I started AngeLink, the world’s first social fintech platform powered by women, because I saw a problem that I wanted to solve. Pervasive gender inequality and economic disparity continue to deny women a voice on a global level, yet, no fundraising platform in the world exists to support women. So, I decided to build one. My idea was simple: to develop the world’s first, female-powered crowdfunding community to connect, empower, and improve the lives of billions. Everyday women around the globe struggle to make ends meet. I believe that no one should have to choose between feeding their children or paying rent. As women, we live a shared experience of being disadvantaged in so many aspects of our lives and change is long overdue. The world faces a reckoning from centuries of gender bias and economic inequality in nearly every country.
I thought, what if we could create a platform to provide women financial support for the things that matter most? What if we could give women the power to change the world? I founded AngeLink to unleash the global economic power of women, to level the playing field, and to bring innovation to social impact.
Here are some of the problems AngeLink is helping to solve:
- Women represent the highest percentage of the lowest paying jobs and earn 20% less than men for the same work.
- With mounting race disparity, women of color represent the majority of single mothers and the vast majority of single-income families.
- Female entrepreneurs starting a business get less than 3% of all venture capital funding.
- Women who make it to the boardroom represent a dismal 15% of all seats at the table.
- Women suffer from an unequal division of labor and spend 40% more time than men on unpaid work in the home as caregivers for our children and aging parents.
These challenges are faced by women of every nationality and country. It’s no wonder women are increasingly turning to online fundraising platforms for support, with more than 70 percent of campaign organizers in the industry being female. Despite these inequities, women’s generosity is inspiring, as they make up the majority of donors, often giving small amounts to help each other more frequently than men.
In the Aftermath of Hurricane Helen & Milton
It was especially difficult for women and families to ask for help when their entire community had also been impacted by the natural disaster. This is exactly where AngeLink steps in to make a difference. By bridging the gap between those in need and those willing to help, we make it easier for communities to access the support they deserve. For those affected by a natural disaster, it is crucial to act fast. Unlike traditional nonprofit or federal relief options, AngeLink’s online fundraising can provide immediate 24/7 financial support directly to those in need. As an example, we launched an urgent fundraiser to support Third Wave Volunteers’ efforts in response to Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene‘s destruction.
A team of highly trained first responders were dispatched to impacted communities to provide immediate on-the-ground support to victims of these hurricanes. All donations from the fundraiser support deployments of Search and Rescue (SAR) medical teams who are providing essential medical treatment, water filtration systems, and solar lights to victims and the affected communities. To date, I’m excited to say that the Third Wave fundraiser has raised $22,514 of its $35,000 goal thus far.
Outside of raising funds for emergency relief, AngeLink is also a great resource for people seeking opportunity – especially for women. I believe we are creating the largest, most trusted global fundraising community to empower the lives of millions. Over 78 percent of the U.S. population is living paycheck to paycheck, according to Forbes. Globally, more than half the world’s population faces the same struggle, according to the World Bank and the World Health Organization. To make matters worse, 70 percent of the nation’s poor are women and children. In response to these overwhelming challenges, AngeLink is rising to the occasion. With no hidden fees and our commitment to safety and security, we are the most trustworthy crowdfunding platform in the country for both donors and fundraisers. In fact, the company recently won first place in the World’s Best New Marketplace BOLD Award by Crowdsourcing Week. I couldn’t be more proud of the entire team.
Our beautifully simple and thoughtfully designed tools not only engage our users, but they also are crucial in helping our community raise money quickly and smoothly during life’s most difficult moments. People around the country are calling us “America’s Angels,” and now you know why.
— With love, Gerry Poirier, founder of AngeLink
Promotional consideration provided to: AngeLink, a free online fundraising platform.
