The Curated Pool
The Innergiving Fund is a trust-based, collaborative fund that connects members with impactful nonprofits to drive meaningful change. By pooling resources, we empower nonprofits to thrive while providing donors with access to valuable mental health and wellness resources. With our focus on transparency and education, Innergiving fosters a community rooted in trust, collaboration, and the collective power of creating significant impact.
▶️ Advantages of Collective, Trust-Based Philanthropy
Maximized Impact Through Pooled Resources Collective philanthropy combines smaller donations into larger funding pools, creating greater financial capacity to support impactful initiatives that might be beyond the reach of individual donors.
Reduced Administrative Burden Trust-based models streamline the funding process for nonprofits, allowing them to focus more on delivering programs and services rather than fundraising, reporting, and meeting overly burdensome donor requirements.
Encourages Broad Participation By focusing on smaller, more accessible contributions, collective philanthropy democratizes giving, making it easier for more people to participate and feel empowered to make a difference.
Builds Community and Trust Trust-based giving fosters a sense of shared purpose and collaboration among donors and recipients. It also shifts the relationship between funders and nonprofits from one of oversight to partnership, encouraging mutual respect and understanding.
Supports Long-Term Solutions By reducing the strings often attached to traditional grants, nonprofits have the flexibility to focus on strategic, long-term goals rather than short-term outputs to meet donor demands.
Increases Transparency and Accountability Collective philanthropy models often emphasize clear communication and reporting to donors about the use of funds and their impact, fostering trust and confidence in the giving process.
Empowers Smaller Nonprofits Pooled funding provides smaller or grassroots nonprofits with access to financial resources they might not otherwise attract, helping them scale their work and broaden their impact.
Enhances Donor Experience Donors feel a sense of shared ownership and connection to causes they care about, while trust-based approaches reduce the friction of decision-making and increase confidence in the allocation of their contributions.
Encourages Innovation and Collaboration By pooling resources and fostering partnerships among nonprofits, trust-based philanthropy supports innovation and collaborative efforts to tackle complex social challenges more effectively.
Promotes Equity and Inclusion Trust-based philanthropy recognizes the expertise of community-driven organizations and seeks to redistribute power and resources equitably, prioritizing underrepresented or underserved populations.
Eliminates Competition for Donor Dollars Innergiving cultivates a collaborative ecosystem where individuals and organizations come together to maximize the impact of every contribution. By pooling resources, we create a unified front that eliminates the need for competition, ensuring that donor dollars are utilized efficiently and effectively to support the greater good.
This approach aligns with a vision of philanthropy that values collective action, equity, and a sustainable, community-centered impact.
▶️ How the Pool is Selected
Discovery
Innergiving sources those organizations participating in the community while also taking incoming nonprofit requests.
Research
A more formal analysis of the organization, 1) yrs. in operation, 2) revenue between $500K-$10M (with exceptions), 3) US-based, 4) meet financial & impact criteria, 5) 3+ board members, 6) sr. leadership 5+ yrs., 6) expense ratio limits, 7) transparency, 8) DEI, 9) full list of criteria documented below.
Select
Advisory review. One of the biggest challenges with youth mental health support is the need for youth review contributions, they know what works best.
Agreement
Invitation to join the pool is extended. With each invitation comes a responsibility to 1) post to Heartstream (feed) - min. 1x per week, 2) administrative fees (7.5%-8.5%) collected after funds are granted, 3) adhere to the nonprofit selection criteria documented below, 4) collaborative and ethical relationship with other members of pool/community.
Impact & Accountability
Nonprofit responsible for full transparency and impact reporting. Sharing educational, inspirational, and impact content to Heartstream.
▶️ Nonprofit Selection Criteria
Minimum 3-year tax exempt status with exceptions for concepts that have a well-positioned plan.
$500,000 - $10,000,000 annual revenue; exceptions up to $15,000,000 (last 3-year average).
Products and/or services that support mental health & well-being (directly or indirectly).
United States nonprofits (initially).
Transparent and detailed financials. Ideally, historical financial information is accessible through the organization's website.
Audit, Review, or Compilation of financials prepared and reviewed.
Transparent and detailed annual report. Ideally, historical annual report information is accessible through the organization's website.
GuideStar (Candid) Seal of Transparency - Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.
Charity Navigator Rating - 1-Star, 2-Star, 3-Star, 4-Star, or NR.
Pool will consist of a mix of solutions (therapeutic, advocacy, technology, education, peer to peer, other).
Minimum 3 board members; preference for those that have youth advisory boards/committees.
Co-founders and senior leadership have 5+ years nonprofit leadership experience.
Clear vision and/or mission that aligns with mental health & well-being.
Approval subject to Innergiving interview of leadership, and advisory committee review.
Focus on those that serve youth or young adults (0-18, 18-30). A large percentage of organizations included in the pool, but not exclusive.
Service alignment with vision and mission.
Sufficient reserves. 6+ months of operating expenses: Ideal range for nonprofits with unpredictable revenue streams or those reliant on grants and fundraising.
Leadership has clear vision, empowers people, collaborates with partners. Innovative.
Organization is fully transparent.
Funding diversity. A reasonable distribution of grants, donations, events, fees, investments.
Culture that values personal and professional development.
Culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
A registered 501c3.
EIN displayed on the organization website.
Reaches a marginalized audience.
▶️ The Curated Pool
▶️ Pooled Fund Information
▶️ Innergiving Pool Goals
The goals for the Innergiving pool are:
Amplify Impact Combine smaller donations into a significant funding source to support nonprofit initiatives, maximizing collective impact.
Foster Trust and Transparency Build confidence among donors by ensuring their contributions are used effectively and transparently, with clear reporting on the outcomes achieved.
Empower Smaller Nonprofits Provide funding access to grassroots and underrepresented organizations, enabling them to scale their work and address pressing social challenges.
Simplify the Donor Experience Create an easy, seamless process for donors to contribute meaningfully without the need for extensive research or decision-making on specific causes.
Encourage Collaboration Promote a cooperative approach among nonprofits within the pool, fostering shared knowledge and innovative solutions.
Provide Donor Value Beyond Philanthropy Offer mental health resources, educational content, and a sense of community to donors, enhancing their experience and personal growth.
Shift Focus Toward Long-Term Solutions Enable nonprofits to prioritize sustainable, strategic goals instead of short-term outputs to meet restrictive funding requirements.
Promote Equity and Inclusion Ensure equitable distribution of resources, focusing on organizations and communities that have historically been overlooked or underserved.
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