Women are no strangers to social entrepreneurship — in fact, some credit women for introducing and growing the concept in the United States. In our latest crowdfunding column, we take a moment to highlight five entrepreneurial ladies who are making the world a better place with their altruistically motivated products and ventures.
Check out these 5 women-led crowdfunding campaigns:
1. Helping Children Cope with Grief (via Kickstarter)
The Business: It is estimated that one of every 29 children in the United Kingdom has suffered the loss of a parent or sibling. To help them cope with the grief, author Caroline Twigg — who sadly learned about loss herself after her husband died in December of 2014 — is working on a book for kids ages 4 to 7. “The Really Magic Carpet” takes its young readers on a beautifully illustrated journey with Davey, a young protagonist who recently lost his father.
The Money: Contributors have until July 26 to chip in to Twigg’s fund (though she has already met and exceeded her goal of $15,695). The money she raises will be used to cover illustration costs and publish 1,000 copies of her work. Some proceeds will also be donated to The Brain Tumour Charity.
2. Helping Deaf Women in Kenya Find Employment (via Plum Alley)
The Business: In Kenya, deaf people are sometimes ostracized from their surrounding communities, making it difficult for them to find work. Sasa Designs by the Deaf was founded in 2011 to provide paying work to deaf women who might not be able to secure jobs otherwise. “For the first time, they are recognized for their potential, and not for their inability to communicate with the world at large,” says the organization’s leadership team — also comprised of women — on its site.
The Money: Sasa Designs is working to raise money to fund its ongoing operations through this campaign, and has 9 days left to raise the $10,200 it needs to continue its mission of ensuring economic mobility and personal autonomy for Kenya’s female deaf population.
3. Helping Young Girls Discover Their Role Models (via Kickstarter)
The Business: You cannot be what you cannot see, so California-based contemporary artist Ashmae is doing her part to ensure girls don’t feel limited by a lack of representation. To that end, she has designed a set of Brave Women Art Cards that feature watercolor portraits of inspiring women on one side and information about those women on the other. Inspired largely by her 2-year-old daughter, Thea, Ashmae is making the cards based on her belief in “the effective power of well-made tangible objects.”
The Money: She has already finished the portraits and written the biographies and quotes that will adorn each portrait card. With the money she raises — and she has already earned more than $8,000, exceeding her goal of $7,000 — Ashmae will create an accompanying workbook and start on a second set of cards. Folks have until August 7 to contribute.
4. Helping Mothers Feel Good About Dressing Their Babies (via Indiegogo)
The Business: Parents, take note: Cat & Dogma, based in Austin, Texas, and run by Adrian Layne, is designing and selling a line of clothing for babies that’s both organic and affordable. A mother herself, Layne is infusing her locally sourced lifestyle into her business model. Now, she needs assistance to “provide an ethically manufactured inventory, while bringing our brand message to the marketplace.”
The Money: Layne and her company have just under a month to raise the $10,000 they need to manufacture and market their onesies (so far, they have eight designs), nursing scarves, and more. They’re already more than halfway to their goal, and, thanks to Indiegogo’s Flexible Funding option, they will receive some of whatever is generated before the campaign ends.
5. Helping Animals Find a Refuge (via Indiegogo)
The Business: Sadly, not all farmers take proper care of their animals. That’s why the Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge in Pittsboro, N.C., is doing what it can to care for ducks and geese that have suffered while living on a farm. “Not only do we work to rescue and provide a permanent, safe home for farm animals on a 20-acre sanctuary,” the campaign says, “we also work in our community educating people about the cruelties inherent in the farming system, and how to transition to a vegan lifestyle.”
The Money: This verified nonprofit has over 50 days remaining to generate $10,000, the goal amount set by Board President Monika Soria Caruso and others involved with the Refuge, most of whom are also women. Those funds will allow them to build barns, fence in a pasture and purchase necessary supplies for ducks and geese in need.
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Want to be featured in The Story Exchange’s Crowdfunding column? Drop us a line and tell us about your campaign at [email protected].