what makes us tick

Support Solar Lamp Distribution to Women in Port-au-Prince


Over the past few months, we've raised $67,000 for our earthquake relief efforts in Port-au-Prince. Thanks to your generosity, we've distributed 3,000 lamps to displaced women and families and are on track to distribute over 2,000 more by the end of September.

We recently joined with an organization called Citizen Effect to raise additional funds for this cause. EarthSpark International is looking for dedicated individuals to join us as Citizen Philanthropists – lead fundraisers for projects providing solar lighting to women in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Ninety percent of funds raised will go towards the purchase and distribution of solar lamps, the remaining ten percent will contribute to EarthSpark’s ongoing Clean Energy Store program.

5 Easy Steps on How to Become a Citizen Philanthropist for EarthSpark:

1. Check out our landing page: www.citizeneffect.org/p/earthspark, click “Join Us” and then the “Be a Citizen Philanthropist for this Project” link.

2. Sign up and set a fundraising goal: Fill out the brief online form and indicate the amount you would like to fundraise for EarthSpark in the “Comments” section. The suggested fundraising goal is $975 – providing 70 Haitian women and their families with a clean and reliable source of lighting power.

3. Customize Your Online Project Page: You will receive an introductory email from Citizen Effect with a URL link to your project page – a personalized webpage that shows your fundraising goal, information on the Port-au-Prince community, and allows friends and family to donate online directly to your EarthSpark project.

Customize your project page by:

  • Uploading a picture and adding a personal introduction
  • Posting on your blog
  • Linking your project page to Facebook and Twitter

4. Fundraise: Think of creative ways to raise money for your EarthSpark project. Here are some example fundraising strategies:

  • Send emails, Facebook messages, and Tweets to friends and family asking them donate to your project
  • Plan a happy hour event at a local bar
  • Organize a pot-luck dinner and charge admission

Citizen Effect can help you – call them at (202) 640-1845 or email them at cp@citizeneffect.org with any questions on fundraising techniques or ideas. You can submit offline donations – checks and cash – for your project by filling out the “Offline Donations Submission Form” and sending them directly to the Citizen Effect office. If you have any questions for EarthSpark, email Katherine Michonski at kmichonski@earthsparkinternational.org.

5. Have Fun: We will send you updates and pictures from Port-au-Prince on how the solar lamps you worked to purchase are helping the local community. You get to work with your family and friends to contribute to a great cause and directly see the impact of your efforts.