Giving Compass' Take:

• Grant Trahant at Causeartist talks with Alex Stephany, the founder of Beam, a crowdfunding platform who is trying to solve homelessness by creating career opportunities by using crowdfunding and technology. 

• How can data be used to inform a donor’s giving in order to increase employment opportunities for homeless individuals?

• Learn about ending homelessness through impactful giving.

Beam is a crowdfunding platform that enables new career opportunities for homeless men and women. Beam uses technology and global citizens to help fund skills training and education to homeless individuals. With the Beam platform, you can help someone start a new career and leave homelessness for good.

The platform works like this. Each person on the platform is referred to Beam by an established homeless charity or their local council. They receive a dedicated support specialist – a Beam employee who supports them all the way into their new career! The support specialists conduct basic security checks to make sure the referred person is mentally and physically ready to enter full-time employment. After that they help each person develop a tailored career plan, building on their unique strengths and interests.

Once approved to be on the Beam platform, we as global citizens, can choose to help fund one person’s training or fund everyone equally. You can choose support once or monthly. You’ll get an email introducing you to a new person you’re supporting every month and learn more about their individual story.

Read the full article about crowdfunding technology to solve homelessness by Grant Trahant at Causeartist.