July 10, 2013 (ATLANTA) – Today, UruutTM, a collaborative community-level funding platform, announces its public beta period and invites individuals, businesses and foundations to contribute through its unique crowdfunding technology. The Atlanta-based social enterprise startup is backed by $200,000 in seed funding and a high profile advisory board comprised of corporate and philanthropic leaders.
Uruut helps transform local communities by bringing together three funding sources with municipalities, nonprofits and civic groups seeking project and program backing. This collaborative approach revolutionizes the traditional fundraising model and empowers fundraisers to do more good.
“Ten years ago I began contemplating how our country could revitalize underfunded communities by giving critical projects a chance at success,” said Mark Feinberg, Uruut’s co-founder and chief executive officer. “Along the way, Uruut was born and our talented team developed an extraordinary tool that achieves this vital need. Today, I’m proud to give the public a chance to experience Uruut and contribute to our first project owner, Ashford Park School Education Foundation (APSEF).”
Located in the Atlanta suburb of Brookhaven, APSEF aims to raise $100,000 through Uruut to construct an outdoor classroom where students can get dirty with hands-on science experiments, gardening lessons and nature explorations. This classroom will also double as an amphitheater that will showcase student theatrical productions, school lectures, and a range of community-wide events. Click here to view APSEF’s project page on Uruut.
“We’re proud to be Uruut’s first project owner and excited to share our vision for an outdoor classroom and amphitheater with the community,” said Shawn Keefe, co-president of APSEF and parent of first and fourth graders. “We currently have a deteriorating and hazardous outdoor structure, but we believe the outside of our school should match the vibrancy of the inside. This project is core to APS’ curriculum, our students and the vitality of our community, and Uruut is perfect for helping make our dream a reality.”
“Uruut not only provides individuals with a chance to change lives, but it offers businesses, corporate social responsibility (CSR) groups and foundations a transparent marketplace where they can search for and self-select vetted ideas,” said Donovan Lee-Sin, program officer at the Arthur M. Blank Foundation and Uruut advisory board member. “As a foundation professional, I’m confident these private entities will quickly
realize that Uruut gives them a direct, meaningful connection to their local communities while increasing their brand exposure and social responsibility reach.”
Lee-Sin serves on Uruut’s advisory board along with Ross Goldstein, managing director at a global insurance firm; Matt Gove, senior vice president of external affairs and chief marketing officer of Piedmont Healthcare as well as board president of Park Pride; and Sarah Loya, partner at Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough.
Community and civic organizations interested in receiving funding through Uruut’s platform canclick here to apply for public beta consideration.
About Uruut
Launched in 2013, Uruut helps transform local communities by bringing individuals, businesses and foundations together with groups seeking community-level funding. Its unique crowdfunding platform is sought after by both public and private organizations due to its transparency, rich features and ability to support multiple funding sources. To get ruuted, visituruut.com and follow @uruut on Twitter.
