About
Most of us want to make a difference. We see suffering, injustice, and hardship all around us and are moved to do something about them. But working out what that 'something' is, let alone how to actually do it, can be a difficult and disheartening challenge.
- Effective Altruism
As I enthusiastically began my google search, I felt energized by the thought of all the opportunities I would find to help someone in need. I had recently come to the realization that I had been so focused on my career I had done little to give back to my community. Sure, I've given money to a cause while standing in line at a grocery store or dropped used clothes off in a green donation bin, but what impact, if any, was that having on my community. Also, looking back, those donations at times felt more transactional than meaningful.
This time I wanted to do something that I knew would have an immediate impact on those in my community who were suffering the most. The only issue, I wasn't quite sure what that something was, let alone how I would do it. Like anyone faced with these types of questions, I decided to consult google.
45 minutes later, my excitement and enthusiasm were replaced with frustration. I thought to myself, "how can it be this hard to help others?" Not to mention, with all the inequality and social issues in our city, where are all the local Nonprofits who need my help?
I reached out to friends and colleagues to see what they used to find local nonprofits or give back opportunities. Their responses were all consistent with my own experience. In fact, the more times I would ask people these questions, the more I would hear similar responses. That's when I decided I needed to create a way for people to easily get involved and give back to their community. This is where the idea for Conation began.
When I initially started Conation, I thought I was creating a website that would make it easier to find our local nonprofits. What Conation became was a way for us to spend less time figuring out the HOW of getting involved by making it easy to find the WHAT we can do NOW to make an immediate positive social impact.
In conversations with nonprofits and those they serve, something else became abundantly clear. We can no longer wait for someone else to solve our city's most pressing social issues. While we wait, these problems are persistently getting worse. The reality is that each of us has a social responsibility to help better the lives of those vulnerable and marginalized in our communities.
"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
-President Barack Obama
Conation's
Commitment
Local
Easily find local Nonprofits insuring that whatever you give stays in your community.
Quality
Verified and credible 501(c (3) with a proven track record of positive social impact.
Community
Dedicated to bettering the communities we serve.