20 companies fighting poverty
2022-02-09
Confido
8 minutes
Each year here at Confido we choose four of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to support through our impact initiatives. In 2021, one of the goals we chose was ‘No Poverty’ - ‘end poverty in all its forms, everywhere.
While strides were being made toward this goal the COVID-19 pandemic had damaging effects, pushing an additional 119-124 million more people back into poverty. The UN’s goal was to eradicate global poverty by 2030, but current estimates now predict 7% of the world’s population will be living in poverty in 2030.
But we can’t give up hope yet, not with so many people working to improve the lives of those living in poverty, including these 20 companies:
Entrepreneurship & employment
About: World Hope knows that hard work does not always create the opportunities communities need to thrive and escape poverty. That’s why they collaborate with private sector members at the grassroot and global trading level to give the access to markets and finances needed to support start-ups and provide services needed in the community like power clean water, etc. These businesses also go on to create opportunities for future generations and prevent them from falling back into poverty.
Location: London, UK
Company size: 201-500
Funding: N/A
About: Village Enterprise works throughout Africa to end extreme poverty using their solution to create entrepreneurs and community leaders. They train community members in the skills needed to create sustainable businesses that are key to permanently breaking the cycle of poverty in their community. They focus on training women and educating the youth, as well as supporting refugees in their program. They have helped start 58,000 businesses and train 214,000 first-time entrepreneurs.
Location: San Carlos, California
Company size: 51-100
Funding: N/A
About: Trickle Up believes the solution to poverty is entrepreneurship. From the very beginning in 1979, Trickle Up has been providing seed capital grants of $100 to women in poverty-stricken regions to start businesses. The founders saw this as a more sustainable way to make a difference and fight poverty by helping women obtain a hopefully long-term income as well as give them the chance to save money and share their knowledge. Trickle Up has helped over 1.5 million people who have in turn helped their community.
Location: New York, US
Company size: 11-50
Funding: N/A
About: CARE International works around the globe fighting poverty by putting women and girls at the centre of the solution, not only because poverty cannot be ended until equal rights and opportunities have been achieved, but because when you empower women and girls, they in turn help bring their families and community out of poverty. In 2020, CARE reached 92.3 million people (73% were women and girls) through the projects and initiatives created by CARE and their private sector partners.
Location: London, UK
Company size: 51-200
Funding: N/A
About: Street Child provides support of all kinds, from children’s education and counselling to business training and mentoring, for families in poverty-stricken regions across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Their mission is to give every child a chance at a safe and happy life.
Location: London, UK
Company size: 11-50
Funding: N/A
About: Beam is a crowdfunding platform that raises money to get those experiencing homelessness the training they need to obtain stable work and support themselves. Through their platform they have raised nearly £3,000,000 thanks to over 25,500 supporters (including former Beam beneficiaries) and have successfully provided career support and training to 901 individuals.
Location: London, UK
Company size: 11-50
Funding: N/A
About: With Change Please, a cup of coffee can change someone’s life. Change Please wanted to create a win-win solution for the homelessness crisis and coffee was the solution. 100% of their profits made from selling coffee goes towards the homeless. They provide a living wage job, housing, training, and onwards opportunities. Their coffee has supported over 250 people. As of their last Seed round in May 2018, Change Please has raised a total of $350k in funding over 1 round.
Location: London, UK
Company size: 1-10
Funding: $350k
Women & children
About: Orphans in Need cares for more than 30,000 orphans and their families in 14 countries. They are focused on providing sustainable solutions to help those most in need. Orphans in Need provide areas facing poverty with regular food parcels, access to education, medical attention, and safe and caring homes for orphans. They want to create a world where a loving environment where everyone can be happier and healthier is the norm.
Location: Bradford, UK
Company size: 11-50
Funding: N/A
About: Hey Girls was started by a mother and her daughters after they experienced period poverty. It has now grown into a social enterprise operating in Scotland and Norfolk, UK, as well as Sydney, Australia that works with over 200 partners to distribute the period products they donate for every purchase. They have donated more than 14.9 million period products since they were started helping not only fight period poverty but help provide period dignity as well.
Location: Musselburgh, East Lothian, UK
Company size: 11-50
Funding: N/A
About: World Vision is focusing on ending poverty at its roots by supporting children that are most vulnerable regardless of where they are. World Vision works alongside local communities to help provide their needs of education, healthcare, protection, income opportunities and more. The goal is to help families become self-sufficient, healthy, and empowered to remain out of poverty.
Location: London, UK
Company size: 101-250
Funding: N/A
About: Love Welcomes is a creative social enterprise that sells upcycled home décor made by refugee women and provides training to women refugees. They also provide additional support to refugee camps including support for micro-businesses.
Location: London, UK
Company size: 51-200
Funding: N/A
About: Cuddle + Kind was created to help feed children. Each of their dolls are created by an artisan in Peru, and not only provides a source of income for their artisans, but for every doll sold Cuddle + Kind donates 10 meals to children across the world. They have donated over 20 million meals to children in over 65 countries.
Location: Ontario, Canada
Company size: 11-50
Funding: N/A
About: #EndChildFoodPoverty was started by Marcus Rashford to raise awareness about the 2.5 million UK children experiencing food poverty, and to push the government into doing something about it. They created a petition signed by over a million people which has made progress getting the government to develop a funding package aimed to alleviate child poverty, but there is still more work to do. #EndChildFoodPoverty also provides resources to families to find out if they qualify, and how they can get food assistance.
Location: London, UK
Company size: N/A
Funding: N/A
About: Zarach knows how important a good night’s sleep is, and they know how hard it can be to get some when you’re a child living in poverty. Zarach works with local schools to provide children living in poverty with a meal, and a proper bed so they can sleep well. Zarach does this because every child deserves a warm meal and bed to sleep in, but also recognizes struggling to sleep has other impacts on their lives like in their education. They have delivered over 1,500 bed bundles which includes a brand-new bed, mattress, duvet, pillow, bed sheets, pyjamas and hygiene kit, as well as food parcels and, if needed, a school uniform.
Location: Leeds, UK
Company size: 2-10
Funding: N/A
Essential Needs
About: Giving World works with businesses to donate and redistribute surplus products to those in poverty and need it to survive. Thanks to their online platform they work across the UK fighting to keep the next generation from falling into poverty.
Location: Leicester, UK
Company size: 1-10
Funding: N/A
About: FareShare is the UK’s largest food redistribution charity. They collect and redistribute good food that was going to go to waste to vulnerable community members through charities and community support groups. On average they help provide over 36.7 million meals a year and support 772,000 people a week.
Location: London, UK
Company size: 101-250
Funding: N/A
About: The Felix Project works to fight food waste and poverty by collecting fresh food from stores and has their volunteers sort and deliver the food to community members and other charities in need. As of their last Grant round in Nov 2021, The Feliz Project has raised a total of $25k in funding over 1 round.
Location: London, UK
Company size: 11-50
Funding: $25k
About: Who Gives a Crap produces forest friendly products including toilet paper, paper towels and tissues made of recycled materials and bamboo. The B Corp donates 50% of their profits to clean water and toilet projects in poverty-stricken regions. So far, they have donated over $10,800,000 AUD. As of their last Series A round in Sept 2021, Mindful Chef has raised a total of $41.7m in funding over 2 rounds.
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Company size: 1-10
Funding: $41.7m
About: Bombas is a comfort focused apparel brand that produces not only comfortable, but durable products that last. The B Corp has partnered with St. Mungo to ensure that their donation of socks for every purchase goes to those that need it. As of their last Venture Series round in March 2021, Bombas has raised a total of $150m in funding over 3 rounds.
Location: New York, US
Company size: 101-250
Funding: $150m
About: Warp Up works across the UK with the help of local rotary clubs. Their sole purpose is to help collect coats in good condition and get them to the people that need them in order to stay warm in the Winter. They collect coats in all sizes; men, women, children, and want everyone to know that the coat you don’t need or want anymore could save a life.
Location: Bradford, UK
Company size: 11-50
Funding: N/A
We want to do everything we can to help support these fantastic businesses and the work they’re doing in their fight against poverty.
If you belong to a tech for good startup and want to have a chat about how we could scale your Product or Tech teams, do get in touch at contact@confidotalent.com.
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