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Geneva Global
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Linking Wealthy Donors with Grassroots Charitable Projects in Developing Countries
Geneva Global (www.genevaglobal.com), based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, provides a unique and valuable service. As a philanthropic research and international grantmaking company, Geneva investigates local, grassroots humanitarian initiatives in Third World countries on behalf of wealthy American and European donors.
With over five hundred experts stationed strategically in the hardest places of the world, Geneva Global searches for those charitable projects that have a successful track record of performance, presenting its findings to wealthy individuals and family foundations that seek to give with the assurance that their money will be put to immediate and effective use. Based on a principle called “Performance Philanthropy,” Geneva’s donors are interested in philanthropic giving with an investment mindset. They are interested in giving to those undertakings that are based not only on “need” but also on “proven results.”
It’s my pleasure to generate media coverage for this important professional service.
Here is a partial list of media placements thus far arranged on behalf of Geneva Global’s CEO, Eric Thurman:
Forbes.com.
Superb article on "Performance Philanthropy" placed by Mike with Senior
Editor Arlyn Gajilan, who assigned story to reporter Tara Weiss.
Article published on January 3, 2007.
View Full article
Financial Times.
Mike arranged an
interview for Eric Thurman with Paul Sullivan, who
writes on philanthropy for FT. Sullivan penned
article entitled, "Rapid Relief Where It Counts,"
published on May 19th. Concerning Geneva Global, he
wrote:
"As more donors look
to fund programs in the developing world,
particularly around health issues, questions about
effectiveness continue to crop up: how can they be
sure the money they are sending is being put to the
right uses? And how can they measure the impact it
is having?
Realizing this
uncertainty, Geneva Global started selling reports six
years ago that apply securities analysis to overseas
non-profits. The Philadelphia consultancy bills its
“delta reports” as “buy-side research” on foreign
charities.
“These are private
placements for philanthropy,” Eric Thurman, chief
executive, says of the reports that are tailored for
individual donors and often take a couple of months of
research and site visits to compile. “Everyone who works
with us gets a Delta report and a results report at the
end.”
A 12-page report in
December 2004 evaluated COE, a Christian volunteer
organization that wanted to teach poor Ecuadorians to
fight human trafficking. The report said the grant
needed to be $45,000 to be effective and then rated
three factors reflecting the likelihood of success: its
magnitude of impact was “significant”, the second tier
of a four-level scale; the risk of success was toward
the low end; and its “delta score” was 9.58.
This last figure is the
group’s signature statistic. The currency for the score
is a child sponsorship, which has a rating of one and is
computed as “one life changed in multiple ways for $360
in one year”. This project gave a donor more than nine
times that yield.
In a follow-up report in
March 2006, COE received an achievement rating of
“achieved”, the second-best rating. It also exceeded its
revised delta score.
Thurman says 79 per cent
of foreign charities met or exceeded their forecasts.
“Half of what we look at doesn’t get recommended,”
Thurman says, who expects to advise on $30m of donations
this year. He stresses that the key is donors coming to
them, not charities that want to solicit donations.
“We work much more like
an investment bank than a rating agency,” he says. They
also charge investment banking-level fees. Their reports
cost 10 to 22 per cent of the grant, which Thurman
justifies as a way to 'raise expectations'."
View Full article
Harvard International Review. Mike
convinced the editors at Harvard
International Review to take
a by-lined article by Geneva Global's CEO Eric Thurman on
Performance Philanthropy. The article was published in
the April 27, 2006 issue. Mr. Thurman writes on the need
for a new approach to philanthropy. “Much can be
accomplished with relatively modest sums when giving is
invested in results rather than need only. Philanthropists
must demand nothing less than real, meaningful and
measurable life change for those they seek to help.”
CNN and CNN
International.
April, 2006. Mike placed
a story on "Inside Africa" about Eric Thurman's
visit to Burundi, Africa, where Mr. Thurman met with
the President of Burundi to discuss local charitable
projects that Geneva Global had facilitated funding
for, and potential new projects. Prior to
airing, Mike arranged for a taped remote interview
with Mr. Thurman out of CNN's Washington bureau, by
reporter Femi Oke out of Atlanta. Mike also
relayed footage taken in Burundi by Geneva Global.
One of the interesting Geneva Global-funded projects
that the story highlighted focused on Mr. Thurman's
visit to a community-based initiative funded through
Geneva - describing the progress made by the
pygmies. Previously thought to be short in physical
stature due to genetics, Mr. Thurman discovered that
in fact the pygmies had been suffering from
malnutrition for generations. When their children
received proper nourishment, they were found to grow
to normal height.
CNN domestic ran the
pygmy story, with actuality by
Mr. Thurman, on Wednesday, April 12th and Sunday,
April 16th. CNNI, which runs worldwide, ran a
fuller story which included a discussion of Geneva
Global's approach to philanthropy, called
"Performance Philanthropy," on Saturday, April 15th
at 12:30 PM Eastern and 7:30 PM Eastern. To view the CNN story, click on this link:
View Full Article
The Economist. Mike
arranged an interview for Eric Thurman with The
Economists' Matthew Bishop. Story ran in
the philanthropy issue on March 2, 2006. The
story stated:
”[Geneva Global’s] 140 employees work with a
network of over 500 voluntary associates in over
100 countries. It mostly concentrates on small
projects, which it thinks have a greater impact.
‘In philanthropy, the stuff that will deliver
most often gets least,’ says [CEO], Eric
Thurman.”
”[Geneva Global] challenges the big charities
by finding a small, local group that is doing
something well and is ready to scale up its
operations. It sends potential donors a monthly
catalogue with a choice of evaluated projects,
and later provides feedback on what their money
has achieved. ‘We want to be known for making a
direct connection between the money…and lives
changed,’ says Mr. Thurman.”
The Stock Doctors.
Mike
arranged interview for Eric Thurman
on this nationally syndicated
investment radio show on March 29,
2006. Mr. Thurman stated:
"[Donors
are] faced with the choice of
ignoring [needs] and being
cold-hearted or giving money
that feels like it's foolish
because nothing changes," says
Geneva Global CEO Eric Thurman.
"We're the third choice."
Listen with Windows Media Player
Mike presented the Geneva Global story to an editor at
The Philadelphia Inquirer, which led to a
December 20th story by reporter Adam Fifield entitled,
"Giving and Vetting." For the full story, go to:
View Full Article
CNBC.
Mike arranged an
appearance for Geneva Global's
Eric Thurman on CNBC's "High
Net Worth" on October 22,
2005. Topic: Performance
Philanthropy. Mr. Thurman was
interviewed by CNBC's Managing
Editor, and host of the show,
Tyler Matheson. To view
the segment, go to this url:
View Full Article
Wrote press release distributed by
Business Wire outlining effective
charitable giving guidelines as the
second major hurricane hits the Gulf
coast and leaves parts of Texas and
Louisiana seriously damaged.
Entitled, "CEO of Philanthropic
Advisory Service Offers 'Six Basic
Questions' for Donors to Ask as
Hurricane Rita Hurtles Towards Gulf
Coast." Picked up by Yahoo Finance
and Forbes.com.
Here’s url:
Forbes.com
Article
Miami Herald.
Placed OpEd published on
Sept. 16, 05 entitled, "Before
Giving, Ask Questions." It outlines
six principles donors can apply when
considering how to give in the
Hurricane Katrina disaster.
Read the article [PDF 122KB]
The Roger Arnold
Show.
Arranged interview for
Eric Thurman with syndicated radio
talk show host Roger Arnold on Sept.
4, '05. Discussion centered on how
listeners can give wisely in
response to Hurricane Katrina
disaster.
Roger Arnold transcript [PDF -
130KB]
Plum Television
Network.
Geneva Global interviewed
on August 26, 05 about how private
citizens can make their giving
highly effective.
Download the transcript [PDF -
382KB]
Worth
Magazine.
Arranged interview for
Eric Thurman with Marilen Cawad, who
wrote article entitled, "In The Wake
of the Tsunami," published in the
July '05 issue. Article includes
substantial mention of Geneva's
work.
Read the article [PDF - 109KB]
PBS’s Wall $treet Week with FORTUNE featured a half hour interview with Eric Thurman on April 22, 2005. Topic: Performance Philanthropy.
To view the program, turn to this url:
View Full Article
Wrote press release distributed by Business Wire on Eric Thurman’s PBS appearance. Entitled, “CEO & Philanthropic Expert, Appearing on PBS's 'Wall Street Week with Fortune,' Says ''Think About Charity the Way You Think About Investing'' Picked up by many websites including CSRWire and Forbes.com.
View Full Article
WHYY-TV (PBS in Philadelphia and Delaware), Evening Business Report, interviewed Eric Thurman on December 7, 2005
American Family Radio Network interviewed Eric Thurman on February 25, 2005 on its work it shutting down slave-trading networks in Third World countries.
Time Magazine Europe, in its February 21, 2005 issue, said "...Geneva Global, (is) a group that hooks up wealthy American donors with charities abroad.”
Eric Thurman appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends” on January 1, 2005 to talk about Geneva’s approach to helping tsunami victims.
The Philadelphia Daily News carried a tsunami story on December 30, 2004, saying "Geneva Global... specializes in international grant-making for private donors and foundations... Geneva Global arranges hundreds of grants and donations a year for American donors who want to give directly to local organizations in foreign countries."
Article in Wall Street Journal entitled, “Tis The Season To Be Giving,” December 21, 2004, stated: "... professional service firm that scouts out worthy causes for philanthropists... Geneva Global, Inc., in Wayne, PA., has 500 contacts in 90 countries."
Item in Institutional Investor Magazine, December, 2004, stated: “Geneva Global…resembles a Wall Street research shop, advising donors on specific projects.”
Item in Wall Street Journal, July 6, 2004, stated: "Geneva Global Inc., assesses the effectiveness of overseas charitable projects for its clients - mainly family foundations or wealthy individuals."
Article in Wall Street Journal, June 22, 2004, stated: "Geneva Global... advises philanthropic organizations on how to get the most bang for the buck for the money they contribute to worthy causes. It focuses its scouting efforts mostly on small but effective charities in some of the world's nastiest little corners of poverty. Geneva Global has channeled funds into some 90 countries, to groups fighting child slavery in India or sex trafficking in the Balkans, and claims it can change a life for as little as $25."
Eric Thurman interviewed on Voice of America, May 12, 2004. Narrator said: "Geneva Global raises grants for grassroots organizations - not well known charities."
Forbes Magazine profiled Eric Thurman in its May 10, 2004 issue, in a two-page article entitled, “Contrarian Charity.” Excerpt said: "Geneva Global... advises the rich and their foundations on where to place their philanthropic bets... [Geneva Global] searches for small, successful and unsung programs in the most turbulent backwaters around the world. Geneva Global takes a distinctly capitalist approach to this effort in good works. It looks for 'undervalued' charities in the poorest regions of the world, where a dollar goes an awfully long way, then sends in its own operative to check things out.”
Philadelphia Inquirer ran Op-Ed by Eric Thurman and Art Linkletter on April 9, 2004, entitled, “Hear The Children In The Streets.” (Mike Schwager ghosted that Op-Ed and enlisted the support of Art Linkletter as a co-author).
Here is link to that Op-Ed:
View Full Article
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