Small sums. Big impacts. WhatGives is a nonprofit dedicated to providing grants to people who find themselves in difficult situations in the Triangle.
WhatGives
provides small-sum financial support to individuals that are facing a crisis affecting their ability to obtain or maintain employment or schooling. The nonprofit utilizes an innovative trusted network approach to find those individuals that are in danger of not being able to advance their education, skills or obtain employment and that are most likely to utilize the financial support for its intended purpose. Believing that people, once educated, skilled and employed will enhance the welfare not only of themselves but of the community, WhatGives was founded in 2015.
When WhatGives CEO and Founder Scott Lefferts checked in with a friend, he learned his friend owed an alimony bill that threatened his continuing education at North Carolina State University. Scott knew his friend was already scraping to get by and that this unexpected bill could force him to withdraw his pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Even though Scott offered to pay the bill himself and also suggested Payday Loans, his friend was determined to find the funds by his own means bartering old items and looking around the house for things to pawn off.
“It was at this moment I realized that people find themselves in similar situations, searching for financial support in a last-minute predicament,” said Lefferts. “This led to the development of WhatGives and the search for individuals and families in the local community to help meet basic needs that negatively impact their ability to get or maintain education or training or get or maintain employment. If WhatGives can provide financial support that allows someone to stay trained, educated or employed, we will do that.”
Offering financial gifts ranging between $100 and $1,000, people can apply for these grants a total of two times with the money being received at least 12 months apart. Those individuals who are in a financial crisis, which is affecting their ability to obtain or maintain employment or obtain or maintain education/training are eligible. WhatGives then has a stringent criterion where an applicant must have an income level at or below 200% of the federal poverty level per household size, be able to provide proof of valid need, and the need must fit a list of situations approved for assistance.
“We try to not just hand out money,” chimed Lefferts. “We talk to them and ask what they specifically need. Just a few weeks ago, we paid for property taxes and a car inspection for a young lady who is going to North Carolina State University and was recently laid off from two jobs due to the coronavirus.”
COVID-19 has given WhatGives new perspective. Servicing people in Wake, Orange and Chatham Counties, the nonprofit is trying to specifically target families and individuals who have been directly impacted by the global pandemic, trying to offer relief in any way possible.
From the variety of local nonprofits providing support during the pandemic, WhatGives’ goal is to offer donors a way to choose anonymous recipients without learning his or her name or specific information. For now, donors can go online to give generously, but in the future, there will be a section of the website where donors can specifically identify a story that resonates with them and choose to donate to that individual, all within the confines of confidentiality. Once this aspect of the organization is available, the donor can then learn where and how their donation was utilized, if the recipient reports back to WhatGives.
“We plan to bring a more connected way of giving,” shared Lefferts. “We believe there is a way to have a more intimate experience between the donor and recipient. Money doesn’t just go into a pool to be allocated to worthy recipients. Donors will know exactly who and how they helped.”
WhatGives was founded on the following beliefs:
The critical role that education and training play in an individual’s earning potential.
The belief that money, particularly access to money during critical times, can be the difference between life success and failure.
The value of consistent and quality employment and the positive impact it has on the individual, family and society.
The strength of a trusted network of friends and colleagues to help each other grow.
If interested in participating, whether as a donor or recipient for WhatGives, go to whatgivesnc.org to fill out the necessary information.
