Back from the Ashoka Future Forum in Pune!

Sriram and I went to the Ashoka Future Forum namely to network with the Ashoka Fellows doing amazing work in their field. From there, we'd figure out ways to support their initiative. Though the conference was 3 days, we were invited to the one that opened the event to guests on the 28th. 

In my very selfish dream world, all of the fellows would have been divided by their general field and we'd all listen to a short pitch of what they do. Then we'd narrow down the list, collect contact information, and figure out if KC is a good match for working with the Fellow. 

But of course, this didn't quite happen. 

The conference taught us a few important lessons:

1) We're not a good match for what some Ashoka Fellows and social entrepreneurs need. Simply put, many are at either advanced stages of their mission, or their projects require much more money than what we can give. 

2) Some may find project facilitation more trouble than it's worth. Bringing someone onboard takes a lot of work--the recipient must introduce the outsider to the project, align them with the goals, and then make everyone see eye to eye about the project's direction. One Ashoka Fellow chuckled when he heard how much we'd contribute to a project and said, "it'd cost us five times more in time and HR just to bring on a facilitator."

3) We're a perfect match for what other Ashoka Fellows and social entrepreneurs need. On one panel, we listened to a "reverse pitch," or, investors explaining why it's a good idea to accept money from them. Some investors were willing to issue sizable sums to proven, for-profit models that can scale easily and quickly. This model excludes the mission of several entrepreneurs who are doing great work, but have no intentions to scale and whose profitability will never be enticing to these types of investors. 

For example, there's very little scalability or profit incentive to a Fellow whose main work is providing after school programs in rural Gujarat in an effort to reduce drug use amongst kids. And yet, these are great initiatives. 

4) Proven models are often the most expensive from an investor perspective. Simply put, a lakh goes a long way for someone trying to develop a concept, but doesn't make a dent for those who are up and running with a good model. It's sort of like the stock market--new, unproven companies have cheap stocks, whereas established companies have costlier stocks. 

Likewise, KC investing small sums in new-ish initiatives carries risk: the idea could fail, lose momentum, the entrepreneur could find that the market's saturated... while failures are valuable, they don't look very good when we have to publish those glossy brochures indicating what we've achieved. 

5) Partnerships have a lot in common with marriage. Learning about the needs of the Ashoka Fellows was humbling--after hearing about the needs of a few groups, we realized some of them would be a poor fit. Personality differences, budget needs, scale and scope, and location are just a few impediments.

6) One can do a lot on very little. Often in your own backyard. Trite phrases, perhaps, but it's a damn important thing to remember when you feel overwhelmed by the needs (and subsequent price tags) of the community. When wondering where to start, we see that we don't have to go very far. In fact, it was only by going to this conference that we found out there was a social entrepreneurship network taking place in Auroville by one fellow. And so we begin!

Dog Tag Metal Stamping Program

This idea's been percolating in my head for some time now. I actually sent out feelers with some animal welfare groups in Chennai and got good reception, but hesitated for a few reasons described below. Now, however, I'm ready to jump back in.

The problem:
A huge problem is that of lost dogs--microchipping isn't very common, and customized dog tags are expensive. Machinery is pricey, and few places offer such customized service. Unfortunately, a number of pets run away and, without proper ID, are seldom returned. When people see dogs roaming the streets here, they're assumed to be strays because of their prevalence. A pet appears no different than a nomadic dog.

A solution:
Metal stamped dog tags.

These are becoming pretty popular in the US, where artisans sell them on crafts websites like Etsy.com. Making a metal stamped collar is reasonably simple, as it only requires hammering letters onto a metal blank. 

An even cheaper solution is to use an etching tool, which is also faster. The results of using such a tool, however, are not as aesthetically pleasing. Plus, etching tools require more skill (and a steady hand at that). I think metal stamping is the better choice, especially when assessing the possibility of such tags as a fundraising tool (more on that below).

The costs:
Metal stamping kits, namely. I'll write a formal budget for the project as it comes near, but I conservatively estimate two kits costing about $250, plus 500 blanks and sheet metal to practice at another $200 or so. Let's say it's $500 to get the ball rolling.

Each dog tag, then, would cost about $1 (likely cheaper, as I can likely procure materials for far less).

The good news is that the kits are the most expensive cost but they're upfront and fixed. The variable costs are relatively low (ie, the metal blanks, and labor since that'll come from the volunteers). 

As a nonprofit, then, I have to ask myself the bottom line question: would I be willing to spend $1 to issue an ID tag? At the end of the day this is the question in its most diluted form. I answer yes.

Potential problems:
The single biggest reason why I shied away from implementing this back in December was the risk of theft. To say India is a resource scarce society is an understatement--if people find anything of value, there's a chance it'll be pilfered. I described my idea to one woman and she said, "good luck making that work. I put collars on two strays, and both had the collars go missing in a course of weeks."

Thus, there's a huge concern that the shiny, cute metal-stamped collars will get removed. And without letter blocks in Tamil, it's even more difficult to write, "reward" and convey that this means they'll get paid if they turn in the dogs to their owner.

Another potential problem is the metal kits themselves going missing. I'm not insinuating that a volunteer would steal the kits, only that a letter or two gets misplaced on accident. If the customer wants to name their pet "Lucky" and the "c" goes missing, well, we're in a bit of trouble. Though I visit the US every year and can replace a few things as necessary, it's a giant headache waiting for a year to re-engage with the program. It's also very hard to purchase individual letters since the kits are sold with the entire alphabet.

Another obvious issue is that each animal needs a collar for the tag. While these are easier to source than dog tags, they're still an additional item necessary for the ID tag to be effective. Thus, the tags could get distributed... but there's no guarantee that the pet owner who receives the tag will go out and buy a collar. Even in my own home it's amazing how long my mother waited before putting her dog tags on her own pet. A way of circumventing this is to have the owner pay for a collar and have it be delivered with the metal stamped ID tag. Unfortunately, this is harder to market and way less fun than touting, "free dog tag for every adopted pet!"

Fancy dog tags could sell for more

Pricing too high might also be an issue. While adopted pets should get them for free, the nonprofit (and possible for-profit) organization has more latitude with selling them as a possible fundraiser. Though the revenue should help make the program sustainable, I don't want the price set so high that it discourages people from buying tags... as this would defeat the whole purpose of the program (which is ID'ing as many dogs as possible).

Method of distribution:
This is where working with organizations is key: a few organizations have animal adoption drives, and the aim would be to issue a stamped tag to every pet that gets a new family on the big day. Adopted animals would get a tag for free.

At these adoption fairs, it's also possible sell the dog tags as a type of fundraiser at these adoption events. They can go as gifts, or to buy a tag for an existing pet at home. Sell a tag for 150 rs ($3.00) and that's a 200 percent profit for the organization. It's possible to increase the price based on adding beads or designer stamps, too. Some of the profits can go for buying more metal blanks and hence subsidize the program, while some of it can go to the organization's operations.

Other animal welfare groups may have metal stamping kits for their own animals. For instance, Blue Cross has a strong fostering program. Making tags that read "foster" with a number to the Blue Cross hotline is one way to make a dog ID that can be repurposed many times over. If the dog gets adopted out, the "foster" ID tag can be reused while a new one could be made for the family permanently adopting the pets.

This venture could be commercialized as well, though more cautions need to be taken with this route. On the one hand, pet businesses often have the best infrastructure for distribution and marketing: for example, businesses have a website capable of taking orders, whereas animal rights groups tend not to. On the other hand, I'm not entirely comfortable with a for-profit group taking away potential proceeds from a non-profit. The good news is, the sale price can be negotiated so long as KarmaCompany's the one procuring the metal stamping materials. As it stands, procurement is very difficult because such kits are not available here in India. This means that, as the sole distributor, something could be worked out, such as giving some of the proceeds to one of the animal welfare groups. With a commercial partnership, I still want to do everything to give the most advantage to non-profit groups.

Sustainability and the future:
This program is quite sustainable for a few reasons: first, the metal blanks are pretty cheap relative to its possible price tag. To break even, one must sell 1 tag at 100 Rs to make 2 tags for free; 1 tag at 150 Rs to make 3 for free. For animal welfare groups that choose only to sell the tags as a fundraiser, then the profit margins can be quite high.  

Stamp training

Timeline and to-do list: 
--Gather interest and support from other animal welfare groups: I sent out a few emails to two groups: Chennai Adoption Drive, and Blue Cross. Both have a high number of volunteers and a long history of service to the community. Both were also interested. Ideally, the pilot goes to Chennai Adoption Drive: it's smaller, easier to set up, and results are easier to quantify.
--Devise budget: this means researching what materials are necessary for stamping, and in what quantity based on the interested parties. 
--Procure materials: This means shopping around for kits and blanks, and looking for the best deals.
--Construct a training program: I've never metal-stamped in my life. But I know there are several tutorials available online, and I'm willing to learn. Once I learn, I can then assemble packets, create a syllabus, and a PowerPoint to teach to the volunteers over the course of an afternoon. I'll start by making two tags for my own mutts, and then I'll practice the course on Sriram to see if I need to clarify on a few points.
--Train volunteers: each course should only take an hour, maybe two. The training course itself might cost additional funds, as I need a space with a projector and I might splurge on buying the dedicated volunteers a decent lunch.
--Devise pricing scheme: Fancier dog tags could cost more--they could have colored beads, additional charms, interesting designs... we'll have to work with the organization to find the best price points. This will also be subject to plenty of trial and error. 
--Develop a course of action: Let's say the adoption fair comes and we need to make 40 dog tags. Is there a schedule in place for who will do the stamping? Is there a check-out for the stamping kits? How will the tags be distributed to the new owners--by mail, pick up, or delivery? This requires fleshing out, mostly by the organization doing the stamping. KarmaCompany could help facilitate this part, but such a schedule must ultimately be determined by the nonprofit.

Measuring impact:
Some measures are stronger than others. We could technically measure it by the number of blanks purchased with the inference that each blank will go to a pet. But this a very weak measurement. The next step is how may ID tags get stamped and delivered--probably the one we'll use, although it's not the strongest measurement of impact. Considering the objective is to prevent lost dogs, the absolute best measurement is the number of dogs returned to their rightful owner as a result of the dog tag. But this is also the hardest to gauge, and also the one that would generate the most defeat. After all, I only expect maybe 10 dogs to get returned for every 1,000 tags created: 1 percent impact.

But it's like insurance--the very act of having access to it is tremendously beneficial, even if the number of people who cash in on said insurance is only 1 in 100.

Let's get this gang ID'd

The next step from here:
Well, I'm meeting with a pet store owner who has connections with a few animal welfare groups. I also need to get back in touch with the founder of the Chennai Adoption Drive to re-engage her interest on the project.

I'm doing my homework now to figure out which ones to order, and in the process, formulate a budget. In August, I'll be in the States and can pick up the metal stamping kits. Training workshops can begin in September, and the first distribution may begin during an adoption drive occurring in the subsequent months. Will keep the blog updated during these next steps!

Deciding on our Mission

If you were to ask us what our plans were for KarmaCompany two years ago, Sriram's answer would've been something like this: "We're going to recruit skilled volunteers from various outreach groups with nonprofits."

If you were to ask a year ago, it would've been "We're going to hire staff members who are experts in their field: business managers, designers, and fundraisers. Then we'll give select nonprofits a 'makeover' to improve their operations."

And me? Well, I wanted to do something with animals. And gender equality. But I hadn't a clue how--or if--this fit in with what Sriram wanted to do.

To say our mission changed over the years would clearly be an understatement.

Which brings me to our first point:

Know thyself
Finding our perfect mission meant figuring our skills and passions. For me, I wanted to do meaningful work with animal rights organizations and figure out a way to even the clear gender divide here in India.

For Sriram, the man is one of the best social connectors you'll ever meet. His iPhone has about 1,000+ contacts, and he's brazen about calling people up for meetings and get-togethers. He's also exceptionally good at asking for things.

Both of us love coming up with ideas, and on our good days, we can figure out a clear outline on how to make it happen.

Know thy resources
We had to get a clear idea of what we could contribute financially and with our time. We assessed our budget, and how much time we could dedicate to the organization--interestingly, we found that we were more willing to give financially than with time. This left us in a bit of a quandary: we wanted to make our own organization happen, but there was a gnawing feeling in my mind that perhaps I simply wasn't willing to put in the work, or that I couldn't put in the work.

Suffice it to say, this revelation bothered me a bit. Until... it dawned on us that we could collaborate with existing organizations that are already doing amazing work in the field. This way, we could commit money AND time; a win-win situation.

Given our ratio between time and money, it made perfect sense to use this model.

Know thy limits
Of course... we're far from perfect. While we love coming up with ideas, neither of us want to dedicate ourselves to any one project or mission. This was one of the hardest things for me when it came to getting started--I wanted to build community gardens... but I didn't know if I wanted to dedicate every waking moment to that vision. I wanted to build an animal shelter... but what would happen if we were to move to a new city, or a new country? Plus, I felt like I had to choose one thing over the other.

Besides our attention deficit disorder, there were other limitations: we love traveling. Both of us were concerned that starting an organization would curtail our travels due to our responsibilities to the mission and to a possible team of employees.

These were clear limits for us, and one way we adapted to both was by having a number of focus areas (to keep life spicy) and have it project based so there was a clear start and end date.

And so, it was with these things in mind that we formulated our mission. All of it came from a fusion of our passions, strengths, and yes, even our weaknesses. Thus was born KarmaCompany. =)

Running a Non-Profit

As much as we'd love to present ourselves as a perfectly-manicured, fine-tuned nonprofit machine, we'd be lying to you. Yes, we have glossy business cards and a newsletter filled with the right buzzwords. But running an organization is an imprecise science filled with trial and error, and KarmaCompany is no different.

We invite you to look inside our virtual doors to view our operations, not because we think we have all of the answers (au contraire) but to learn from our mistakes and perhaps inspire you to take the plunge into the nonprofit world.

Deciding on our area of focus
Working on a shoe-string budget
Making a nonprofit website and design
Making videos for your nonprofit

eCow Summer Tech Program Site Visit

To get a brief overview of this program, visit our website at KarmaCompany.org

This past Tuesday, Sriram and I drove about two hours from bustling Chennai to the coastal village of Kadapakkam. There, sits a children's home run by the East West Foundation of India. While this sounds like the start of a sad story filled with tales of teary-eyed children and squalid conditions, such cannot be said about the Uluru children's home. Instead, beautiful, bright buildings sit amidst green, tranquil gardens with water bodies (complete with Buddha statues donated by a Japanese foundation). The 40 or so children living there are fed nourishing meals and have a strict yet well-rounded schedule consisting of studies, movie nights, and even the occasional karate class. 

Ambitions of the East West Foundation of India run high for the children's homes: when we came, they just completed a boy's dormitory--I nudged my husband and said if our future home looks half as nice as the dorms, I'd be happy. Between lush, breezy views and stone work finishes, the conditions rival that of any expensive school. Also planned are separate learning centers, solar-paneled kitchens, and open amphitheaters. Having met the founder, Dr. Chandran, we don't doubt his team's ability to achieve these things given the home's amazing transformation since his involvement in 2001. 

The purpose of our visit was to follow up on the eCow summer tech program. While the bus--loaded with laptops and computer education programs--is utilized for the children during the school year, it sits idle during the summer hours. This is why the foundation decided to put it to good use by offering a computer class for residents of neighboring villages, as well as a few of the children there who wish to further their studies. 

Of course, every program has its issues: ones where we say, "we should've done that differently," or, "I completely didn't see that happening." The eCow summer tech program? No different.

Obstacles:

Program's timing: It's difficult to expect ANY student to want to study in the summer, and it's also a prime time for vacations. As such, there were a few dropouts. 

Possible solutions:

We strongly recommended charging a fee for the course. Yes, this may cause some to bristle, but hear me out: the amount of the fee doesn't matter: it could be 10 rupees or 1,000 rupees. Charging for the program wouldn't be to make it sustainable or to make money for the nonprofit. Instead, charging a course fee makes the students have skin in the game. Humans generally value what they pay for, but not as much for what's given free. The amount wouldn't be cost-prohibitive, and reasoned that the appropriate amount is somewhere near 50 rupees (appx 1 dollar). 

The other idea to strengthen incentives is a type of scholarship program, whereupon they pay for the course but then are reimbursed if their attendance and marks meet a set standard. 

Other issues:

When talking with the program director, Vijay Kumar, he mentioned that most of the attendees don't have computers in their homes. Thus, practicing was difficult, as was continuing computer use at home.  

Technically speaking, this is an issue. While it'd be easy for us to think, "great, then what's the point?" there are actually several benefits of even short-term computer use. For one, their mind opens to the possibilities of what's out there: sending emails, getting information at the tip of one's fingers. Many of us with such tools take this knowledge for granted. Secondly, students of the computer courses will likely be more receptive to what their children may learn in schools by virtue of their own, new-found familiarity with computers. Ideally, the next generation (even in remote villages such as these) will be using computers as a part of their school work. Instead of parents fearing or discouraging using such tools based on their own lack of understanding, basic community courses like these allows them to see the benefits of technology. 

Language barriers:

The software outfitted on each computer was in English, which isn't well-understood by the locals. Though English is taught in all of the schools, it's not spoken frequently in the villages, nor is the quality guaranteed. While the language could be outfitted to Tamil, this wouldn't be a realistic reflection of what they'd experience in cyber cafes, schools, or universities... as all of the computers are in English there. 

Language discrepancies also made for different skill levels. While some students spent time creating resumes using their existing English skills, others could only learn the symbols of the keyboard and how to open and close Word documents. 

Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot that can be done to overcome these issues. Perhaps in the future, a few laptops could be designated in Tamil, while the rest in English. Thus, a 65-year-old villager with no intentions of going to university could learn the basics and use the internet, while a 17-year-old girl could expand her skills by using the time to format and write documents. 

In the future:

Next year, we'll look closely at fee options and the possibility of expansion. Maybe a third shift could happen, thus accommodating 20 more students. Plus, another shift could happen at the in-house computer lab at the children's home.