My Road to Vera: Vivaan
Vivaan Misra, a 2014 Fellow based in Mumbai, describes the experiences that led him to Vera. Vivaan grew up in New Delhi and graduated in 2012 from Carleton College, where he studied Economics and International Relations. Before joining Vera, he worked in public health in northern India and at a research firm in South Sudan. […]
A Chat with Katie: Vera Fellowship
Katie McCloskey, a 2014 Fellow based in Boston, shares her thoughts on her first six months at Vera. Born and raised in Northern California, Katie graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Human Geography. What about Vera first attracted you to the Fellowship? When I began my job search, I had […]
Fighting Substandard and Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals with Salesforce
In May 2013, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) established the Center for Pharmaceutical Advancement and Training (CePAT) in Accra, Ghana. Through CePAT, USP aims to improve access to quality medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa. To this end, staff conduct trainings for local regulators and industry and also provide quality control testing services to assist government institutions, […]
Women Win – Using Salesforce to Monitor and Evaluate Girls’ Empowerment Programs
This story was originally published online by the Salesforce Foundation. Vera has worked with Women Win over the last two years to implement and support its Salesforce-based monitoring and evaluation system, which is now being used by more than 30 partners around the world. Women Win is an internationally recognized center of excellence on gender […]
Dasra: Strategic Philanthropy, Streamlined
Since 1999, Dasra has strategically connected Indian non-profits to philanthropists. Dasra believes that equipping donors and social entrepreneurs with knowledge, funding opportunities, and support networks will dramatically transform India’s social sector. To that end, Dasra helps build capacity within non-profits and social enterprises, educates donors about their areas of philanthropic interest, and conducts research on India’s […]
Talking about the Bottom Line at Chicago Ideas Week
In October, Vera CEO and Co-Founder Zak Kaufman attended Chicago Ideas Week as a Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellow. Throughout the week, the four Fellows had opportunities to engage with leaders in business, politics, and philanthropy. Highlights included lunch with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, workshopping with other BHSI Fellows to help tackle organizational challenges, and discussing […]
Getting Ready for a Vera Data System
Though Vera helps partner organizations increase efficiency and impact with customized data systems, many of the big questions we ask before implementing a Vera system don’t involve technology at all. In fact, they revolve much more around our partner organizations’ approaches, methods, and processes. Before diving into configuration and development, we want to know that […]
From Our Partners: Making a Database Work for You
This post first appeared on the website of our partner organization, Zacchaeus 2000. Z2K’s work focuses on helping vulnerable debtors and addressing the causes of poverty through individual cases, lobbying for improvements to the legal and benefits system in the UK, and providing training to volunteers and NGOs in helping others in this area. Written by […]
Vera Welcomes 100th Partner!
Vera has just begun work with our 100th partner organization – an exciting milestone as we prepare to celebrate our fourth birthday. This week, we were pleased to kick off a project with Tugende, an innovative Ugandan social enterprise. Tugende increases the financial independence of boda boda (motorcycle taxi) drivers through a lease-to-own motorcycle program. After being carefully selected, responsible […]
Vera and CEO Zak Kaufman Awarded Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellowship
We’re thrilled to announce that Vera’s co-Founder and CEO Zak Kaufman has been selected as a 2014 Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellow. Created by Leslie Bluhm and David Helfand, the BHSI Fellowship recognizes socially conscious young leaders who have developed sustainable ventures addressing civic needs. Zak and Vera were chosen from more than 200 social innovators […]