Ripple Effect Images

Ripple envisions a world in which all women thrive. Our essential intent is to multiply and accelerate the impact of proven solutions to global challenges by using world-class photojournalism and compelling visual storytelling to illuminate programs empowering women. Over the past 10 years, Ripple has helped 40 nonprofit partners increase their capacity to replicate proven solutions, but we know that our impact could be so much greater.

As Ripple embarks on an ambitious growth strategy, the Elevate Prize funding and support would enable us to advance in two key areas. Firstly, our ‘Partner Storytelling Projects’, which highlight proven and sustainable solutions relating to food security, health, education, water and sanitation, energy, economic empowerment, and climate change. 

Secondly, our ‘Transformative Programs’ harnessing the power of visual storytelling for good. Simply No Words uses animation to deliver critical information to underrepresented audiences, and overcome language and literacy barriers. Forces of Nature advances the next generation of female change-makers. Photography for Good celebrates visual storytelling that both informs and ignites action, and encourages photographers to use their skills in support of causes they believe in.  

Our programs have all been tested and proven to be effective. We are ready. The time is now.

My worldview shifted dramatically around 6 years ago while sitting barefoot on the floor in a community center in rural Myanmar. Days spent in fraught meetings in the capital Yangon, as senior officials disagreed about priorities, had left me disillusioned. Yet as I drank tea with local women, they explained the exact support needed to protect themselves from ongoing violence in the region. At that moment, the fog lifted. These women had the solutions, yet their voices were not being heard above the noise.

Another pattern emerged as I examined development programs globally: women pay it forward. Compelling evidence shows that a woman multiplies the impact of investment in her health, education, and wellbeing by extending benefits to those around her, creating a better life for her family, and building a strong community. Women and girls really are the best investment in our shared future, 

When I met Annie Griffiths, a National Geographic photographer who founded Ripple Effect Images in 2011, I immediately saw the alignment in our shared vision of a world in which all women thrive. Since joining Ripple as Executive Director last year, I’ve worked with the leadership to refine Ripple’s theory of change and growth strategy. 

Ripple envisions a world in which all women thrive. Our essential intent is to multiply and accelerate the impact of proven solutions to global challenges by using world-class photojournalism and compelling visual storytelling that:

1. Illuminates innovative and proven solutions empowering women;

2. Elevates the change-makers implementing these solutions;

3. Increases accessibility to critical information by overcoming language and literacy barriers. 

Despite unprecedented global challenges, extraordinary women are implementing solutions that build resilience within their communities and give hope to future generations. While many of these innovative programs have the potential to be expanded locally and replicated elsewhere in the world, change-makers frequently lack the resources and support necessary to scale up successful programs. They urgently require high-quality visual storytelling content to spread the word about their successful programs and secure the resources and support necessary to achieve even greater impact.

Ripple’s extraordinary team of contributors includes Emmy, Pulitzer, and World Press Award winners, and a recipient of the National Humanities Medal. Ripple’s animation team has recently received numerous accolades from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA) and the Telly Awards. 

Together we elevate, we amplify, we accelerate. This truly is the ripple effect at work. 

Ripple believes that great ideas must be shared, and adopts a highly inclusive approach in all aspects of our work. We widely share stories that illuminate solutions, so that nonprofits may learn from one another. Evidence-based programming and investment inform all aspects of our work, and we carefully select nonprofit partners accordingly.

Ripple is committed to elevating the individuals and communities driving change, by creating content that amplifies the voices of change-makers at the grassroots level, rather than relying on narration that can divert attention away from those truly making an impact. Our approach empowers women to tell their own stories of impact.

Localization and the principle of ‘as local as possible, as international as necessary’ underpins our approach, and we believe passionately in the importance of building local capacity and supporting grassroots organizations. We are also committed to sustainable development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Ripple is leading a movement to divert attention away from storytelling focused on problems and victims, and towards solutions, by showcasing the change-makers implementing successful programs globally.

Ripple’s ‘Impact Measurement Strategy’ brings together quantitative and qualitative metrics that demonstrate progress against the short, medium, and long-term outcomes outlined within our theory of change. 

Over the past 10 years, Ripple has created over 50 films and 50,000 still images, supported 40 nonprofits, and helped partners raise more than $10 million to expand and replicate programs empowering women and children. 

Ripple’s work has been featured in numerous publications and media outlets, including National Geographic Magazine, National Public Radio, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Nature’s Best Magazine. Ripple stories are regularly presented at prestigious conferences, such as the Skoll World Forum, Adobe MAX, TEDx, and Business for Social Responsibility

Partners also frequently share their stories of impact: “Ripple has helped us tell our stories of women and children in the informal recycling sector and raise our profile and resources. But most importantly, it has helped us in our advocacy programs. We have been able to share with our partners a part of our work which is otherwise very intangible: i.e., building capacity and knowledge.“

Ripple’s ‘Impact Measurement Strategy’ is an integral part of our growth strategy, and we are committed to continual improvement and learning from others.