ioby is a crowd-resourcing[1] platform for civic projects. On ioby, anyone can raise tax-deductible donations, recruit local volunteers, share ideas with a likeminded community, and get access to key decision-makers. The term "crowd-resourcing" was created by ioby combining the concepts of crowd-funding and resource organizing.

Dowser[2] named ioby one of the top ten crowdfunding sites globally in 2011, and named on the Next American City 2012 Disruption Index[3] for Civic Good. In a Next American City Forefront feature[4], David Lepeska explains that what sets ioby apart from similar platforms is its experience and results in the field and its ability to measure impact of the projects.

ioby's mission is to make urban neighborhoods stronger and more sustainable by delivering resources to the civil society groups that steward urban centers. To post projects on ioby they must be good for the environment and good for the community. ioby reviews and vets each project before it goes live. Examples of ioby projects include citizen science remote sensors in the NYC sewer system like Don't Flush Me[5], Velo City's Bikesplorations[6] of NYC neighborhoods where high school students learn about urban planning, playstreets[7], urban farming[8], community gardening and more.

ioby launched nationally on Earth Day, April 22, 2012[9]. ioby first announced the idea of civic crowd-funding on WNYC's Brian Lehrer show [10] on March 26, 2009. In January, 2013, ioby opened an office in Miami in a partnership with Miami-Dade County Office of Sustainability[11].

In the days immediately following Hurricane Sandy, ioby asked its supporters and project leaders to report on how the disaster affected their neighborhoods and communities and to make suggestions on how New York City could become more prepared for extreme weather[12] .

ioby is a US-based, IRS-recognized 501(c)3 organization. All donations to all projects are tax-deductible. ioby was incorporated in 2007, launched in beta in April 2009[13], and received its IRS determination letter on June 3, 2009.

References edit

  1. ^ Signer, Rachel (Jan 31 2012). "Ioby Partners with Deutsche Bank to Fund Projects by Community Development Corporations". Dowser. Retrieved 12 February 2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Signer, Rachel (8 Feb 2011). "Top ten crowdsourced funding platforms". Dowser. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  3. ^ Berg, Nate (December 19, 2012). "Disruption Index: Crowdsourcing for Civic Good". Next American City. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  4. ^ Lepeska, David (Sept 17, 2012). "When We're All Urban Planners". Next American City. Retrieved 12 February 2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Merchant, Brian (April 20, 2012). "Crowd-Funding Site Brings Urban Chicken Farms, Hi-Tech Sewer Monitoring to Your Backyard". Treehugger. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  6. ^ Siber, Kate (December 2011). "Citizen Philanthropy". Outside Magazine. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  7. ^ Deans, Emma (Nov 2, 2012). "ioby inspires backyard environmentalism through online community". EcoTrust Blog. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  8. ^ Glass, Nicole (17 April 2012). "New York Projects Aim to Make the City More Sustainable". National Geographic. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  9. ^ Hickman, Matt (April 24 2012). "Eco-minded crowdfunding platform now coming to a neighborhood near you". Mother Nature News. Retrieved 12 February 2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Philanthropy 2.0". Brian Lehrer Project. March 26, 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Miami Dade County Press Release". Miami Dade County. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  12. ^ Goodyear, Sarah (21 January 2013). "Practical Suggestions for Disaster Preparedness From New Yorkers". Atlantic Cities. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  13. ^ Grayce West, Melanie (April 19, 2011). "Nonprofit Leverages Its Assets for Environment Organizations". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 February 2013.