Get ready for Giving Tuesday in Santa Barbara, join Noozhawk in supporting local nonprofits on November 28th, 2023!
As we approach the festive season, let’s make a difference in our community by giving back. Noozhawk is collaborating with local nonprofits to inspire you to participate in this global day of generosity.
Explore our Good for Santa Barbara Nonprofit Section for all the tools and information you need to make a meaningful contribution this Giving Tuesday!
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Megan Birney Rudert, President & CEO at Unite to Light, to learn more about how the nonprofit provides low cost solar lighting to those without electricity.
Unite to Light
Question: What is the name and mission of your nonprofit?
Answer: Unite to Light envisions a world where every person has access to clean, affordable light and energy. We provide low cost solar lighting and energy to people living without electricity to improve global health, education, prosperity, and fight climate change. We focus on projects that help children study at night, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, equip midwives with the tools they need to save lives, and offer relief to those suffering from disasters and experiencing homelessness.
Q: What was the inspiration behind your nonprofit?
A: Unite to Light started with a visit from Ghanaians Pastor Kofi Fosuhene and Dr. Osei Darkwa to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2009. They explained that many people in Africa, who rely on kerosene for reading, suffer health problems and financial hardship. Aware of the work done at UCSB’s Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE) on high-efficiency LED lights and high-efficiency solar cells, Fosuhene and Darkwa asked if the Institute could design an affordable reading light. Although solar-powered flashlights were available at the time, they were relatively expensive for students. In addition, the men were interested in reading lights because of the problems related to children and education, a focus for both.
The IEE team, in conjunction with UCSB’s Engineers Without Borders, designed, developed and began distribution of the original light in 2010 through the newly created non-governmental organization, Unite to Light. As of 2023, over 225,000 lights have been distributed to people in 80 countries.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded and what are your greatest needs?
A: Unite to Light is funded through donations, grants, direct sales (to other nonprofits) and consumer sales (on a Buy One | Give One basis). Our greatest need is for funding for more solar lights and chargers. We always have a greater demand for our products than we have capacity to donate. We also need help sharing our mission and impacts. It can be difficult for us, in a connected and electrified world, to imagine that there are almost a billion people who still live without electricity.
Q: What types of fundraisers and/or programs does your nonprofit run?
A: We have four main program pillars: Education, Global Health, Disaster Response and Homelessness. When people donate on our website, they can specify which project they want to dedicate their gift to. In support of these programs, we just hosted our annual light-based art festival called Unite to Light the Night. Check out all the amazing art and activities: https://www.unitetolight.org/lightthenight.html#/.
We also encourage people to donate their birthday to Unite to Light. They can do so through this page:https://www.unitetolight.org/birthday.html#/.
Q: Describe your organizations staffing models and internal operations. Has anything changed since the start of your nonprofit?
A: We are a small team with a strong distribution network. Our lights and chargers are distributed through a network of on-the-ground partners who allow us to reach people who need the lights the most, while keeping our costs to a minimum. This helps us be effective and efficient with donations, while increasing our impact.
Q: How do people get involved/volunteer for your nonprofit?
A: 1. Follow us on Social Media @unitetolight (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X)
2. Sign up for our newsletter https://www.unitetolight.org/newsletter-sign-up.html
3. Email us! Admin@unite-to-light.org
Q: What is one best kept secret or fun fact about your nonprofit that not everyone knows?
A: For $10 we can send a solar light almost anywhere in the world. Every donation, no matter how big or small, can make a difference in the lives of another human being.
Q: Can you share one or two stories of individuals whose lives have been changed because of your organization?
A: When people think of a need for solar lighting, they often think of people living in Africa. While it’s true that the majority of people living without electricity are living in sub saharan Africa, solar lights are incredibly important in times of disasters and for people experiencing homelessness. This year we sent lights and chargers to Ukraine and Maui in response to disasters. In both places, Direct Relief and groups of midwives distributed our solar chargers to patients so they would have power to call when they had questions or went into labor.
In California, we partnered with Helping Hands of Haywood and The Cell Phone Project to provide solar phone chargers and cell phones to people experiencing homelessness. The project has been able to find permanent affordable housing for 43 people since July 1, 2023 thanks to this great collaboration between agencies.
Q: Why should donors trust your organization and are there other ways to help outside of donations?
A: Unite to Light has earned a Platinum Rating with Guidestar/Candid since 2017, has a 91 point rating with Charity Navigator, and is a 1% for the Planet Environmental Partner. Our annual reports and financial statements can be found on the About Us section of our website. https://www.unitetolight.org/finance.html#/
We are always looking for volunteers and champions. Follow us on social media (@unitetolight on Facebook, Instagram and X) or email us to volunteer: admin@unite-to-light.org
Q: Can you tell us one short-term goal AND one long-term goal that your nonprofit has for the next year?
A: A short term goal is that we are raising funds to provide solar cell phone chargers to students across Santa Barbara experiencing homelessness. We are partnering with Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) in South County and Fight Back Santa Maria Valley in North County. Our goal is to provide 200 Chargers to each organization and we are halfway to our goal!
Long term, we are establishing a series of Light Libraries in Sierra Leone in partnership with the World Food Programme. Only 26% of the population has access to electricity and this will create Libraries in rural villages where students can check out lights to do homework or study for exams. We know that a solar light increases the likelihood that a student will graduate by over 20%.
Both projects can be supported through our Giving Tuesday page: https://www.unitetolight.org/giving-tuesday.html#/
Click here to learn more about Unite to Light’s mission to provide low cost solar lighting and energy to people living without electricity.
Check out Noozhawk’s Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.
If you would like to include your nonprofit in our Good for Santa Barbara section and Giving Guide click HERE.