Why I Built This
Why, in my words.
Six years ago I stood on a beach, trying to protect a baby seal pup. All I had was thin plastic tape and a few wooden stakes.
A big dog ran past and tore right through the tape. It sank its teeth into the pup and dragged it across the sand. The pup bled and died while I watched.
I was ashamed. I hated myself. I quit wildlife work for six years.
When I came back to helping, I went to St. Jude. I built play rooms where kids could escape for a minute. I picked that because the beach still made me shake.
Being around those kids showed me how much I missed the animals. Then another volunteer called me crying. Same bad dream. Same broken tape. Another animal died because she was out there alone with nothing real to stand behind.
The system isn't broken. It just needs to be better. I don't want one more kind person to feel this pain when they show up with love in their heart.
That's why I built SpeciNate.
Mission
I just want every gift to not just matter, but to be trusted.
I honor those who show up with nothing to hide.
Why
I believe giving should be clear and honest. You deserve to ask for the help you need. You deserve to know where your help goes. You deserve your time back.
“Sometimes I feel like a faceless ATM when I give to charities.”
Donor, user testing
“I didn't go to school to be a marketing or fundraising specialist. I want to just be in the field.”
Field steward, user testing
How
I make giving work like picking items off a gift list. Stewards list what they need. You click what you want to send. You see it reach the right steward.
What
I build a bridge. A direct line to the stewards and animals who need them.
Promise
"Conservation is tricky, but I promise to always lead with kindness. I face the hard parts so your gift is never wasted. I show up for the stewards and animals. Will you join me?"
Is this you?
- You've made enough mistakes to know they're how you learn.
- You'd rather be in the dirt than in a meeting about the dirt.
- You see what's broken and you can't pretend you don't.
- Your best day is when someone else wins.
- You say the hard thing out loud. Always.
If you want to be part of the change, email me and tell me why.