Giving Compass' Take:

• Janji is a social impact startup that builds a different clothing line every year based on a country the organization travels to,   and then donates 5 percent of its sales to a clean water fund. 

• Social impact organizations are increasing in popularity, but not all of them are successful. What makes Janji's program model effective?

• Read advice from veteran entrepreneurs on how to create your own social impact organization. 

Meet Janji, a startup social impact running brand that’s devoted to allowing runners to explore, connect and change the world through running.

Every season, Janji goes to a different country around the world, meets with local artists, fabric makers, and designers, builds a line around that country, and then 5% of the sale funds a clean water project in that country. Today, Janji is in over 200 running stores and has given thousands of years of clean drinking water to people around the world.

Read the quick Q&A with the founder of Janji, Dave Spandorfer.

What inspired you to start Janji?

Both my co-founder and I ran on the same cross country and track team at Washington University in St. Louis. Running had given us a way to explore the world, connect with amazing people, and really empower our own commitment to personal growth: what you put in is what you get out.

And what we wanted to do was find a brand that fit those values.

Why was water the important issue you wanted to tackle with your company?

Water, as you might imagine, is vital for running. You can’t complete a 5k, let alone a 26.2 mile marathon without the right hydration. But water is also this amazing connective tissue that links humanity. Every human civilization has been near water, required water, and throughout history we have been connected to each through waterways.

Read the full article about Janji by Grant Trahant at Causeartist