NGOexchange - a task marketplace for the NGO sector

An online platform that connects NGOs, non-profits, charities & social enterprises to professionals worldwide through remote task based projects.

The social problem

International humanitarian aid has continued to increase, reaching $27bn in 2016 (Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2017). Despite this level of aid, over a third of needs are still not being met and demand is rising. Failing to act early to mitigate crises costs millions which is why cost-effective and efficient processes are even more critical to meet the unprecedented need.  Through simply being more connected, NGOs can achieve a lot more whilst spending a lot less. The private sector has already achieved this through online task based marketplace and it’s time for the NGO sector to follow.

There are 10 million NGOs worldwide (The Global Journal); meanwhile the global skilled workforce is growing. Skilled and passionate professionals all over the world are looking to work with NGOs, non-profits, charities & social enterprises that match their interests and they want to do it remotely. The gig economy, and more specifically task based working, has been utilised in the private sector for years, becoming increasingly popular as it’s proving to be an effective method for getting work done quickly and efficiently.

The solution

NGOexchange is a task based marketplace that aims to help NGOs get more done with less by bringing together onto one platform NGOs, non-profits, charities & social enterprises who are in need of getting tasks completed and professionals who are looking for task based projects. Our platform will allow any organisation to post a request for services from a 1 hour task to 6 months whilst also providing an online catalogue of skills directly relatable to the needs of the NGO sector. This means organisations only procure the precise tasks they need, quickly and efficiently.

Our mission at NGOexchange is to bring billion-dollar savings to the global NGO sector through sharing technology. We see a future where even the smallest NGOs can access a world of skills, talent, infrastructure, tech, vehicles, medicine and much more through the utilization of sharing technology.

'Task Based Working' is utilised heavily in the private sector with notable providers such as Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer. Fiverr, a global online marketplace lists more than 2 million services and serves 200 countries worldwide. The private sector has utilised this methodology effectively for years and it’s time for the NGO sector to benefit from this.

NGOexchange conducted primary research with professionals from the NGO sector and identified the need and demand for task based services. NGOexchange will address the challenges faced by NGOs, non-profits etc. by connecting organisations to skills from around the world with one click.

NGOexchange is a fully encrypted marketplace ecommerce platform with integrated messaging and file sharing.

The platform also acts as a payment guardian between the parties offering a number of innovative payment methods including BitCoin.

The development roadmap includes a mobile app to increase accessibility to developing world economies & the utilisation of blockchain technologies to tackle fraud in the NGO sector by decentralizing the flow of labour/funds in the third sector and thus activating many millions more into the 21st century global economy.

NGOexchange technology acts as the faucet from which the world’s most important missions can draw their talent.

Q3 2018: Working with five primary NGO partners (+ additional secondary partners). 200+ active service providers (professionals).  64 listed services/tasks. 10 transactions monthly.

Q4 2018: Continue working with the five primary NGO partners whilst expanding partnership network through outreach. 300+ NGOs/service users. 660 active service providers (professionals).  200+ listed services/tasks. 17 transactions made monthly.

Q1 2019: 1100+ NGO users. 2100+ service providers (professionals). 660+ listed services/tasks. 25 transactions in made monthly. 

Q2 2019: 3600+ NGO users. 6900+ service providers (professionals). 2000+ listed services/tasks. 40 transactions in made monthly.

By the end of 2019 start moving database to blockchain to promote anti-fraud anti-corruption.

In three to five years we see NGOexchange being a platform:

• with the largest community of collaborative professionals and organisations in the NGO & social enterprise sector.
• with a mobile app that easily useable and accessible to people worldwide.
• that uses blockchain technology to hold every participant accountable and promote anti-fraud and anti-corruption in this sector. 
• that goes beyond the sharing of skills and talent and expands to the sharing of infrastructure, tech, vehicles, medicine and much more through the use of sharing technology.

The NGOexchange.com platform is available to anyone worldwide with an internet connection and is mobile optimised to be inclusive to the world’s developing economies.

The platform provides the environment in which NGOs/Third Sectors organisations can search, communicate, share, procure and manage their labour needs allowing them to be more agile and effective in achieving their missions.

Through workshops, PR, advertising, referral and the network effect the NGOexchange.com platform will grow both organically and inorganically (through advertising).

At scale the NGOexchange.com has tremendous macro effects on the third sector. A more effective third sector impacts the lives of billions worldwide. 

NGOexchange is used by professionals around the world to discover task-based projects in the NGO sector where they can create impact. Third sector organisations find talent easily and securely; achieving missions sooner. 

Ongoing acquisition experiments after an advertising spend of $73USD have yielded 50+ NGOs/non-profits/charities/social enterprises and over 100 professionals registered on the platform. 20-30 active tasks and task requests are listed on the platform. 

User Case Study – a Bangladeshi NGO that spent a year looking for the ‘right person’ have been able to meet, discuss and contract for a project in just 4 days using NGOexchange.com.

Our metrics from trading and lean experimentation forecast that in 12 months NGOexchange.com will serve a total of 10,000+ users with a catalogue of over 2,100 skills and services for the NGO/third sector.

According to forecasts in 3 years we will achieve a total of 250,000 users, listing 50,000 skills and requests and transacting circa 1,500 times per month.

The result is that third sector organisations will rapidly and cost-effectively solve their issues; achieving their missions sooner and impacting the lives millions of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

These effects are evidenced in the private sector already. 

Roya Karimnia has worked for NGOs identifying cost-effectiveness of programmes. Through her own experience and wide network of contacts, she knows the financial and operational challenges faced in the NGO sector.

The team consists of a marketing manager who manages and oversees all of the marketing for NGOexchange; customer success executive who helps NGOs and professionals through their journey to becoming a long-term partner of NGOexchange; and the outsourced technical team who develop and continue to improve the back and front end of website.

We also have a non-executive director who is an experienced online entrepreneur and digital marketer. 

NGOexchange.com is a marketplace commission based business model. The fee structure is in two parts:

• Professionals list their skills for free in an online portfolio. If their skills are purchased by an NGO/third sector organisation on the site then they pay a commission to NGOexchange after the transaction is completed. This commission ranges from 7-12% depending on transaction size and the length of time the user has worked with NGOexchange.com
• NGO/Third Sector organisations pay a flat rate of 15% on transactions on the platform at the point of purchase.

N.B. for volunteer work no fees are charged.

Cost of Acquisition of Customers is relatively low – currently around $0.30 per registered seller. It is early in our process to have Lifetime Value figures however signs point to a substantial upside on initial investments.

Global trends predict a largescale growth in gig working and freelancing platforms as well as a social trend towards people seeking impact in their work. NGOexchange provides the best solution to those seeking to work in this way either casually or full time.

NGOexchange is a fully digital product with in-built optimisation metrics and thus scalability and profitability are predictable with investment.

12 months of support and mentoring from the Solve community will help NGOexchange at a critical stage of its growth and reach and instil best-practice for scale.

Solve will boost NGOexchange’s network & exposure through introductions to the MIT-backed community and the opportunity to speak at international social impact conferences, through global media and social media exposure. 

Furthermore it will give NGOexchange credibility as an organisation and what we believe in – that task based working can save the NGO sector time & money.  

To reach scale NGOexchange must expand and the available funds will permit this.

Scalable site infrastructure. To receive technology mentorship and advice through Solve’s MIT-backed community will give us access to advice on the best course of action. 

Running out of money before product can gain profitable traction. The funding from Solve will sustain testing of the website and the opportunity to reach critical mass. 

Lack of understanding and uptake of task based working: Through exposure to the MIT-backed community and backing by Solve:   

- NGOexchange will gain further credibility as a cost-effective method for helping NGOs get work done. 

- it will grow NGOexchange’s network and reach to more key people/influencers.