GiveInternet.org

Almost 3 billion people (more than 30% of the population) around the world do not have Internet access. This includes a total of 1.6 billion youth aged 15-24, 67% of whom are girls. Importantly, only 17% of the world lives in an area without Internet coverage, making lack of affordability the main barrier to access.

The digital divide reflects and widens socioeconomic gaps. People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and minority groups are usually less likely to have Internet access or be able to use the web efficiently. Men remain 21% more likely to be online than women, rising to 52 in the world’s least developed countries. 

Today we live in a knowledge economy where Internet use has become a key factor in determining whether people succeed. The economic and social development of nations (especially developing countries) depends on how well they acquire, transmit and apply the available information. When we fail to connect these populations, we widen the existing inequalities and fail to benefit from their collective knowledge, talent and contributions to economic prosperity.

Access to the Internet provides benefits and opportunities to both individuals (academic outcomes, including outcomes at standardized test scores, cognitive skills, productivity, income, even health outcomes and mortality, etc.) and entire countries (productivity, unemployment, economic growth, cultural integration, etc.).

GiveInternet.org is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It’s an online platform that allows individuals to sponsor Internet fees and laptops for some of the most underserved students with ease and transparency. Our platform is a gateway, opening access to global knowledge and equal opportunities to students. 

It takes as little as $3 and a few clicks to join GiveInternet.org. Donors can choose which country to support and how much funds to allocate to the administrative costs of the GiveInternet.org team. The website hosts all financial documents, cost breakdowns and the story of every student. Most importantly, each donor receives monthly updates with transparency reports, footage from the field and achievement stories of the students. See the following link to learn more about our mission and our recent trip to Kenya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sgO1IXUSZE 

GiveInternet.org serves disadvantaged students from refugee camps and underserved communities of Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, India and Georgia. Our beneficiaries are graduates of various skills development programs run by our partners on the ground like MIT Emerging Talent, University of Geneva, Learning Lions, Nairobits, Era92 Elevate, SheCodeAfrica, Navgurukuland others who teach students coding, design, healthcare, entrepreneurship and various skills to enable them to earn a living and lead a dignified life. 

However, in our research, we’ve seen that most of the graduates cannot access computers or the internet outside training facilities or community centers that host the programs and are often far away from their homes - making it impossible for them to utilize the knowledge gained during their education effectively and consistently. GiveInternet.org closes this gap by equipping them with needed resources - internet connection and a personal laptop, so that they are ready to work, learn, start their own projects and earn a living!

We address three main challenges: First, the lack of internet connectivity prevents students from enrolling in online educational programs. Second, after completing a training program, graduates are unable to continue their education or apply their newly acquired skills due to the absence of internet and computer access at home. Third, we occasionally equip training facilities with laptops and internet connections to mitigate these issues.

Upon connecting students, we offer an online mentorship program for all participants. They join our online communities, where we share a variety of free learning resources, educational programs, internships, and job opportunities. We organize seminars featuring professionals and occasionally donors who are experts in their fields, sharing their knowledge and experiences. Generally, we provide guidance on education, career opportunities, and future prospects, answering any questions the students may have.

Our beneficiaries about the impact our project has had on their lives so far:

Ikem (31 y.o.), Nigeria (AltschoolAfrica):

“My learning became structured and I had to practice what I have learned and also was able to start freelancing and be able to meet up with deadlines. I got my first software engineering job as an intern within 10 months of learning.”

Bellah (23 y.o.), Kenya (Lakehub):

“The increased efficiency in my work allowed me to take on more projects. I recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing a project for a client… With the improved connectivity, I've embraced online education more than ever. Currently, I'm enrolled in a project management class.… This continuous learning journey is not only professionally enriching but personally fulfilling as well. In essence, the laptop and internet connectivity from GiveInternet.org have transformed both the pace and scope of my life.” 

Ali (28 y.o.), Kenya (Nairobits):

“... the laptop and the internet connection has really played a great part in my financial freedom, I was able to get a job at (...) slums at “Going Green and Clean”, plus I’m able to get side hustle from LinkedIn and other social media platforms.”

We ourselves come from a developing country, Georgia, witnessing civil war and collapse of the education system, access to the internet gave us a chance for a better life. Our team Lead, George Jibladze, has a decade of experience working as a Marketing and Product Management Lead at the country's one of the biggest Telecommunications Companies. Witnessing the internet penetration growth from 5% to 70% and the following changes in terms of democracy, free speech, human right, access to education, banking, healthcare etc. he left the corporate world for the mission to help spread internet access to some of the most remote and challenging areas of the country and the world. 

As a team we have been working on educational projects for more than a decade Our organization Educare Georgia has been partnering with Khan Academy and Code.org for 10 years. We’ve translated 5000 videos and 1 million words of reading materials into Georgian in the main subjects like math, physics, biology, chemistry, coding, economics. Visited more than 700 schools with the goal of implementing these platforms.Today 60% of Georgia’s teachers and students use them in their work. Here’s Sal Khan, Khan Academy founder, on us in 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4m6-Rnskuw 

In the process of  implementing Khan Academy and Code.org the team quickly realized that the students in Georgia who needed such free resources the most lacked connectivity and could not access them. In 2017, we created a Georgian version of the GiveInternet.org platform - Charte.ge. Since 2017, the team brought more than 2600 students online, supporting their laptop and Internet fees, resources, mentorship and training sessions. In a country lacking a culture of philanthropy, the platform’s success motivated us to create an international platform GiveInternet.org with the same goal.

At Giveinternet.org we work closely with our partners on the ground. These are non-profit, educational organizations providing various skills development courses that run from 6 to 18 months. The list of our partners include MIT Emerging Talent, University of Geneva, Learning Lions, Na’amal, Lakehub, Nairobits, Era92 Elevate, SheCodeAfrica, Navgurukul, Pi Jam and others 

They work hard to provide educational opportunities in some of the most challenging environments like refugee camps and ghetto settlements. Since our partners know the local contexts, students' stories, their struggles, achievements, motivations and commitments the best, they guide us closely to choose the recipients of our scholarships.

So far we’ve tested various partnership models and have built a sustainable operations system by leaning on the gained experience. In the process we developed a strong network of educational partners on the ground all over the world.

During the last 6 years, we:

• Connected more than 2600 students to the internet, equipped them with laptops and educational resources. 

• Partnered with 20 local educational organizations in total in Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Malawi), the Middle East (Lebanon, Jordan), Asia (India, Indonesia, Bangladesh) and Europe (Georgia). 

Based on our Impact Report from 2022 (https://giveinternet.org/reports/impact-2022):

• 75% of students receive a higher score on the Internet Accessibility Index (Zilka, 2014)

  • 48% use online courses more often;

  • 44% look for information online more often;

  • 51% read online media more often

  • 62% use software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs more often

• 55% of students receive a higher score on the the computer literacy index (Self-efficacy in Technology and Science) and the Computer literacy questionnaire (Son, 2011)

• 44% receive a better score on the general and mental well-being index (SWEMWBS) and the subjective well-being scale (ONS);

• 29% of students have a higher average school grade one year after receiving computers and Internet access.

• Community of peer entrepreneurs and social impact leaders. We are building an international organization, and based on our previous experience with other fellowship and accelerator programs, the diversity of individuals from various backgrounds and cultures has always been beneficial to us, offering unique viewpoints and perspectives, contributing ideas and innovative solutions.

• Team Development & Mentorship - Our team has expanded from 1 to 8 employees over the past year. We need to enhance our organizational capabilities and need more targeted and customized mentorship and coaching.

• Help in spreading the mission and raising awareness about the problem and organization. Guidance and insights on how to effectively engage with the US philanthropy market.

• Visibility for identifying and establishing potential partnerships with fellow entrepreneurs and various organizations.

Unique Mission 

GiveInternet.org is the only fundraising platform aiming to expand Internet access to the poorest communities in the developing world. 

Most foundations concentrate solely on enhancing students' skills or supplying technological tools for educational facilities. Neither we nor our partners are familiar with any organizations that finance laptops and internet access for students.

Sustainable Impact Model 

The model has a long-lasting impact. Students receive access to the internet and laptops so they can participate in skills development programs from our educational partners (Including the remote programs). After graduation, they are already equipped with their own laptop and have their internet fees sponsored for 12-24 months, allowing them to continue their work and education, and earn a living using the skills. Most of our students either find a job, freelance or start their own projects. The model is highly scalable as we collaborate with local educational organizations in each country.

Non-direct impact

The reasons for the lack of internet connection include affordability, lack of infrastructure, skills and cultural acceptance. The last six years of our operations have made it clear: affordability is the primary issue. By addressing this, the other problems are automatically resolved. 

• Cultural Acceptance Grows. When we provide laptops and internet access, 95% of families continue to pay for their internet bills on their own. They begin to reevaluate the cost after realizing the impact the internet has on them. Having gained access to the internet for work, studies or healthcare the whole family, parents and siblings included, is positively impacted. 25% of our beneficiaries share their device with siblings.

• Investing in Infrastructure becomes more profitable for Telecommunications Companies in areas where we connect. 

Some of the local internet providers offered partnerships and decided to extend infrastructure into areas we support, regions they previously avoided due to affordability concerns.

Transparency & accountability

We do not disappear after someone makes a donation, a concern most of our donors have expressed about other charities. We hold ourselves accountable to them by sharing monthly transparency reports with detailed costs, student achievements and the impact of the project. Our model ensures that supporting connectivity through monthly online donations is simple, personalized and transparent. Each donor, partner, cost and the story of every student is documented on the website. The cause and the model strongly resonates with the next generation of donors, Millennials and Generation Z.

Donor community oriented

Simple concept, focus on one solution, easy donation flow. Variety of payments. Low monthly donations with concrete, crucial impact. We constantly develop new features to enhance donor community engagement: referral, donation matching or “start a fundraiser” campaigns, and ambassador programs. 

Donors also participate in educating students by conducting online seminars and lectures in their respective fields of expertise, helping and mentoring students, sometimes even assisting them in finding internships, apprenticeships, and jobs.

Providing ways for people to visually display their commitment includes creating high-quality visual content about our impact, for donors to share on social media, along with some merchandise for them. 

Giveinternet.org has a significant impact on our beneficiaries since it offers tools to pursue education, find work online or start one’s own project no matter the physical location of the person. Our beneficiaries either can’t take part in educational programs because of the lack of resources, or already possess the needed skills but simply cannot exercise them - many of them refugees living in ghetto settlements or camps without any legal rights to seek employment. In such a setting a personal computer and internet connection is a game changer. One can build their competence or gain independent income wherever they may be.

Existing socio-economic gap widens even more between those with internet connection and those who are not connected since productivity grows immensely when having the right tools online. Besides having great potential, in our experience, young people in developing countries are more motivated to use the resources available to them to the fullest compared to those in developed nations. 

GiveInternet impact goals are:

• By 2040, the aim is to connect 2,000,000 students to the Internet, provide each with a personal computer, and equip them with relevant skills to help them earn a living and rise out of poverty.

• Having at least 80% of our beneficiaries find employment 24 months after being connected and graduating from the program. 

We also measure our progress using a longitudinal study - collecting data over time about changes in the lives of our students based on various indicators. In our last study in 2022 282 students filled out an identical questionnaire twice: a) before joining the project and b) 10-12 months after joining. The questionnaire combined well-established academic surveys and indices. 

The team performed statistical analyses to compare average scores of the students on said indices (using the Dependent t-test for paired samples) and reported statistically significant results. The indicators measured in the study include: 

- Average changes in the Academic Self-Perception index (derived from School Attitudes Assessment Survey (McCoach, 2002); 

- Average changes in the computer literacy index (derived from Self-efficacy in Technology and Science (SETS) and the Computer literacy questionnaire (Son, 2011)); 

- Average changes in the Internet accessibility index (derived from the Internet accessibility score (Zilka, 2014)); 

- Average changes in the self-esteem scale (derived from Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale); 

- Average changes in the general and mental well-being index (derived from The Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS) and the subjective well-being scale (ONS);

We plan to add new criteria to measure employment after 24 months of being connected to the internet. 

A mobile-responsive fundraising web application 

Tech stack: 

Microsoft .NET

Javascript

Microsoft SQL Server

Payment systems: Stripe, Google & Apple Pay, Venmo, Paypal

Also, we use many no-code platforms for marketing and operations automation

3 Full time, 5 Part Time. 

6 years.

We are an extremely diverse team that includes people of various cultural, ethnic, religious backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. We employ members in Georgia, Kenya, India, the U.S. and Germany. Currently, our team consists of 57% of women

Our team’s diversity is ensured by:

• By our strong belief that diversity of our team is our organization's most precious asset. It enhances our work, with the unique experiences and perspectives of each member serving as the main engine of our achievements.

• Working online as a tool makes it easy to virtually employ anyone from any corner of the world. Together with our team members and local partners we make an ethnically, culturally and socially diverse entity. 

• We are currently in the process of employing some of our student beneficiaries, and among them is Nancy from Kenya, who already contributes as a freelancer for GiveInternet.org. Nancy is an exceptional and vibrant young woman living in Kibera - an underserved settlement of Nairobi. She is deeply committed to her dream of becoming Nairobi's governor by 2037, aiming to assist and uplift underserved communities. Should we be honored as finalists in the MIT Solve challenge, we would be thrilled to have Nancy join us in New York to share her inspiring journey and represent our organization.

Revenue Model

Online donations are our primary source of income, with individuals sponsoring students' monthly internet fees and laptops through either one-time or monthly subscriptions. Subscription based donation model totally makes sense to donors since internet costs are covered on a monthly basis. 

We are often told that donation-based models are not sustainable. But the numbers prove that's wrong. The United States annual philanthropy market alone is USD 490 billion, 65% of which is donated by private individuals. We believe charitable giving is part of human nature, the numbers also show it's an economic force. People are always willing to empower others; the problem with charities is trust, lack of accountability, transparency, and showing the impact.

Our commitment to transparency, accountability, and providing monthly reports on how donations are allocated—alongside sharing stories of student achievements and real-time photo and video footage of our work—is the major reason our organization is trusted and recommended by others. Donors can also choose how much funds to allocate to the administrative costs of the GiveInternet.org team and on average they allocate around 17%.

In addition to donations from private individuals, we plan to increasingly focus on corporate sponsorships and grants. Given that many companies, especially those in the tech sector, find our cause resonating with their values, we see significant potential in this area.

Besides our impact on students, we also influence civic engagement by offering transparent, accountable opportunities for people to support youth at the bottom of the socioeconomic pyramid, even with small amounts. Making donors feel engaged in changing the lives of others.

Impact Model

The model has a long-lasting impact. Students receive access to the internet and laptops so they can participate in skills development programs from our educational partners. After graduation, they are already equipped with their own laptop and have their internet fees sponsored for 12-24 months, allowing them to continue their work and education, and earn a living using the skills. Most of our students either find a job, freelance or start their own projects. The model is highly scalable as we collaborate with local educational organizations in each country.

Operations Model:

• We form a partnership with an educational non-profit organization that provides various skills development programs. Partners choose the beneficiaries.

• We transfer the funds including the overhead amount assigned for the staff members. Partners help implement the scholarship - purchasing resources mainly from local vendors. They support us with media materials and other documents.

• Apart from the resources (internet connection and a computer), we also provide online mentorship to our community of learners. Depending on the region, we use either Facebook or Whatsapp channels sharing a variety of free learning resources, educational programs, internships, and job opportunities

Via our Operations Model Partners are positively impacted as they gain an important international ally and the means to make their own work more productive, fruitful and overall worthwhile since students are able to actually use the skills they’ve gained after graduating our Partner’s courses - outside training facilities or community centers.

Our sustainability is in our mission: To make it simple and transparent for anyone to sponsor internet access and laptops for students in need, allowing them to access global knowledge and equal opportunities.

Our plan for financial sustainability is to grow our monthly donor community. Relying on grants or corporate donations as the main source of revenue is not a particularly sustainable model as we think it’s a bit risky to be dependent on big one-time donations. We do still plan to work increasingly on gaining revenue from this stream (especially from Tech companies for whom our cause is attractive on its own), however we highly prioritize developing a community of supporters: even though they might be giving relatively smaller amounts, we aim for the number of donors to be relatively big. Crowdfunding as a model ensures that there is no dependency on one particular organization or entity for revenues.

Our cause resonates with millennials, GenZ and other donors who leverage the internet and technology for their work and education, thus they really understand the importance of internet connection.

We have seen this work in our experience with Charte.ge, Georgian version of GiveInternet where the number of our monthly supporters has been growing consistently month by month reaching a total of 5081 donors since 2017. We have raised up to 1 million dollars for this cause (only online donations) and additional around 500k USD from private individuals.

We believe that with our approach we could achieve the same success with GiveInternet.org - especially since we have yet to tap into the bigger philanthropy market in the US. We actively launched our marketing efforts for GiveInternet.org only four months ago (in November 2023), and have already raised up to $100,000 USD from online donations only. We strongly believe that people inherently desire to help others, share the resources that improve their own lives and have a need to be part of a meaningful cause - we are simply making it transparent and easier for them to do so.