MBAs Without Borders
MBAs Without Borders
Q1: As a charity based in the USA and Canada, we are always looking for creative ways to raise funds. I'm curious what successes or failures others (for-profit and non-profit) have had using the internet, social networks, forums, chat sits, donation pages, to raise funds for their enterprise? Thanks.
Idea Description
Business can and must play an important role in alleviating poverty in developing countries and MBAs Without Borders (MWB) believes in a world where every local entrepreneur has the means to succeed and bring their own community out of poverty.
From that vision, MBAs Without Borders was formed as an international not-for-profit organization bringing innovative solutions to developing countries by matching experienced business volunteers (i.e. MBAs) from around the world with local businesses and charities working in the developing world to unleash a big secret...Business Can do Amazing Things!
MWB partners on projects mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
What will you do if you win $10,000 for this idea?
For every $10,000US we are able to raise, we can support another small business or charity in the field with a MBA volunteer. MWB has a mandate that it only works with field partners that financially commit to sharing part of the cost of each project. Our average project length is about 4 months (total = $15,000) and since our partners on average commit abut 30% of our overall costs, the remaining gap of ~$10,000 is what we need to bring better business support to one of our field partners. If selected, the $10k will be used to support 1 of our upcoming projects in Zambia where our MBA volunteer will support Solar-Aid with business management as it brings clean, renewable power to locals.
Vote for it now.
I would wonder if you could select a region and focus on a micro scale initially. I agree with the guest advisor having worked in development in indigenous communities teaching bee-keeping and fish farming that it takes an investment in a community to understand what the needs are and how to support the local leadership. I also have a concern about the brand equity of "MBAs without Borders" To me I have seen this used so many times "Investors without borders" etc that I'm not sure if I'm worn out on the name. Especially if you focus on a particular community finding a name that resonates there might be a better option.