Introduction

Welcome to Common Change! We’re thrilled that you are interested in exploring collaborative giving. This handbook tells you everything you need to know about how Common Change works, starting a group, and submitting and discussing requests. If we’ve left anything out, drop us an email at [e-mail] Remember you can also always instant message chat with us while on Common Change by clicking the chat box at the bottom right of your screen.

Common Change was born out of a vision that still guides us: that there is enough for all who inhabit the planet. 9 years ago we started with one group in an experiment for six months. We simply asked, “What if we each contributed to a common fund and as we see needs in the lives of those around us, we figured out ways we could collectively meet those needs? We could lend our expertise, provide friendship and support for people suffering, or give money out of our common fund!”

This one group of friends found that, together, they could change lives. They have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to help those friends, family, coworkers and neighbors who were in desperate need. But beyond the money, they opened their homes to house the homeless, they helped disadvantaged teens find jobs, and they helped young adults start over.

In order to make this amazing experience possible for more people, Common Change invested in a web- based platform to make it easy for people to set up a fund, donate to their fund, submit needs, weigh-in on needs and ultimately meet the needs of the people in their lives. Generous people are able to see where their giving goes. They are confident that the money and time they give is transforming lives.

Common Change is built around genuine relationships, with the hope to connect people and their resources with people in their life. This is more than charity or benevolence; this is about a call to friendship.

With anticipation,

The Common Change Team