Terms & Conditions
The American Open Challenge is for approved project participants to generate donations for their projects between June 8, 2009 (12:01 EDT) and June 30, 2009 (11:59 pm EDT).
Earning a Place on GlobalGiving
ANY approved project that is able to raise a minimum of $4,000 and at least 50 unique donors will be invited to remain on the GlobalGiving website. These projects will be eligible to continue receiving donations from the general public, private and corporate foundations through www.globalgiving.com. Once the project is part of the GlobalGiving.com community, the rules and expectations of the GlobalGiving marketplace must be met (e.g. regular progress reporting to donors, etc.).
Additional Bounty Prizes
The top three fundraising projects (most dollars raised) will receive supplementary cash bonuses from GlobalGiving of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. The project with the greatest number of unique donors will be awarded a bonus of $3,000. Please note that projects must meet the threshold requirement for earning a spot on the site to be eligible for these additional prizes (i.e. $4,000 from 50 separate people.)
In the event that multiple projects competing in the American Open Challenge are "tied" as far as funds raised, the project with the most unique donors will be considered the leader.
Bounty awards will be disbursed, along with all funds raised, within 30 days of the Challenge’s conclusion.
Conditions for Donations
Online donations will be accepted through 11: 59 pm EDT on June 30, 2009. Checks received through June 29 will be included in the Challenge and will count towards the number of unique donors for each project. Checks received after June 29 will be applied to the indicated project, but will not count towards the threshold for qualification or the bounty. Checks should be made payable to the GlobalGiving Foundation and should clearly indicate the project to which the funds should be applied.
Please note that we are not able to accept cash donations. Two checks issued from the same bank account will be counted as one unique donor. The same credit card may be used for multiple donations however this will count as one unique donor. Please be aware that we will be monitoring activity to assure fairness for all participants. Similarly, online donations are considered unique if they are made from separate email addresses. Please note that GlobalGiving maintains the right to make a final decision on all matters concerning the adjudication of unique donors and final results of the American Open.
What is the American Open?
The American Open is a great opportunity for new projects, based and working in the United States, to join the GlobalGiving community. Through the American Open Challenge - which runs from June 8 - 30th, projects will use the GlobalGiving platform to raise at least $4,000 from 50 donors. If they are successful, they will earn a "permanent" spot on the GlobalGiving website, enabling them to continue to leverage new donor networks, technology, and partner relationships, and expand their fundraising presence online.
In addition to earning a spot on GlobalGiving, projects meeting the the donation thresholds can compete for additional awards: the three projects receiving the most funding will receive additional awards of $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000, respectively; the project receiving the most number of donations will receive an additional $3,000. Track the results real-time on the American Open Leaderboard!
Did you miss the entry deadline for the American Open, but still want to participate?
GlobalGiving hosts "Open" Challenge events like this periodically, with another tentatively scheduled for the late summer/early fall time frame in 2009. Register your interest today and refer your organization ’s project. We will notify you in advance of the Challenge about requirements and the due diligence you will need to submit.
Winning Projects
Lisa Greenman
Washington, DC
Teaching Children with Autism in Washington, DC
Global Giving has propelled us forward.
The Take 2 Camp helps children with Aspergers and High Functioning Autism learn how to make and be friends, and overcome loneliness and isolation, using the most recent advances in autism research.
Barbara Bellissimo
Palo Alto, CA
Send 173 youth to entrepreneurship camp
Through GlobalGiving’s American Open, BUILD has finally been able to leverage the Internet to increase investments in our students.
BUILD Launch Camp is an intensive 3-day camp that provides 10th graders with the tools and skills needed to start their own businesses, plus leadership, teambuilding and conflict resolution skills.
Kelsi Ramdeo
Richmond, Virginia
School Needs for 180 U.S. Inner City Children
Participating in the American Open has been a fantastic experience for Children, Incorporated! We are so excited to have had the opportunity to share our story and cause with wonderful people who support our work and understand how important the small things are.
Children, Incorporated will pair 180 inner city children with mentors to shop for school supplies, two school outfits, and shoes for a successful year of learning and positive change.
Adam Levner
Washington, DC
Teaching Photography & Advocacy to D.C. Youth
The GlobalGiving Challenge has been a great way for Critical Exposure to engage and expand our circle of supporters while raising vital funds to strengthen our efforts to empower at-risk youth through photography and advocacy training
Critical Exposure will provide digital cameras and training to 100 youth in Washington, DC, empowering them to use their photography and voices to build public support for social change.
Liz Roy
New York, NY
Keep high risk inner-city students in school
Partnership with Children is thrilled to take part in the American Open challenge. The competition offers an excellent means for non-profits like ours to connect with donors globally, raise funds for our projects and gain visibility for our mission to support the social and emotional needs of at-risk children so that they can succeed in school, in society and in life. – Liz Roy, Communications and Community Outreach Manager, Partnership with Children
Walking the Path builds literacy and technology skills in high-risk middle and high students, giving them the opportunity to address the personal challenges they face and the confidence to overcome these hurdles to achieve success in school, society and life.
Facts About GlobalGiving
Over $19.3 million in donations since 2002.
Over 1,340 projects have received funding to date.
More than 49,000 unique donors.
Featured In
Partnered With
How GlobalGiving Works
GlobalGiving is an online marketplace for philanthropy that connects you to grassroots projects all over the world.
Watch the video.
