History
In 2002, Pedro and Nicole Carta traveled to Tanzania to volunteer at the Boona-Baana Center for Children’s Rights, a local project assisting orphaned and vulnerable children in Dar es Salaam. After experiencing first-hand the positive impact of the Center and the diverse challenges and opportunities that can arise in developing countries, Pedro and Nicole decided to find a way to continue to support Boona-Baana and its local leadership from abroad. One year later, World Action for Humanity was created in San Francisco, California, with the goal of engaging a network of supporters from around the world committed to advancing truly grassroots projects in developing countries.
Vision
World Action is committed to supporting the professional development of our partners and the sustainability of their projects. As such, we focus on generating contributions to support the overall operating expenses for our partner projects. We have found – although well-intended – earmarked donations often steer resources away from priority needs. Our partners work in dynamic environments that present a broad range of challenges and opportunities to make a positive impact, and we believe their practical experience enables them to understand how best to allocate funding to accomplish their mission. This approach also supports our commitment to sustainability by fostering the innate decision making process needed to achieve successful and sustainable outcomes at the local level.
Impact
To date, World Action and its global network of supporters have raised more than $300,000 to support over 800 children and community members at its three partner projects. As World Action is supported by an all-volunteer effort, 100% of every contribution raised goes directly to our partners.
Who We Are
World Action is run entirely by a dedicated board of volunteer directors.
Operations
World Action’s 2009 operating budget is $85,000. Each year, we raise 70 to 80 percent of our partner project’s budgets through local fundraising events and individual donors. World Action receives no governmental or large institutional support; our programs are supported entirely by individual contributions and a number of family and community-based foundations. More than 95 percent of our income is allocated for program support – the remainder of which is generously underwritten by our board to cover World Action’s minimal operating costs and wire transfer fees. World Action for Humanity is registered in California as a not-for-profit public benefit corporation and is tax-exempt under U.S. federal and California state law, tax ID number 20-0275231.