"I'm what the world considers to be a phenomenally successful man. And I've failed much more than I've succeeded. And each time I fail, I get my people together, and I say, "Where are we going?" And it starts to get better." - Calvin Trager
Wednesday, March 01, 2006 A simple click One of the questions I get asked most often is "Where do I give my 0.7% for the MDGs?" There are some really good answers to that question:
*Give it to Episcopal Relief and Development -- more than 90 cents of every dollar gets to the people who need it, they structure their giving on the MDGs .. and they're Episcopal.
*Give through your Companion Diocese Relationship -- a GREAT idea ... turns your 0.7% into resource for building relationship as well as the MDGs.
*Support a ministry connected with someone you know -- my example for this is my contributions to AIDS education ministries in Tanzania founded by former students of mine.
These are all good answers... but they leave out the multitude of grassroots efforts in the developing world that have incredible potential or are already being highly successful -- and that desperately need support.
An article in today's BBC online tells about two web-based organizations that connect donors with micro-organizations that need them. The first (www.globalgiving.com) provides a sortable database of MDG-related organizations that are potential targets for your gifts. Once an organization meets its funding target, it goes off the active list and gets listed in the funded project catalog.
Globalgiving.com doesn't have a huge database -- currently about 300 are listed -- but that's because they are carefully vetted multiple times so you can be sure your money is going to something legitimate. And they are continually adding new organizations.
The second (www.kiva.org) is a microfinance program that allows you to become a microlender to grassroots businesses in Africa.
and then check out the websites (you might have to be patient with the Kiva site, I tried earlier today and it was temporarily unavailable because it was being over-accessed!).
Today is Ash Wednesday. Make part of your discipline today spending some time looking through these sites, pick one that moves you and make a gift ... even a small one.
Shelter for Victims of South Asian Earthquake Project provides housing and support to families in Pakistan who have been affected by the South Asian Earthquake. Theme: Health | Location: Pakistan | Need: $100,000
If you follow the links for each organization on globalgiving.com, you'll also see the depth of information (including staff bios and progress reports) that is provided. Take a few minutes and do it yourself.
Then pass this email along... and link to these sites on your sites.
EGR resources and connects the church to embrace what one person, one congregation, one diocese and one church can do to make this mission of global reconciliation happen.
Want to find out more ... check our our website at www.e4gr.org.
"Christ's example is being
demeaned by the church if they ignore the new leprosy,
which is AIDS. The church is the sleeping giant here.
If it wakes up to what's really going on in the rest
of the world, it has a real role to play. If it doesn't,
it will be irrelevant."
- Bono
Episcopalians for 
