Seeing Past The Green
By Jackielou Perez
Transparency. Collaboration. Accountability. That’s the motto for GlassFrog, a non-profit organization that not only provides aid to communities in need of relief, but one that is also redefining the way we give back. I had the chance to chat with Nicole Verkindt, founder of GlassFrog.
What is GlassFrog?
GlassFrog’s projects provide shelter, water and fuel to meet immediate basic human needs in the aftermath of disasters. Our projects use on-the-ground resources to support sustainable economic and social benefits in the communities we assist. Our first project supports the building of a 16-acre model community in Haiti, and will include housing for women and children, a community health clinic and a primary school.
GlassFrog is an interesting name for an organization. Is there a meaning behind the name?
A “Glassfrog” is a real tree frog in Haiti whose skin is transparent. All of its internal organs are completely visible from the outside. I have worked with governments around the world throughout my entire career and I am not satisfied with the inner workings of most non-profits. In the case of Haiti, I witnessed corruption, cronyism, bureaucracy, all the good stuff. Our non-profit organization’s mandate is to be transparent in everything we do, so it fits.
Can you explain your motto of transparency, collaboration and accountability for results?
With the billions [of dollars] committed to Haiti [for example], we still haven't seen the effects of the contribution. Where is it going? How long will it take to see results? Who is making these decisions? I refer to the non-profit world as “the Black Box” - people give, and then that is it. Where does the money go, and when? I want to bring an entirely different spirit to the charity world. We focus on providing complete transparency in our dealings.
How long has the organization been around and what’s the reaction been like since it’s formed?
We started about a year ago, April of last year. I am highly critical of the charity system and now seeing the issues charities come across, it's not as easy as it seems. But the support has been greater and farther than I thought. I’ve met a lot of people who agree there needs to be a paradigm shift in charity work and that the status quo isn't acceptable.
Can you name an experience that has stood out for you personally working through GlassFrog?
I met a woman through the Clinton Foundation who had been running the most unglamourous non-profit you could imagine: providing sanitation in tent cities. She had over 20 employees and was running quite the program, saving lives, especially by helping to stop cholera. All of a sudden her program funding was cut off by the government. Bureaucracy and corruption stopped the program, the woman had to send volunteers home and the sanitation issue in Haiti couldn't be addressed.
What kind of events has GlassFrog put on?
We held a Speakeasy event and fundraiser in June which had an incredible turnout. It was mostly close friends and family as well as guests who ranged from grandparents to prominent business people, politicians to employees at non-profit organizations and a lot of young professionals with a ton of energy and passion for helping. We raised over $14,000 from that event alone.
Do you have other target areas other than Haiti?
We look at all disaster areas in developing regions. Our long-term goal is to quickly deploy help in needed areas, and to do so, we need more funding. When the famine in Somalia happened, we wanted to do something to help but didn't have the resources to do so.
What are upcoming plans for GlassFrog?
We are heading to Haiti in November and the long-term platform is for people to deploy funds and see where it's going. This is done by communicating the funding relief process through pictures, communication, etc.
How can people get involved?
This past year we had three interns helping us out with our event in June. We are always looking for volunteers to help out the organization. They can contact me at www.glassfrog.org/contact.php
