How are you different from Kickstarter?

 

In a few key ways. 

1. ioby is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, so all donations to projects on ioby are tax-deductible.

2. As a nonprofit, we have a mission to make sure your project is successful. This means

  • we have a very high rate of fully funded projects,
  • we have a unique flexible finish policy that makes it easier for you to get the funds you raised,
  • we have a low fee structure that intentionally supports early stage ideas and small projects,
  • we host webinars specifically designed to support environmental leaders.

3. ioby is more than a funding platform. We call ioby crowd-resourcing because we want you to get all the resources you need for a successful project. We connect you to other civic leaders, host meetings and discussions to support thought leadership in local solutions and civic engagement, and bring you into a community of peer learning through our Recipes for Change toolkit. 

4. You know what's best for your neighborhood. All projects that are good for the environment, good for the community and make no profit are eligible to use ioby. 

What can I do to help ioby?

Many things!

1. You can start a project of your own at ioby.org/idea
2. You can donate to any project of your choice.
3. You can help us spread the word by becoming an ioby ambassador!

Who can use ioby?

Errbody! You don't have to be anyone special to donate, volunteer or lead a great idea into action.

What's my password?

Did you lose your password? Happens to us all the time. No worries. At the top of the page look for a button that says "get a new password." If that doesn't work, give us a call at 917-464-4515 or email us at info@ioby.org.

Can I invite my friends and family to become donors?

You bet! Share what you have learned on ioby and build your own network of ioby donors and volunteers through your user login page. ioby projects depend on the collective action of many people. Only together can we be part of great environmental change.

Is there an evaluation and monitoring plan for the projects?

Yes. All project groups are required to post regular updates of their progress on their project's blog. When the project is completed, groups are required to submit a project evaluation and final expense report to ioby so that we can ensure the projects are completed as described in the project application, timeline, and budget.  It is very important to us that we hold our projects accountable, because this builds trust with you, their best supporter.

I don't much extra money right now, but I do have a big heart.

Sounds like you're our kind of people. Donations as small as $1 are still very meaningful, but if that's still tough, we understand. We always need extra help, whether you have time to share, an old computer or party planning skills. We encourage you to find projects on ioby that need volunteers but we're also happy to have help around the ioby office, making seedballs, tabling at garden conferences or planting signs around your neighborhood.

Who else is donating?

Other donors can be anyone who cares about the environment or cares about his or her neighborhood -- from your neighbor to someone in another borough or another state.  With this new site, you are now able to see the profiles of other donors and talk to them about environmental change in your neighborhood.

I don't live in New York. Can I still donate?

Absolutely! If a project you see on ioby is meaningful to you, please, donate to support it.  Finding success in New York City, we hope to bring ioby to other cities that have great environmental work underway at the local level.  If you're curious about when ioby might come to your backyard email us at info@ioby.org.

What is gratuity?

The ioby gratuity is optional, but crucial. When you check this box, we'll add 20% (similar to a restaurant gratuity) to your ioby donation. Your donation (all of it) still funds the project you picked. But your gratuity keeps ioby's lights on, our computers running, and our rent up to date. So check the box! and help us to continue creating grassroots change in your backyards.

How are projects funded?

Projects on ioby are funded by people just like you, people who care about the environment and care about their neighborhoods. ioby.org allows lots of people making small donations to have a big impact. Anyone might be a potential donor: you, your neighbor, or someone across the country who finds the projects on our site meaningful for one reason or another.

What is ioby?

ioby connects donors and volunteers to local environmental projects in their neighborhoods through an online crowd-resourcing platform. ioby is an environmental nonprofit organization. Our name is derived from the opposite of NIMBY. We have a mission to deepen civic  engagement in cities by connecting individuals directly to community-led, neighbor-funded environmental projects in their neighborhoods. We do this primarily through our web-based crowd-resourcing platform.