3 chapters across the catalog
Two years after the Haitian earthquake, hundreds of thousands remain in tent camps while billions in aid money remain unaccounted for. The fundraising platform CrowdRise, supported by celebrities like Sean Penn and Sarah Silverman, is criticized for "gamifying" charity and charging high transaction fees. The organization is described as a money-making venture that uses celebrity raffles to distract from the lack of transparency regarding where the funds are actually spent.
Edward Norton UN Biodiversity Ambassador, CrowdRise Platform
Actor Edward Norton is featured in a United Nations campaign for the International Year of Biodiversity. The hosts critique Norton's delivery and the underlying "tipping point" rhetoric of the UN report. They investigate CrowdRise, a charitable platform co-founded by Norton, noting that it takes a percentage of donations as a for-profit entity.
The financial structure of online donation platforms like CrowdRise and Network for Good is examined. The hosts point out that these organizations collect significant fees from charitable transactions, including those for Haiti relief. They question the transparency of how funds are distributed to various NGOs and non-profits.
