A Conversation with Jonathan Shanin, Executive Director of AidJoy
May 6, 2014
When Corporations and Charities Connect
Jonathan Shanin is a social entrepreneur focused on filling a missing piece in philanthropy today. He is the founder and Executive Director of AidJoy, a charity that introduces little-known non-profits to a global audience, while providing the tools and training necessary to sustain the growth that follows. AidJoy is now in its sixth year, and is supported by a substantial network of like-minded professionals who are passionate about bringing their business acumen to bear for charities.
We chatted with Jonathan about recent projects and a very cool upcoming event in Greenville celebrating corporate philanthropy.
AidJoy is a capacity building organization for charities that are attempting to solve life-and-death problems. We provide consulting, technology, marketing, and business development service grants to charities, but our work is often paid for by corporations or foundations. Intuitive pairings between charities and corporations offer far-reaching benefits to both entities. Charities receive financial resources and volunteer expertise; corporations not only affect lasting social change, they also receive invaluable PR and marketing exposure, and positively impact their internal culture, improving employee morale and engagement, and ultimately employee retention.
AidJoy acts as a connector between charities and corporations, and in some ways, we serve as translators between them. Each has similar motivations in working together, but they have very different requirements, expectations, and goals over the long term. AidJoy bridges those gaps to ensure the viability and continued success of such partnerships. We speak the language of both charities and corporations to see that everyone is provided what is needed to end suffering, change lives, and put an end to dire problems.
Tell us about your upcoming event celebrating corporate philanthropy.
On September 5, 2014, we will be holding an event in Greenville, SC to do three things: (1) showcase leaders in corporate social responsibility in the Upstate; (2) celebrate some of AidJoy’s recent successes in philanthropy and offer our experience as a demonstration of what’s possible; and (3) make a big announcement about our organization’s plans for the future.
We will be holding silent and live auctions with some interesting items from the Peruvian Amazon, have some great wine and food, and live music from the composer who scored AidJoy’s most recent filmwork, along with a few other surprises. It’s going to be a great time that you won’t want to miss.
Can you give us a hint about the big announcement?
You will just have to come to the event to find out!
Tell us about your most recent work.
We have been working with “Project Amazonas,” a charity that brings medical aid to remote communities on the Peruvian side of the Amazon rainforest via medical boats. In this region, there are no roads (all travel is by boat), and there are only three hospitals to serve over one million people. Residents often travel for days to weeks to find medical care. The cost of such travel can spiral families into an inescapable cycle of poverty.
AidJoy has helped to scale Project Amazonas from treating 1,500 patients per year to over 9,000 patients per year. We are now working with the Regional Ministry of Health on a land-based medical facility in highly underserved district of the Peruvian Amazon. For many of the medical facility’s 45,000 annual patients this will be their only source of medical aid. Siemens AG (German Fortune 100 company) has provided the initial funding. Additionally, employees of Siemens AG are providing overall project support. This medical facility will change the trajectory of lives for thousands of people who live in and protect the rainforest.
Are you accepting corporate sponsors for the event in September?
We are seeking corporate sponsors that would like to contribute to our Focus Group on Corporate Social Responsibility (or CSR) at the event, yes. AidJoy will be producing a video with this Focus Group to share insights, best practices, and lessons learned from some of South Carolina’s leaders in CSR, and we hope that it will inspire other companies to make a formal philanthropic program part of their strategic business plan. This is a fairly unique benefit of sponsorship that provides our supporters with a marketing tool that will continue to work for them after the event is over.
How can people sign up to receive news about the event and tickets?
Tickets will go on sale in late summer, but for those interested in sponsorship, or if they would like to be added to the mailing list for the event, they can send us an email at [email protected]
