I’d originally set out to write about a social media nonprofit startup, Benevolent.net, conceived and executed by Evanston resident Megan Kashner. 

You'll see in the later columns in this series that I got a bit sidetracked by Evanston's business incubator, the Technology Innovation Center, where Benevolent is located. But first, here's what I learned about Kashner's business.

Benevolent.net aims to connect those in need with those who want to give. Kashner, a graduate of Brown University and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, has described Benevolent as serving three levels of community – 1) those with needs, 2) those with the drive to give, and 3) local nonprofits, schools and congregations seeking to serve their constituents and clients.

While the website illustrates the nonprofit’s mission in completely human terms, here’s the detail for those interested in the fine print: Benevolent.net provides a validated and secure means for donors, individuals with needs and community nonprofits to collaborate to address challenges to an individual's progress out of poverty, one person at a time.

According to literature shared by Kashner, Benevolent's storytelling approach focuses on individuals, addressing the minutiae that so often derail personal progress. Benevolent allows low-income adults to post their own stories (narrative + video) and outline their one-time, salient needs. Each need is validated by a professional at a community nonprofit (social service, workforce development, place of worship...) with an ongoing relationship to the person seeking help. These nonprofit partners are vetted by Benevolent. They receive and distribute grant funds and report outcomes.

Take the case of Alejandra, a trained seamstress who needed a sewing machine to make clothes. Her husband left her and returned to Mexico, leaving Alejandra and their three children here in the states. Childcare hurdles and transportation presented huge challenges for a suddenly single, unemployed mother like Alejandra with limited means. Additionally she couldn’t afford to live close to transportation.

With the help of Benevolent, Alejandra came up with a plan to make and sell clothing from her home, including clothing she can wear to job interviews. The only problem was, she couldn’t afford a sewing machine.

Fifteen Benevolent supporters funded more than the $970 requested by Alejandra. Her fire to succeed was recognized by Kashner and the Benevolent team (as well as by the validators who screen every beneficiary).

Some members of Benevolent's team gave me a tour of their tiny office space within Evanston’s Technology Innovation Center — also known as a business incubator — at 820 Davis St. Once inside, I knew immediately that I needed to understand how an incubator worked, particularly since the Evanston’s City Council debated on Feb. 13 whether or not to continue using tax dollars to support The Incubator.

Check back tomorrow for more on what I learned about the TIC