OUR PRIORITIES
One of the reasons we built Pennywise was because we were frustrated by traditional patterns of giving in the nonprofit sector. Too often, even with the best intentions, a one time infusion of financial support gets a project going but that project falters when the money runs out. We think there are better approaches. Pennywise prioritizes programming that has self-sufficiency and sustainability, for both the work and its beneficiaries, at the heart of its design. We envision our grants as investments that will be leveraged to create impacts that grow and last over time.
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Here are some of the ways we think that happens
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GIVING FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE.
We view giving as investing. We support projects that help break cycles of poverty and create opportunities that further financial security. This includes direct financial programming, like micro-lending in underserved communities, as well as longer term strategies such as increasing access to education, breaking down monetary barriers in public systems and bridging race, gender and wealth gaps.
We view giving as investing. We support projects that help break cycles of poverty and create opportunities that further financial security. This includes direct financial programming, like micro-lending in underserved communities, as well as longer term strategies such as increasing access to education, breaking down monetary barriers in public systems and bridging race, gender and wealth gaps.
GIVING FOR WASTE REDUCTION.
We prioritize projects that reduce waste-physical and/or economic. We are particularly excited about initiatives that gather products or materials that would otherwise be disposed of as garbage and recreate, refurbish or redistribute them so that they can fill an identified need.
Recent Project | Roberto's Kids, SOIL
We prioritize projects that reduce waste-physical and/or economic. We are particularly excited about initiatives that gather products or materials that would otherwise be disposed of as garbage and recreate, refurbish or redistribute them so that they can fill an identified need.
Recent Project | Roberto's Kids, SOIL
BOTTOM LINE SAVINGS.
We believe programs that increase efficiency and decrease costs have the best chance of effectuating lasting change. We support programming that achieves goals while also creating financial savings for project partners, governments and communities.
Recent Project | Steps to End Domestic Violence
We believe programs that increase efficiency and decrease costs have the best chance of effectuating lasting change. We support programming that achieves goals while also creating financial savings for project partners, governments and communities.
Recent Project | Steps to End Domestic Violence
COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING.
We have a special interest in public/private partnerships because we recognize that governments are often uniquely situated to institutionalize interventions and bring them to larger scales.
Recent Project | Agua Para La Vida,
We have a special interest in public/private partnerships because we recognize that governments are often uniquely situated to institutionalize interventions and bring them to larger scales.
Recent Project | Agua Para La Vida,
MORE WITH LESS.
We stand for the premise that small actors and actions can leverage resources to make big differences. To demonstrate that value, we generally only offer small grants (generally $10,000 USD or less) to small organizations (budgets < $2 million USD).
We stand for the premise that small actors and actions can leverage resources to make big differences. To demonstrate that value, we generally only offer small grants (generally $10,000 USD or less) to small organizations (budgets < $2 million USD).