Why Donate to Avaaz?

Reason 1 – What we do Works

With more than 65 million members in every nation of the world, able to mobilise at a moment's notice to pressing needs and opportunities, Avaaz works. Together we've helped save lives in Syria, Yemen, Haiti, Nepal and Burma, reversed government policies from Brazil to Japan, won victories on international treaties from a historic climate change agreement to protecting our Internet to preserving oceans — and mobilised millions of dollars in humanitarian aid for marginalised communities just as Covid-19 exposed the worst of global socio-economic inequities. Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown says of Avaaz "You have driven forward the idealism of the world ... do not underestimate your impact on leaders," while the Economist says Avaaz is "poised to deliver a deafening wake up call to world leaders," and Al Gore says "Avaaz is inspiring, and has already made a difference.” And 15 years in, we’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s possible.

Reason 2 – An Avaaz donation is an investment with permanent social change returns

In addition to powering some of the most promising initiatives to better our world, donations to Avaaz fund high impact campaigns that also recruit more people. More people means more donations, and more impact. So you're not only achieving a particular change with your gift, you're helping grow a community with new members that will multiply your donation many times over, and be a permanent and ever-increasing source of change. It's a tremendous philanthropic value to have this kind of double and permanent impact.

Reason 3 – We go where the greatest needs and opportunities are

Most organisations focus on a single issue over a long period of time. This is very important to do, but that can mean that when desperate needs or amazing opportunities for social change arise, they get ignored because everyone is working on their own issue. Avaaz campaigns target the most urgent needs and opportunities, showing up just when a powerful burst of citizens' attention is needed most. We work continuously with top quality partners in the areas we campaign on. Avaaz donors can appreciate knowing their gift will never be put toward an outdated problem -- and always go toward alleviating the world’s most pressing issues.

Reason 4 – We’re regularly audited, and fiscally responsible

There's a lot of fear out there about misuse of donated money. Most of the fear is misplaced – most organisations are filled with good people trying to do good things. With Avaaz you can be sure – partly because we're required by law to be audited every 12 months. This audit thoroughly checks every aspect of our books and financial practices. We’ve been audited annually since Avaaz started in 2006 and the independent auditors have always given us a squeaky clean bill of health. (For more details on Avaaz’s financial health, click here ).

Reason 5 – We're 100% independent

Avaaz takes absolutely no money from governments or corporations. This is hugely important to ensuring that our voice is exclusively determined by the values of our members, and not by any large funder or agenda. While we received initial seed grants from partner organisations and charitable organisations, 100% of the Avaaz budget now comes from small online donations. This means that the only agenda we have to follow is the people's agenda.

Reason 6 – We have a world-class team that does outstanding work

Campaigning, advocacy and social change are a serious and demanding business – the more competent the team, the more impact our donations have. Avaaz attracts some of the best campaigners and advocates in the world.

Reason 7 – We pass the money on when it makes sense, and give to the best efforts

Avaaz has donated tens of millions of dollars to other organisations, because we saw them as better placed than us to have impact on a particular issue. In 2020 alone, we granted nearly $10 million dollars to urgent causes around the world, transforming the lives of people everywhere. When Covid-19 hit, Avaaz kicked into full gear, supporting indigenous groups in the Amazon and the Maasai in Kenya, and covering the cost of millions of meals and thousands of kits in medical supplies for vulnerable communities stretching from Pakistan to Bolivia, to the Democratic Republic of Congo. And, when Europe turned its back on refugees risking their lives at sea, we chipped in to fuel the boats of the few rescue missions operating in the Mediterranean. We’ve raised funds to help recover forests and rescue injured koalas, kangaroos and other wildlife after forest fires blazed through Australia; and, we’ve supported ranger groups in Africa to fight the rise in poaching… and so much more!

The way we support organisations is important too. Most foundations have endless processes and constraints that make them slow, bureaucratic and risk averse in supporting advocacy. Avaaz finds the best people and organisations -- doing the most effective work, often on a small budget, and doesn't micromanage them; we help advance their power to meet their needs and do what they know best.

Reason 8 – We're political (this really matters)

Most charities offer tax deductibility for donations. But this means that they are, in a way, partially taxpayer funded, and governments use that to place a very thick set of rules on what they can and can't do. Chief among them is restricting what they can say to criticize, support, or oppose a politician. Donations to Avaaz are not tax deductible, leaving us 100% free to say and do whatever we need to to get leaders to listen to people. Since so many important issues are won and lost in the political realm, this makes us much more effective than advocacy groups that shy away from speaking out politically.

Reason 9 – We have no bureaucracy

Avaaz is a massive network of citizens, but our organisation is absolutely tiny – just a few dozen full time campaigners with operational and technology support. Most large global NGOs have hundreds or even thousands of staff. We're efficient and we focus on impact and getting results.

Reason 10 – Democratic accountability is hard-wired into our model

The Avaaz model of campaigning is people-powered. Our priorities are set at annual and weekly levels by polls of our membership and every campaign we run is first polled with members. No matter how much work we put into developing a campaign, if it fails to get the greenlight from members, we don't run it. So on a day to day basis, how we spend the donations we receive is determined directly by members.

Click here for Avaaz Expenses and Financial Information