DIR expands its reach through Global Giving website

Raising awareness – and indeed funds – is a continuous challenge for a small NGO like Developing Indigenous Resources (DIR). In early 2013, the US Board agreed on the need to expand our activities in these areas, and to explore new avenues and tools including online fundraising sites that would allow us to reach a broader network.

Global Giving (www.globalgiving.org) is a well-known site with a reputation for its rigorous due diligence process before it accredits any organization. The Board realized that this independent assessment would bring a lot more international validation, and decided to undertake this process. We were very pleased to be successfully accredited in 2013.

During the month of December, we have been taking part in an “Open Challenge” during which newly accredited organizations must raise $5000 from 40 individual donors, in order to merit a permanent place on the Global Giving site. I’m happy to report that we also succeeded on this initiative!

Throughout 2013, DIR has made substantial progress “making its case”. With meagre resources, it has achieved spectacular results in reducing infant mortality and childhood malnutrition, improving immunization rates, and providing prenatal and postnatal care for pregnant women.

Now it’s time to let people know and to ask for their support so that DIR can scale up these very successful programs to achieve their true potential.

Celebrities and large media enterprises have taken on the task of spreading the word about Global Giving: it has been highlighted in the New York Times and The Washington Post, and featured on CNN and NPR, among others. We are hopeful that becoming a Global Giving partner will provide DIR with one more portal to access the support of the global community.

We are grateful to each of the donors who helped us meet the Global Giving Challenge. And thank you for taking the time to look through this website. We hope our story inspires you to contribute to future expansion of DIR!

Dr. Shalini Sahai, Medical Advisor, US Board