  The initiative will concentrate on agriculture and small shareholder farmers with crops being sold into area businesses.

All aspects of the program will be administered and overseen by the former consul general to Haiti.  Challenges are similar to small business start-ups compounded by limitations of working in the rural areas of the poorest country in the western hemisphere.  For example: ensuring quantity and quality control, training and small business management, including technology and engaging strategic partners within the project.

In addition to the livelihood component, the GEM program will work to promote organic agriculture using an ecological production management system that builds good soil, enhances biodiversity and uses no chemical inputs.

GEM will actively pursue strategic technology, agriculture, small business management & training and microfinance partners.

Examples of prospective partners include but are not limited to:

Acceso, a successful social agro-business in Haiti.  Acceso provides end-to-end support from training to financing to guaranteed crop purchases.  Acceso is a trusted source for buyers ensuring high-quality local products and volume requirements of supermarkets, retailers and other buyers are met.

Trickle Up, Small business management & training partner prospect is a medium sized nonprofit.  Trickle up provides resources to build sustainable livelihoods for a better quality of life.  Through training and seed capital grants to launch or expand a microenterprise and savings support to build assets.

Fonkoze, a Haitian nonprofit institution that provides development services and programs for the ultra-poor.

Digicel, Haiti's largest private sector business provides mobile phone services throughout the country.  Using the Digicel network and platform to ensure data is collected and measured to maximize outputs and outcomes.

GEM looks to each of its donors as partners and has many public-private sector partnerships, some of which are listed below.

#BStrong - GEM is the official program initiative partner of #BStrong. Bethenny Frankel's #BStrong program is a disaster relief initiative that provides real time emergency assistance to individuals and families in crisis. This initiative is powered by GEM.

Discovery Land Company - A critical partner that helps with cash donations, sourcing of materials and logistics

TD Bank - A financial partner

84 Lumber - an integrated partnership wherey in-kind and cash donations are received

All Hands and Hearts

Billy Joel Family Foundation

Matthew and Camila McConaughey Family Foundation

Charlize Theron

Beau Wrigley Family Foundation

Eagles Wings Foundation

Benevity

American Express

Fidelity

Siadat Family Foundation

BMW South Motors

Compass Cares

North Valley Community Foundation

Conrad Hilton Foundation

Shutterfly

Firmenich Foundation

Sunshine Foundation

Hillman Foundation

Treasure Cay Community Foundation

United Way - California

Ara Cohen Family Foundation

I Love Venezuela Foundation

It is our hope to define, create and establish the appropriate revenue model for GEM with the guidance and support from The Elevate Prize as outlined in a subsequent answer.

Partial List of Cash and In-Kind Donors

$10 MILLION +

State of New York

$4 MILLION +

Green Touch Homes

Big Dog Ranch Rescue

Hollistic Pet Cuisine

Mobile Mike Radio

$1 MILLION TO $4 MILLION

OpenWorldRelief.org

Curaleaf

Jolie Paint

Meals of Hope

Scott Baxter

Raincoast Tradin Ltd.

212 Performance

Kemper Auto

Verstanding Family Foundation

$500,000 TO $1 MILLON

State of Louisiana

Specialty Auto Leasing

JNS Foods

Monique Thompson

AA Mills

FIGS

CuraLeaf MMJ

Westgate Resorts

Real Fitness Sarasota

Jack Links Beef Jerky

Jonathan Fisher

Francina Delarosa

Miami Harley Davidson

$100,000 TO $500,000

Rockefeller Family Foundation

New York City

Cantor Fitzgerald

Kevin Brooks

University of Florida

Jonathan Fisher

Riptide Marine

CVS

Pam Justice – Justice Law

Tony Heath

Sailfish Foundation

Douglas Aziz

Youfit Health Clubs

BIOSAFE SUPPLIES

Infinity Insurance Company/Ana Diaz

COTY Cosmetics

Katrina Touchstone

Project Cure

SE GROCERS

CISCO Systems

Food For The Poor

Roberta Wanzecha

Alexander Bestard

Indigo Workplace Communications

The Ultimate Legacy Carnival Troupe

Ana Quincoces/305 Give Back

(Skinny Latina LLC)

Julio Villareal

Jacquline Sanchez

Morgan and Morgan

Rodrigo Martinez

Southern Glazers

Blanchard Machinery

Eden Robbins

Crave Cullinaire

International Relief Group

Meals for Hope – SC

Stand Together For Haiti Foundation Corp.

The Kabbalah Center

Drip Drop

Meals for Hope - SC

$10,000 TO $100,000

Automotive Art

Petit Peony

Saint Marys University in Minnesota

Global.com

Syzygy Events International

Hampton Inn

Yonomequito Foundation

Gillian Love

Cindy Barrett

Banesco USA – South Florida

Marham High School

Jack Links Beef Jerky

Aqua Boy

1 First Bank

Raincoast Seafood

Sailfish Foundation

GEM seeks to raise two million dollars annually of unrestricted funding.  

OVERALL GOAL
To build sustainable revenue streams, to expand the GEM network of supporters and to diversify its donor base.

STRATEGY 1

To cultivate grassroots volunteers and social media networks

GEM uses a holistic approach to social media by combining multiple tools (along with email and in person connections) in communication efforts in order to increase funds raised. Consistent outreach and regular program, event and news messages are sent through Facebook, Twitter and
YouTube. 

STRATEGY 2
To mobilize youth leaders

STRATEGY 3
To engage professionals

Through a network of dedicated socially minded professionals GEM will rollout its Vacations with a Purpose initiative.  This is is a full service experience that allows families and children to visit and participate in programs in the field, while also exploring the local culture and
sights.

STRATEGY 4
To cultivate major individual donations and foundation grants  

STRATEGY 5
To build corporate partnerships 

Corporate partnership with GEM creates interest in a company; reaches a highly desirable, affluent and refined audience; offers unique brand activation opportunities at exclusive events; aligns company with responsible, high profile nonprofit; leverages investment in community; and
promotes company regionally, nationally and globally. Companies provide cash, in-kind goods and services and co-branded product promotions. 

GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT MISSION

2020 BUDGET PROJECTION

Non-Cash Donations: $14,205,462

Cash Donations: $22,592,047

TOTAL REVENUE: $36,797,509

MISSION AND PROGRAM EXPENSES

1. Hurricane Dorian Bahamas: $1,024,527

2. Australia Fires: $221,122

3. Puerto Rico: $35,100

4. Haiti Educational Program: $45,716

5. California Camp Fires: $16,199

FYE 2020 PROJECTION

1. COVID-19 Pandemic Missions: $20,438,326

2. Tennessee Tornadoes Mission: $21,292

3. Projected Disasters 2020 (2 Cat1 and 1 Cat 3 Hurricanes, 1 Wildfire, 1 Earthquake): $12,069,906

TOTAL PROGRAM EXPENSES: $33,872,188

Corporate Administrative Overhead: $643,446

TOTAL REVENUE LESS EXPENSES: $2,281,876

It is our hope The Elevate Prize can assist GEM and its founder, Michael Capponi, to expand its reach and multiply impact by assisting with:

- Increasing organizational and individual profile, speaking engagements, TED Talks, Public profile to more broadly communicate message.

- Amplify organizational mission and message attracting more private sector partners and support.  Looking for integrated partnership opportunities in the retail space on a national, and ideally global, scale where the sale of a product supports our work.  Modeled after the MAC-AIDS fund that has raised over 100M over two decades through the sale of beauty products with its partner.

- Technology used for data collection to track and measure programmatic results allowing GEM to improve its programs and report to donors in a more detailed report.

- Learn from Elevate experts how best to design and implement sustainability programs using micro-finance to make social programs self-sustaining while providing livelihood opportunities to communities we serve.

- Create and implement a revenue generating business model designed to ensure organizational sustainability.

Partnering with The Elevate Prize would enable GEM to learn how to create and successfully implement a revenue generating business model to supplement an already robust fundraising model.

The current GEM fundraising model is program oriented.  That is to say, funds are raised that are earmarked for specific programs and related administrative expenses  associated with each program respectively.  While we have had great success in this area GEM struggles to raise funds for its own operation and overhead.  As the organization has grown programmatically its operations have also expanded.  The result is an ongoing challenge to meet these financial requirements.

Establishing a revenue model that generates unrestricted funds will help ensure organizational sustainability.

Additionally, assistance from The Elevate prize to create monitoring and evaluation systems will allow GEM to collect data for our donors improving organizational reporting and program efficiencies.

Microsoft - Software, financial support

Alphabet (Google) - financial support

Salesforce - CRM support

Federal Express - Logistical support

UPS - Logistical support

Home Depot - Rebuilding supplies

Facebook - Media partner Message amplification

Twitter - Media partner Message amplification

TEDx - Message amplification

Comcast - Media Partner Message amplification

Estee Lauder - Retail partner for product sales and revenue generation

Coca Cola - Product sales and revenue generation

General Mills - Food solutions for Haiti sustainability program

Kroger - Food solutions for Haiti sustainability program

Walmart - Cash Cards

Wells Fargo - Cash Cards