Between March and August 2021, we have donated to the following causes:
Humanitarian
- £8,027 to Effective Altruism
- £750 to HCC Children’s Home in Nepal
- £750 to Kiva
Environmental
- $10,610 to Eden Reforestation Projects to plant 10,610 trees for our One Tree Planted for Every Book Sold pledge
- £1,433 to Coalition for Rainforest Nations (through Earth Draw III)
- £1,433 to One Tree Planted (through Earth Draw III)
- £1,433 to The Heart of England Forest (through Earth Draw III)
Including previous donations made since 2011,
our running total now stands at £283,893, approximately $393,371
From 2020 onwards, we pledged to plant one tree for every book we sold, in a bid to help offset the environmental impact of the printing and shipping of our books. Our success during this latest time period means that we can plant another 106,108 trees from the sales of our books, with the help of Eden Reforestation Projects. Since our pledge, we have now planted an incredible 268, 798 trees. We would like to thank everyone who has bought a 3dtotal book this year and helped us make this happen!
Back in 2018, we wanted to see what we could achieve if the art community came together with drive and passion to make a difference, and our creative crowdfunding project Earth Draw was born. Following on from the success of our past two campaigns, we launched Earth Draw III, teaming up with 14 incredible artists to create a limited edition, eco-themed art publication. All profits from this project have been donated to charities that specialise in reforestation and protecting the rainforests: Eden Reforestation Projects, Coalition for Rainforest Nations, and The Heart of England Forest. We would like to say a big thank you to all the passionate artists involved. Without them this would not be possible, and we greatly appreciate them giving their time and hard work to this campaign as a not-for-profit to help our cause.
Image © Coalition for Rainforest Nations
The Coalition for Rainforest Nations seeks responsible stewardship of the world’s last great rainforests through innovative strategies which integrate social, economic, and scientific rationales to achieve environmental and social sustainability. It has been identified as one of the most impactful environmental charities by Founders Pledge, and we were very happy to be able to make a donation from our Earth Draw III campaign.
The Heart of England Forest aims to create a 30,000-acre forest across the middle of the country that can be enjoyed by visitors for hundreds of years to come, while also having a positive impact on the environment. In addition to raising funds through our Earth Draw campaigns, members of the 3dtotal team have volunteered their time to help plant trees. Unfortunately, the pandemic has disrupted these fun and fulfilling tree-planting trips, but we hope to continue the tradition once again soon.
While we continue to fund international tree planting projects, 3dtotal Publishing also owns and manages its own small local woodland. The area was purchased a few years ago with the aim of saving it from invasive species, improving habitats, and increasing biodiversity. The woodland is also used for community volunteering and staff team-building days. Over the last six months, projects have included creating a wildlife pond, increasing the number of bird boxes from 18 to 25, and more clearing of laurel to allow native saplings to grow again.
Image © Centre For Effective Altruism
For the past five years, we have started to research and explore the world of Effective Altruism. Their research reveals how supporting high impact interventions has been proven to make the biggest difference. To assess which causes are high impact, they use a well-researched framework which evaluates how great the cause is in scale (how many lives it affects), how neglected it has been (how many other people are tackling it), and how solvable it is (whether added support will significantly help and bring lasting change). In our commitment to helping the earth through donating to good causes, we use the Centre for Effective Altruism as our guide to ensure the funds are used as efficiently as possible.
Image © HCC Nepal Children’s Home
In March 2018 Tom Greenway, the founder of 3dtotal, flew out to the HCC Nepal Children’s Home in Kathmandu, to identify ways in which we could help first-hand. During this trip, we were able to provide a large refrigerator, new school uniforms, and funding for a new dormitory and classroom to be built. This year, our ongoing support of the HCC Nepal Children’s Home has contributed towards food and new bedding.
Image © Kiva
Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 in San Francisco, with a mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive. They do this by crowdfunding loans and unlocking capital for the underserved, improving the quality and cost of financial services, and addressing the underlying barriers to financial access around the world. Through Kiva’s work, students can pay for tuition, women can start businesses, farmers are able to invest in equipment and families can afford needed emergency care. 100% of every dollar goes to funding loans. Twice a year, the 3dtotal staff are each given a budget to fund a loan of their choosing, which, if it is repaid, goes straight back in to fund the next round of loans. An additional, voluntary, one-off donation of £750 has also been made in 2021, to help the charity cover its operating costs.