A Santa Monica-based nonprofit that has expanded from helping 20 children in Tanzania to reaching more than 450,000 young people worldwide is launching its #35toThrive campaign this week, demonstrating how a modest donation can create measurable change in vulnerable children's lives.
GO Campaign, which stands for Giving Opportunity, will run its #35toThrive initiative from Nov. 18 through Dec. 31, featuring a matching promotion that begins on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, and continues through year's end.
The campaign centers on a compelling statistic: Over 19 years of operation, GO Campaign has determined that $35 represents the average cost to change a child's life through its grassroots partnerships across 40 countries.
"We did the math," said Scott Fifer, GO Campaign's founder and CEO. "Over the past 19 years, we've helped more than 450,000 children through hundreds of grassroots projects around the world, and when you add it all up, $35 is the average cost to change a child's life."
The impact of that $35 varies by location and need, but the organization provides concrete examples of its effectiveness. In Nepal, a $35 donation enables GO Campaign to provide protective resources that reduce the immediate risk of sex trafficking for 12 children.
"This highly effective intervention moves children from a state of crisis to safety and opportunity, and that is the model that defines GO Campaign," Fifer said. "Our core belief is that every child has the right to food, shelter, education and a fair chance in life."
Similar donations support projects in Colombia, Congo and California, with the organization maintaining rigorous monitoring and evaluation processes to track exactly where funds go and what they accomplish.
Fifer's path to nonprofit leadership followed an unconventional trajectory through politics, Wall Street and Hollywood. The former U.S. Senate aide and entertainment industry screenwriter founded GO Campaign in 2006 after a transformative volunteer experience at an orphanage in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
"I took a trip to Tanzania in 2005 that fundamentally changed my trajectory," Fifer said. "I volunteered for a month at an orphanage in Kilimanjaro, and it was the most transformative experience of my life. When I returned to Santa Monica, I couldn't stop thinking about those kids and knew I could do more to give them a better chance."
What began as an effort to support those 20 children has evolved into a comprehensive organization that funds grassroots solutions led by local leaders who understand their communities' specific needs. The organization has expanded access to education, healthcare, shelter, safety and opportunity through its "Local Hero" model.
"The original plan was just to help those 20 kids. I had no idea it would grow, take over my life, and lead to an entire career change," Fifer said. "Over time we developed this Local Hero model which is based on listening to the needs of the people on the ground."
The organization's donor-centered approach allows contributors to direct funds toward specific causes or regions that resonate with them, whether supporting girls' education, helping children in particular countries or assisting foster youth.
GO Campaign has attracted support from celebrity ambassadors including Robert Pattinson, Ewan McGregor, Lily Collins and Evangeline Lilly, helping raise awareness and drive donations.
During the giving season, in the past, the organization partners with numerous local groups, including Create Now, CleanSlate Inc., A Sense of Home and Good City Mentors. One recent partnership involves Courage Camps, which provides safe spaces for inner-city Los Angeles children to experience the ocean and learn self-worth through surfing lessons.
"The more holiday donations we bring in, the more children we can help," Fifer said. "It's truly that direct: one more donation equals one more child whose life is changed."
Funds raised through the #35toThrive campaign will be distributed to GO Campaign's Local Heroes with the most urgent needs, both internationally and domestically.
The organization maintains detailed grant data across hundreds of projects, allowing donors to see precise information about their contributions' impact. Examples of $35's purchasing power are available on the GO Campaign website.
Those interested in supporting holiday drives or learning more about the campaign can contact the organization at info@gocampaign.org.