My Nonprofit Reviews

I have donated furniture and cash to Welcome Home several times since moving to Marin. They are great communicators - I see where my donations go, and the formerly unhoused people who benefit. And the staff is competent and more than courteous. Very impressive.

Upaya's proven to be one of the most cost-effective poverty alleviation interventions: it costs $250 to create a job with dignity for someone living in extreme poverty. Not a grant, not a handout, but an enduring job with a startup in India. Top-flight leadership, stellar staff mainly in Bangalore, highest ethics and dedication to impact measurement.

I met Sachi Shenoy, the co-founder, when I was traveling to Seattle to work at another nonprofit. I was so impressed with her and with Upaya's promise that I became an early donor about five years ago. I was really pleased that Upaya was able to take every $500 gift of mine and turn it into a job that lifted someone from ultra-poverty to a job with dignity. They have found a truly effective way to accelerate economic growth and individual dignity. Then when Kate Cochran, a former colleague and one of the people I admire most in the world, became CEO, I was honored to join the board.

I first donated to We Care Solar in 2013, when the founders had a brilliant concept -- a durable, easy-to-operate solar system to power frontline medical clinics in the developing world. Their Solar Suitcases have now reached thousands of clinics, and I joined the team to help with rapid growth -- a wonderful "problem" to have, especially for a nonprofit that is fulfilling its mission to make sure no woman has to give birth in the dark.