Social media helps us connect to and organize with charities and causes we feel strongest about. Thanks to this medium, giving is easier, and some say more satisfying, than what was thought possible even a few years ago. The newest example of gathering people to do good works is Civic Rush, an online concept founded by software designer and CEO Ed Bouryng and debuting in Lexington on Oct. 12.
“The idea behind Civic Rush is to create a network that impacts communities. We focus on three things — the giving of time, money and body,” said Andrew Beck, who had worked for Bouryng’s Metaformers public-sector enterprise solutions firm and was reassigned earlier this year to the Civic Rush project as a co-founder, along with Todd Willey. “Time is volunteering, money is donating, and body is the giving of things like blood, bone marrow, a kidney or even hair to make wigs for cancer survivors.”
When fully activated, the Civic Rush website will recommend dozens of volunteer opportunities. Based on people’s interests and causes, it will allow them to volunteer or donate. Beck believes it will revolutionize the way people interact to give.
The website, still in development, carries this message: “Civic Rush matches you up with volunteering opportunities that you'll love. We'll find the perfect nonprofit event or need that fits your interests, lifestyle and schedule — so easy, so fun, so good.”
Co-founders Andrew Beck and Todd Willey, whose experience is in cloud technology and electronic claims and health-care billing, began developing Civic Rush earlier this year and are currently setting up future events ahead of the kick-off in two weeks. The event will be held downtown at the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion. The Civic Rush team has extended an open invitation to central Kentuckians.
“We’ll celebrate the launch of Civic Rush and celebrate our charitable partners and their successes,” Beck said.
Beck offers another example of how people can use their time for the greater good. Someone might set up a Fourth of July cookout as a charitable event and ask people to volunteer for various roles such as barbecue pit master, lawn mower, with others to bring food. Or the site may organize a river cleanup and list assignments that need to be filled.
“For a Susan G. Komen for the Cure walk, people would be needed to hand out water, give medals, handle the timing; things like that. Or you ask people to walk or ask others to sponsor you,” he said.
Civic Rush brings community members together for closer community action.
Obviously, the bills must be paid to keep this effort going. Beck said he has 11 employees. Civic Rush’s revenue generation model includes a small administration fee based on the amount of donations received.
“It is the lowest rate we know of in the marketplace for similar services,” he said.
Kyna Koch, former commissioner of finance for the city of Lexington, is trying to bring more affordable housing to the community. She met Beck when he came here to work on a project for the city.
“I have done a lot of work with Andrew in the past and was always impressed with his level of commitment to whatever he was doing. When they told me about the software development for Civic Rush, it piqued my interest,” explained Koch.
Koch said Civic Rush links people throughout central Kentucky. She’s lived here her entire adult life and believes this is a giving and caring community.
“There are organizations and nonprofits that need volunteers, and not just money,” she said. “There really are not many ways, in a single place, to know what is out there and who needs your help. While Andrew is excited about the monetary giving part of it, the greater opportunity is to bring people together to serve.”
Beck explained that people can also support their causes through local payroll deductions. Civic Rush makes it easier for employers because the companies won’t have to keep track of and funnel cash donations from their workers to many different causes. Civic Rush manages the chore for them.
“Those payroll deductions are credited to a person’s Civic Rush account, and the employee is then free to donate their funds however they see fit,” Beck revealed.
The initial marketing focus will be on Kentucky charities but will eventually expand to any one of 1.2 million-plus charities across the United States.
Koch is chair of the Lexington Housing Authority, so housing is topmost in her mind. “Mayor [Jim] Gray has named a task force on homelessness, and that is a huge issue facing us,” Koch said. “I am also working with folks on domestic violence. What are the biggest needs here? We have many to be met.”
The nation’s fundraising groups have been hurt by the recession but seem to be pulling out of the doldrums, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, which expected contributions to grow by a median of 4.7 percent this year, after a median 3.5 percent gain last year.
Grassroots volunteerism and fundraising seem to be on the rise, and social media is leading the charge.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for Lexington. I know that we will use it, and in coming years we will understand as a community what it was able to do for us,” Koch said. “It will be very measurable.”