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Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.
Q&A
MASSIVEGOOD website: www.massivegood.org
MASSIVEGOOD @ Facebook: www.facebook.com/massivegood
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MASSIVEGOOD @ Twitter: www.twitter.com/joinmassivegood
MASSIVEGOOD Blog: news.massivegood.org
Millennium Foundation website: www.millennium-foundation.org
THE MILLENNIUM FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATIVE FINANCE FOR HEALTH
What is the Millennium Foundation?
The Millennium Foundation for Innovative Finance for Health is an independent, non-profit foundation whose mission is to expand the sources of funding available to help eradicate life-threatening diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, and to improve health conditions for mothers and children among the world’s most vulnerable populations. The Foundation was created in December 2008 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and maintains a satellite office in Paris, France. For more information, visit www.millennium-foundation.org.
In the United States, the Millennium Foundation works with Charities Aid Foundation America (“CAF America”), a US registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt charity that makes it possible for American donors to give safely and securely and obtain a US tax deduction.
Who currently heads the Millennium Foundation?
The Millennium Foundation is chaired by Dr. Philippe Douste-Blazy, who currently serves as Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Special Adviser on Innovative Finance for Development. Dr. Philippe Douste-Blazy is also the chairman of UNITAID.
Dr. Bernard Salomé is the Managing Director of the Millennium Foundation. The Millennium Foundation is governed by a board composed of representatives from donor and recipient Governments, representatives of NGOs specialized in malaria, tuberculosis or HIV / AIDS and communities living with diseases as well as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The World Health Organization serves on the Board as an observer.
WHAT IS MASSIVEGOOD?
What is MASSIVEGOOD?
Powered by the Millennium Foundation, MASSIVEGOOD is a global movement and worldwide campaign aimed at saving lives through voluntary micro-contributions.
MASSIVEGOOD is the social network generation’s solution to put a stop to the millions of deaths from HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, and to improve maternal and child health in the developing world. If social media has revolutionized the way in which we interact, why can’t we harness its power to change the way we think about humanitarian aid? Is it possible to use the reputed “network effect” to raise awareness and increase funding for some of the most pressing global health issues in the 21st century? MASSIVEGOOD does both, by creating a worldwide community based on a simple and easy act—the “micro-contribution.”
MASSIVEGOOD gives travelers the choice to make such a $2, £2 or €2 “micro-contribution” towards major global health causes every time they buy a plane ticket, reserve a hotel room or rent a car. MASSIVEGOOD lets travelers make their trip more meaningful and uses social networks and www.massivegood.org to share stories about the growth of our movement.
MASSIVEGOOD is supported by a unique public-private coalition. Leaders in the travel and tourism industry have joined with global health organizations to ensure that all travelers can make a difference through MASSIVEGOOD.
How does MASSIVEGOOD work?
Behind MASSIVEGOD is an easy-to-use internet based donation solution, being integrated at the point-of-sale when a travel reservation is made, either online or with a travel agency. Where this “donation platform” has been implemented, travelers simply click MASSIVEGOOD when they make a reservation online or through a travel agent—the $2 micro-contribution will be added to the price of the the reservation. The contribution platform can be fully integrated into travel reservation software and is a completely secure transaction. Travelers may also contribute at any time by going on the MASSIVEGOOD Web site, www.massivegood.org. Even by itself, a $2 micro-contribution can save lives—$2 alone can treat two children against malaria while less than $25 can cure an adult of tuberculosis. Just $50 € can provide one year life-sustaining treatment for an HIV-positive child.
Where will MASSIVEGOOD be available?
President Bill Clinton and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon were the first to “click” on MASSIVEGOOD at the political launch of MASSIVEGOOD at the United Nations on March 4th, 2010. In the USA, MASSIVEGOOD is available in select travel agencies in the that use the following Global Distribution System (GDS): Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport as of March 4, 2010. It is also available on Travelocity’s “Travel For Good” website, and on Accor Hotels’ online booking platforms. MASSIVEGOOD will be fully deployed throughout online and offline travel agencies in the USA starting in October 2010.
The MASSIVEGOOD Corporate program was also inaugurated in June 2010 and will allow client companies to integrate the MASSIVEGOOD donation platform in their internal travel management systems
MASSIVEGOOD was introduced in Spain on June 1st, and is available throughout the Spanish travel industry.
In Spain, more than 3000 travel agencies have activated the donation engine software. On July 1st, key industry players such as Rumbo and Opodo have implemented the donation engine on their websites as Atrapalo did early June.
WHY DO WE NEED MASSIVEGOOD?
Why does the Millennium Foundation focus on Health?
Although there has been some progress in meeting some of the MDGs since 2000, much remains to be done in order to reduce poverty and improve health in developing countries. Being more than halfway to the 2015 deadline, there is considerable worry that the three health-related MDGs (goals 4, 5 and 6) might not be achieved by 2015. New innovative financing for development is vital, especially for global health. The Millennium Foundation is the only new innovative financing solution dedicated to implementing new financing mechanisms with private sector partners, making it unique in the global health landscape in providing new methods for finding sources of funding.
What are the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals)?
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by 2015 that respond to the world's main development challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration, adopted by 189 countries and signed by 147 heads of state and government during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.
* Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
* Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
* Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
* Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
* Goal 5: Improve maternal health
* Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
* Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
* Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development
Are you planning new programs to raise funds for the other five MDGs?
As of yet we are not planning any new programs to raise funds for the other MDGs, since health is our focus.
With the World Bank raising its contribution to fight global health from $1 billion to $3 billion, will there be a need for additional funding?
The World Bank, while an important source of health funding, is by no means the only source of official development aid (ODA) targeting global health. The world's most vulnerable populations face a severe health crisis from life-threatening diseases that has been made worse by the recent global economic downturn, putting hundreds of millions at risk. There is a widening gap between the growth of at-risk populations and the resources available to help them. The Millennium Foundation is committed to bridging this gap by creating a sustainable new source of additional funding to in order to address this growing health crisis.
The Independent Evaluation Group said AIDS funding has proven far less effective and wasteful than that of other diseases. Doesn't the Millennium Foundation’s focus on AIDS detract from funding for other life-threatening diseases?
Funds raised by the Millennium Foundation are channeled by UNITAID to reach the most people in need in the most efficient and timely manner. MASSIVEGOOD funds are also used to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and stop preventable deaths from malaria and tuberculosis—not only AIDS. That being said, UNITAID has proven itself successful in reducing the price of retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV / AIDS by more than 50% in less than three years. In fact, today, 3 out of every 4 children being treated for HIV / AIDS in the world are benefiting from UNITAID’s efforts to reduce the price and increase the availability of drug treatments.
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
Where does my money go?
Micro-contributions through MASSIVEGOOD go in priority to UNITAID—an organization created in 2006 to increase access to treatments against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries – and will be dispersed to partner organizations including the Clinton Health Access Initiative. Additional funding will go towards improving maternal health and child health in the developing world.
Using market-based solutions to guarantee a steady supply of affordable medicines for poor countries, UNITAID has achieved remarkable results in its short existence by reducing prices of quality medicines and increasing their availability.
Already three out of four children on HIV treatment in the world are able to survive thanks to UNITAID funds. In the developing world, many HIV-positive mothers can give birth without transmitting the diseases to their children thanks to medication made affordable through UNITAID’s programs. UNITAID has also supplied over one million people with insecticide-treated bed nets to protect against malaria-carrying mosquitoes. In total, nearly 12 million treatments have been delivered in the past three years to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Contributions to MASSIVEGOOD will go directly to UNITAID’s purchase of such preventions and treatments. Current partners of UNITAID include UNICEF, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organization, the Clinton Foundation Health Access Initiative and the, among others.
The bulk of UNITAID’s budget currently comes from a small tax on airline tickets in France, Chile, Korea and a growing number of African countries.UNITAID also receives funding from a contribution form the British government and from a carbon tax in Norway. UNITAID has raised over $1 billion dollars in only three years, but through voluntary contributions, MASSIVEGOOD can increase its budget with a sustainable stream of income, while allowing travelers to use today’s media technology to follow and interact with the progress of their micro-contributions.
UNITAID’s operating costs are below 5% of expenditures. A total of 93 countries receive UNITAID funding today.
What is the relationship between the Millennium Foundation and UNITAID?
The Millennium Foundation was established at the end of November 2008 (as an independent, non-profit Swiss foundation, headquartered in Geneva) to develop and launch innovative finance mechanisms in order to bridge the gap between funds currently raised by official development aid and organizations like UNITAID, and what would be needed to achieve health-related Millennium Goals.
The two organizations share a common mission and goal: to help save lives by fighting life-threatening diseases. UNITAID raises funds through a levy on airline tickets and other government contributions, while the Millennium Foundation aims to inspire and empower citizens to create a movement aimed at building a sustainable new source of additional funding for health.
The Millennium Foundation was established to forge a partnership with the travel industry in countries that have not adapted the UNITAID airline tax, and to enable voluntary contributions to be made by ordinary citizens via the MASSIVEGOOD donation platform at the point-of-sale. In order to establish the Millennium Foundation’s legal and operational structure in Geneva, create a distribution network of commercial partners, develop and promote the MASSIVEGOOD brand and develop a secure, state of the art technical donation solution, UNITAID provided an initial grant of $22.3 million to the Millennium Foundation. As of June 2010, 52% of this amount was spent to implement these objectives and to create a brand and donation solution that is now being deployed throughout the travel industry, for leisure and business travelers.
UNITAID ensures good management of funds through the participation of its Board Members in the Millennium Foundation’s Board and regular updates and reporting by the Foundation under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding.
While the Millennium Foundation currently states that fundraising efforts will be based on voluntary contributions, is the organization’s end-goal to work towards a global airline travel tax, which is how UNITAID realizes the bulk of its funding today?
The Millennium Foundation was formed to provide complementary fundraising for UNITAID, targeting individual voluntary contributions. While UNITAID has already proven successful in raising funds through travel levy and government contributions, (full list available at http://www.unitaid.eu/en/UNITAID-donors.html) it does not directly engage with consumers. The Millennium Foundation is committed to inspiring and empowering citizens who are united in their passion and commitment to help make the world a better place.
Why did the Millennium Foundation choose to partner up with UNITAID?
The Millennium Foundation was formed in order to play a complementary and sustainable fundraising role for UNITAID, giving individuals the opportunity to help fight major diseases through micro-contributions. Through the MASSIVEGOOD awareness campaign on social networks and other new media, the Millennium Foundation hopes to involve millions of concerned individuals in UNITAID’s life-saving work.
Why does the Millennium Foundation work with UNITAID? Why not with UNICEF, the World Health Organization or others?
The Millennium Foundation and UNITAID are working towards the delivery of global health aid to the world's most vulnerable populations, including those mentioned above, as well as others. The Millennium Foundation is focused on “innovative fundraising”, which means creating a sustainable new source of needed additional funding to help saves lives by fighting life-threatening diseases. The way UNITAID works (partnering with credible partners and identifying and supporting high-impact programs) has already proven successful in lowering the price and accelerating the availability of high quality drugs and diagnostics. It’s through this partnership that The Millennium Foundation aims to reach the most people in the most efficient and timely manner. If they are able to realize their vision of creating a voluntary mass movement, their hope would be that every aid organization focused on achieving the health-related Millennium Challenge Goals will share their success.
How does the Millennium Foundation decide what projects it will fund?
The Millennium Foundation gives priority to UNITAID, who chooses projects based on a rigorous proposal selection process. UNITAID works primarily to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, while some UNITAID projects have a clear impact improving maternal and child health. The Millennium Foundation is committed to making an impact on these latter two Millennium Development Goals, especially since despite recent progress, deaths related to preventable causes among mothers and children remain unacceptably high.
How can a foundation or NGO apply to be beneficiary of MASSIVEGOOD?
The Millennium Foundation works with UNITAID right now, but we may accept applications for grants for other organizations in the future.
Which countries receive aid? Do they have to meet any governance standards?
UNITAID works with 93 countries in total, most of them located in Africa and Asia. Funds raised through MASSIVEGOOD will also go to programs in low and middle-income countries where needs and cost-benefits ratios are at their highest. The Millennium Foundation is particularly sensitive to how its funds are used, and is held accountable to donors, recipients and to a board composed of diverse constituencies. Transparency and traceability are key elements for the Millennium Foundation and it will regularly report on these issues.
How did you choose these countries?
UNITAID is responsible for choosing the programs in developing countries that will have the most positive impact on local markets by leveraging price reductions for quality diagnostics and medicines while accelerating the pace at which these are made available.
Is MASSIVEGOOD helping victims affected by the Haiti earthquake crisis?
UNITAID and MASSIVEGOOD are dedicated to helping victims affected by the January 12th 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and children already living with diseases are certainly among the most vulnerable. In an effort to fill a gap in the breakdown of health services following the earthquake, UNITAID approved the allocation of $1 million dollars to treat and feed 6,000 children living with HIV/AIDS in Haiti. The project is managed by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).
On the ground, CHAI is working closely with Partners In Health, which provides support to victims across the country. CHAI is also looking to expand their scope to work with additional partners in Haiti in order to increase distribution channels should this be deemed necessary. Every effort will be taken to ensure that the product is distributed to those who need it the most. Before the earthquake, UNITAID was already supplying second-line AIDS treatments to patients in Haiti, and will continue that effort.
Why should I give to the Millennium Foundation if it then redistributes the funds? Why shouldn't I just give directly to a charity and avoid paying the transactions fees?
Although the initiative is managed by the agent, the transaction takes place directly between the consumer and the Millennium Foundation so there is no financial responsibility, legal responsibility or invoicing to be undertaken by the agency or organization facilitating. People will always have the opportunity to donate to causes of their choice, but it is our hope that given the health crisis in the developing world, the scale of what the Millennium Foundation is trying to achieve and UNITAID’s track record of success will compel people to feel that this is a worthy cause to which they’ll want to be a part of. The Millennium foundation has created a vast private-public partnership to enable you to give a small amount with great ease – with massive effect.
How do you evaluate the work of these organizations?
UNITAID publicly publishes excellent evaluations and reports on its website: www.unitaid.eu/en/Annual-report
How can we distinguish MASSIVEGOOD from other contributions?
MASSIVEGOOD will let travelers make a small donation ($2/€2/£2) through a simple click each time they buy a ticket, whether online or through a travel agent, making everything easy, painless and massively rewarding. Donors will be able to connect on www.massivegood.org and take advantage of our network to become “ambassadors” of the movement. MASSIVEGOOD is more than a charity present at the point-of-sale – it’s a movement.
I want to do more to help fight these diseases. What can I do?
Every time you travel, you can contribute to MASSIVEGOOD! For other information on how to help fight diseases, visit these following sites: UNITAID www.unitaid.eu, the World Health Organization www.who.int, UNICEF www.unicef.org, UNAIDS www.unaids.org, Roll Back Malaria www.rollbackmalaria.org, Stop TB Partnership http://www.stoptb.org/
How much have you raised?
As of June 2010, MASSIVEGOOD has raised nearly $200,000 in micro-contributions from our leisure program as well as matching funds and donations from our corporate program.. We are well on target per in relation to our fundraising model, which is based on an increase in funds raised month-by-month as MASSIVEGOOD is deployed throughout the travel industry.. as MASSIVEGOOD is launched in more countries, as corporations begin to donate, and as MASSIVEGOOD becomes well known as a reliable and effective fundraising initiative for global health. We will report on the total amount raised and how the money will be spent at the end of 2010.
Are you expecting to the global financial downturn to have a negative impact on MASSIVEGOOD?
History has proven time and again that in periods of crisis and extreme difficulty, there is a propensity for the general sentiments of the public to bend towards generosity, as we have seen most recently in the case of Haiti after the latest earthquake. We firmly believe in the worth of this project and of the ability to come together for the common good.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
What is innovative financing?
Innovative financing involves non-traditional ways to support fund-raising by tapping into new resources while engaging investors beyond the financial dimension of transactions in order to deliver financial solutions for development problems on the ground. Innovative financing focuses on new sources and new instruments for raising revenues. It encompasses different aspects of financing—from additional funding to the effective use of funds.
One of the main problems facing health system financing is the fact that current donor funding is neither sufficiently predictable nor sufficiently large enough to achieve the health Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations. Even if efforts to improve the effectiveness of current aid for health are successful, a sharp increase in resources is required.
To achieve this, the Millennium Foundation aims to inspire and empower citizens to join a movement to help the world’s most vulnerable populations. The organization hopes to achieve this by making it easy for everyone who travels to make a $/€/£ 2 micro-contribution through a simple click.
Why the travel industry?
MASSIVEGOOD's innovative fundraising mechanism has been developed to be easily and directly integrated into the booking system, enabling it to be a seamless part of the travel buying process. The donation box is linked to every Passenger Name Record (PNR) or “shopping basket”, enabling customers to donate as part of every travel purchase, whether it be airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals, etc.
As an industry that brings people together, the travel and tourism industry was the ideal starting point for creating a global movement dedicated to address the current inequalities between developed and developing countries. Today, airline companies alone account for more than 2 billion passenger reservations. The Millennium Foundation has received an overwhelmingly positive response regarding participation in the fundraising activity from the Global Distribution Systems that manage the global airline reservation networks as well as from several of the world's largest travel agencies and air carriers. As a source of funding, UNITAID already benefits from a levy on airline tickets or government contributions from 29 countries, which has helped UNITAID to reach approximately $400 million in annual funding at the end of 2009.
Which types of travel transactions are involved?
MASSIVEGOOD can be supported when making any reservation at a travel agency that uses one of the three main Global Distribution Systems (GDS): Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport. This includes airline tickets, hotel accommodations and car rentals.
Is it possible to donate without buying a travel product?
Yes, you can make a direct donation of any amount you wish by visiting www.massivegood.org
Can I donate MASSIVEGOOD on other types of purchases?
For the moment, the option of contributing to MASSIVEGOOD is only available using travel products (plane tickets, car rental and hotel), but soon, you may be able to buy other products and contribute in another way. Otherwise, you may contribute directly by going on www.massivegood.org
WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE PROJECT?
Which travel companies participate in MASSIVEGOOD?
MASSIVEGOOD is a travel industry-wide initiative which requires the input of all of its partners so that it may be able to save as many lives as possible. Competition is not at the root of this project – in fact it’s quite the opposite: it is a chance for the whole industry to come together in order to make positive changes. The worthiness of the cause speaks for itself. Because of the importance of turning MASSIVEGOOD into a global movement, travel industry giants like Accor, ASTA, Amadeus, American Express Business Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Mondial Assistance, Sabre, Travelocity, Travelport, and the WTTC all support MASSIVEGOOD. Delta Airlines, the Global Business Coalition on HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Travel Corporation, and BCD Travel have pledged their support. With over 770 million airline tickets sold each year, the potential impact can truly be massive.
Who are MASSIVEGOOD’s partners in Spain?
As of now, our partners in Spain include Viajes Barceló, Atrápalo, Viajes El Corte Inglés and Rumbo. We also have the following Travel Agency Associations joining us: UNAV, FEAAV, ACAV, AEDAVE and CEAVYT, as well as Airmet and Grupo GEA.
Why did three leading GDS competitors and other private businesses decide to get involved with MASSIVEGOOD?
The GDS technology is integral to MASSIVEGOOD, and as a result, the three major GDS companies – Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport – are working together towards a common goal. The success of the Millennium Foundation’s innovative financing solution is dependent on creating a global movement and we are delighted that all of our peers have joined together to pioneer the initiative. We hope that this example of cooperation from within the travel industry will be replicated in other industries across the world.
How was the technology behind MASSIVEGOOD developed?
The technology was originally developed by Amadeus, and has been adapted for each different travel reservation platform used by all three major GDS (including Sabre and Travelport). Each of the GDS companies has played an important role in developing and applying the tools that will enable MASSIVEGOOD to operate in a seamless and efficient manner worldwide, regardless of which GDS is used.
Ultimately, what will make this mechanism a reality is its capacity to integrate a “donation engine” into as many travel distribution and reservation systems as possible. All three GDS companies are working collaboratively to ensure that this technology achieves its utmost potential so that the movement can gain momentum in the travel arena and, ultimately, across all industries throughout the world.
How did you choose your partners? Are you planning to have new ones?
The Millennium Foundation aims to create a worldwide movement. We began with the travel industry. We have core partners who helped us create the solution, such as our technology partners, Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport, and our service support Mondial Assistance. To give travelers access to MASSIVEGOOD, we developed relationships with different types of distribution channels or access providers such as travel suppliers, online travel agencies, travel agents and travel management companies. To create brand awareness around MASSIVEGOOD we are establishing partnerships with different advocates such as trade associations, NGOs and institutions related to health, development and innovative finance as well as civil society. We are planning to have as many partners as possible to enable travelers to click on MASSIVEGOOD every time they buy a travel product.
I represent a Travel industry company, how do I join MASSIVEGOOD?
If your company is a GDS (Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport) customer, get in touch with your GDS contact point. They will be able to explain how to join the movement. For any further information you can always contact info@millennium-foundation.org or visit www.massivegood.org.
What is being done to spread the word about MASSIVEGOOD?
In addition to the support from the travel industry, celebrities and high-ranking figures support MASSIVEGOOD, including Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General and President Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United States. Supporters in Spain include the Spanish World Cup Champion football team, Alberto Contador, two-time winner of the Tour de France, Flamenco star Rosario Flores, director Fernando Colomo and star chef Andres Madrigal. Other supporters include will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, international DJ David Guetta, celebrated South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, filmmaker Spike Lee, actor Samuel L. Jackson, actress Susan Sarandon, R&B singer Mary J. Blige, quantum physicist Brian Greene, author Paul Auster, and director of the Oscar-winning movie Elizabeth, Shekhar Kapur, with Slumdog Millionaire star Rubina Ali. A number of events, online and broadcast/print communications efforts are being held in early 2010 to help get the word out about how we can all quickly and easily do MASSIVEGOOD.
A large aspect of MASSIVEGOOD depends on travel agents asking customers if they’d like to make a donation. Why does the Millennium Foundation think that travel agents will be motivated to ask customers for additional money?
The Millennium Foundation feels confident, given the overwhelmingly positive response received so far, that actors in the entire travel industry, including agents, will adopt MASSIVEGOOD as their own and wholeheartedly embrace the goodwill and social responsibility that this project embodies for both employees and organizations.
As the Millennium Foundation is engaged with the travel industry right from the very beginning, they feel confident that travel agencies will feel proud to be an integral part of a ground-breaking initiative that puts them at the front line of change and which ultimately relies on their input for success.
The innovative fundraising mechanism makes the process of asking for a donation quick and easy for everyone who travels. Making a donation of $2, €2 or £2 simply requires checking a box or clicking Donate on the reservation screen each time travel is booked, whether online or through an agent. Once the travel agent asks for the donation and clicks on the confirmation button, everything else happens automatically; travelers can hear the call to action and join this voluntary mass movement instantaneously.
How is the UN involved in the Project?
The chairman of the Millennium foundation’s board of directors is Dr. Philippe Douste-Blazy, who was appointed as by the United Nations Secretary-General as Special Adviser on Innovative Financing for Development, with the rank of UN Under-Secretary-General, following his experience as chairman of the Executive Board of UNITAID. Furthermore, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has given his support at the unveiling of MASSIVEGOOD at the at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23rd, 2009 and on March 4th for the official US launch, also at the United Nations.
Why is it that since travel agents, booking systems and clients are already faced with so many add-ons such as carbon off-setting, insurance options, etc, does the Millennium Foundation think that they are going to spend valuable time on charitable donations via MASSIVEGOOD?
The Millennium Foundation, along with Amadeus, is executing a full communication program for agents and the industry at large on who they are, how MASSIVEGOOD works and why it matters. By communicating the importance of the project and the proven success of UNITAID in saving lives amongst some of the world’s most vulnerable populations, the industry is well-placed to be at the forefront of change. Given that the program begins with the travel industry and that this industry is vital to its success, we hope that travel agents will feel that they are key players in a global movement to make the world a better place.
It is also important to dispel the notion that MASSIVEGOOD will be a time-consuming action. The process is a truly innovative solution. The agent will receive a pop-up on their screen. Once they ask for the donation and click on the confirmation, everything else happens automatically in a fast, efficient and simple way.
What are the tangible benefits to the travel agent or supplier?
By participating in MASSIVEGOOD, agencies can position their service as socially aware and responsible, allowing their clients an easy opportunity to donate to a worthwhile charity, making them feel good about their choice to travel. This in turn can increase customer loyalty and generate return business.
In addition, although the initiative is managed by the agent, the transaction takes place directly between the consumer and the Millennium Foundation so there is no financial responsibility, legal responsibility or invoicing to be undertaken by the agency or organization facilitating the transaction.
Some travel companies have already accepted certain charities to invite their customers to donate, such as the Travel Foundation. Is there a potential conflict?
People will always have the opportunity to donate to causes of their choice, but it is the Millennium Foundation’s hope that by educating people about the health crisis in the developing world, the scale of what MASSIVEGOOD wants to achieve, and UNITAID’s track record of success in making impact in this area, people will feel that this is a worthy cause to which they’ll want to contribute to.
Are large corporations going to be able to donate as well?
Through business travel management companies like American Express Business Travel, Carlson Wagonlit and BCD, corporations will have the ability later this year to contribute at a corporate level, e.g. “for each PNR created, I contribute x dollars.” No transaction will go through the travel agency. If corporations do not wish to allow business travelers to donate personally via their self-booking tool (for example, by personal credit card), corporations will have the ability to contribute at a corporate level.
TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST
What percentage of the raised funds by MASSIVEGOOD will go towards the administrative and managerial expenses of the Millennium Foundation?
One of the guiding principles of the Millennium Foundation and MASSIVEGOOD is to achieve the maximum impact of fundraising with a minimum use of resources, effectively delivering aid to reach the most people in need in the most efficient and timely manner. The Millennium Foundation’s operating costs aim to be below 2%. Out of a $2 donation, that represents $0.04. The rest of the money goes directly to UNITAID, for more information visit www.unitaid.eu.
Where can I get information on MASSIVEGOOD’s operating costs? Who is auditing the organization?
Details of operating costs will be on www.massivegood.org and www.millennium-foundation.org. The Foundation is subject to the supervision of the Supervisory Board of Foundations of the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs. Deloitte SA also externally audits the Foundation and audited accounts are then published.
How can I know what exactly my money is being used for?
One of the guiding principles of the Millennium Foundation is to maximize the impact of fundraising while minimizing the use of resources, delivering aid to reach the most people in need in the most efficient and timely manner. Your MASSIVEGOOD micro-contribution goes to UNITAID, an organization created in 2006 to increase access to treatments against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries. Additional funds will be used to improve maternal health and child health in the developing world. Using market-based solutions to reduce prices of quality medicines and increase their availability in poor countries, UNITAID has achieved remarkable results in its short existence. Three out four children on HIV treatment globally are able to survive thanks to UNITAID funds. Many HIV-positive mothers in the developing world can give birth without transmitting the diseases to their children thanks to medication made affordable through UNITAID’s programs. UNITAID has supplied over one million people with insecticide-treated bed nets to protect against malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The Millennium Foundation’s operating costs aim to be below 2%. The rest of the money goes directly to UNITAID, for more information visit www.unitaid.eu
Where did you get the information used to evaluate the impact of my donation?
Visit UNITAID http://www.unitaid.eu/en/Projects
How can I know exactly in which country my money is being spent?
Money is spent on programs, not countries. These programs by and large focus on several different aspects, including increasing access to treatment, promoting new diagnostic technologies to improve treatment and investing in quality medicine. For example, by the end of 2008, UNITAID had made available 11 new formulations for pediatric HIV, including four 'three-in-one' or fixed dose combination (FDC) pills, which are better, suited to children's bodies and help facilitate treatment adherence. We will be featuring stories on www.massivegood.org about how your money is being spent in developing countries.
Will MASSIVEGOOD give away contact information received to a third party or other charity?
No. The confidentiality of contact details shall be strictly preserved. The processing of personal data is delegated only to service providers that agree to operate the donation processing system under an irrevocable undertaking to comply with applicable data protection laws and standards in order to use the information provided only for the purpose of MASSIVEGOOD donations. The contact information provided will not be given to other charities.
What is MASSIVEGOOD’s policy in terms of privacy and data protection?
The confidentiality of the personal data shall be strictly preserved. Compliance with applicable data protection laws, rules and standards (including PCI standards) is required and enforced.
PAYMENTS AND TAX DEDUCTABILITY
How do I know if my payment has gone through?
When you submit your payment details, the RBS WorldPay payment service will request authorisation from your Card Issuer and carry out any fraud screening checks the online store may have set up. Depending on the outcome of the authorisation request, you will see either a successful or a failed message on screen which will confirm the result of your transaction.
A successful payment will also be confirmed by email. This email will include the details of your purchase and your Transaction ID, which is a unique reference for your payment, and should be quoted on any correspondence with the online store. It will be sent by RBS WorldPay to the email address you have provided when entering your payment details.
If you receive more than one email and you have only made one purchase, please contact the store from which you made the purchase, and inform them that you have placed multiple orders by mistake. They will be able to arrange a refund if necessary.
Please note, authorisation of your payment does not guarantee acceptance and fulfilment of your order by the online store. The online store is responsible at all times for confirming your order has been accepted and for delivery of your goods/services.
If you are in any doubt about the status of your order, please contact the online store you have ordered from directly, with the relevant details, and they will be able to advise you of your order status. Their contact details should be displayed on their website, the store purchase receipt and on the transaction confirmation email.
I've been billed incorrectly - what do I do?
RBS WorldPay are told the payment amount by the store from which you made the purchase. If the amount is incorrect, please contact the store immediately.
You should find the store contact details on the store's website, the store purchase receipt, and on the RBS WorldPay transaction confirmation. Alternatively, email them direct using the Reply button on the receipt or the confirmation email. When contacting the store, please include your purchase Transaction ID number (shown on the RBS WorldPay transaction confirmation email).
There is an unrecognised RBS WorldPay transaction on my bank statement
If you have made an individual purchase, please query the transaction with the store. If you have a Recurring Payments (FuturePay) account with us, you can check your account transactions as follows:
1. Login to the Shopper Management System at http://www.rbsworldpay.com/shopper/admin
2. Once you are logged in, click Change Details against the required Agreement, then View Payments. This will display every payment that you have made under that agreement.
3. To view the details of each payment, click the Details button.
If you have any doubts of the validity of the transaction (for example, you have not made a purchase at all), please contact your bank immediately.
Your payment was declined…
This message means that your payment attempt was not authorised.
This could be for many different reasons, however, WorldPay are not informed of the exact reason why the transaction has been declined. Reasons why your payment was declined include:
- Some of the card/personal details entered does not match the information held by your Card Issuer
- You do not have enough cleared funds on your card to cover the amount of the purchase
- Your Card Issuer referred the transaction for an authorisation code or further identity checks
- Your card has been reported as lost/stolen and been cancelled by your Card Issuer
- Your card has or is due to expire and has been replaced by your Card Issuer
- Your card has recently been replaced by your Card Issuer but not yet activated
- Your card cannot be used to pay for goods/services in a Cardholder-Not-Present environment (online/over the internet)
- There may be a problem with your Card Issuer’s authorisation system
If you are sure that one of the reasons above does not apply to your payment attempt, we recommend that you try again. However, should the problem persist, please contact your Card Issuer to find out further information.
If this means you are unable to pay by credit or debit card, please contact the online store directly to discuss the alternative payment options available to you.
Invalid card number entered...
The card number you have entered is incorrect. Please ensure you have entered the correct number of digits, in the sequence displayed on the front of your card.
If you have entered the correct card number, but recently been issued with a new card, then please check with your Card Issuer that it has been activated and you are able to use it in a Cardholder-Not-Present environment (to make a payment online/over the internet).
Whilst our payment system supports the most common international and domestic card types, the options offered by each online store may differ depending on the elements of our service that they have chosen. Therefore, if your card number continues to not be recognised, please contact the online store directly to discuss the alternative payment options available to you.
How can I get my receipt?
You will receive an automatic gift confirmation message, which will be sent to your e-mail address if you click on the appropriate box. You will also be able to access proof of your purchase using your MASSIVEGOOD profile ID.
What if I delete my confirmation email? Can I call you and get a new confirmation message?
If you lose your confirmation email, you cannot get a new one. You can, however, access your MASSIVEGOOD profile on the official website to retrieve your gift confirmations or access a history of your past transactions.
I lost my receipt, is it possible to send me a new one?
Yes, each donation has a specific donation ID; with this you can contact the foundation by telephone or email. With this ID we can retrieve all your donations and send the necessary information that you might require.
I want to get reimbursed because I changed my mind.
Unfortunately, you cannot get reimbursed if you change your mind as your donation is non-refundable.
I want to get reimbursed because I cancelled my booking.
Unfortunately, your donation is separate from your booking and is non-refundable.
What happens if my travel agent made a mistake regarding my donation?
If your travel agent made an error and your donation is 10 times larger than intended, you will be able to contact the MASSIVEGOOD call center (888-427-5037), which will direct your inquiry to the Finance department for review. However, there is no guarantee that you will be reimbursed and a decision will be made after a careful analysis.
How can I be sure that my donation is secure and that I will get a US tax deduction?
A “MASSIVEGOOD America Fund” has been established at the Charities Aid Foundation America (“CAF America”), a US registered tax-exempt charity that makes it possible for American donors to give safely and securely and obtain a US tax deduction.
Gifts become the property of CAFAmerica, for use in support of MASSIVEGOOD activities. Donations become the property of CAFAmerica, which at all times retains ultimate control and authority over its assets. Grants by CAFAmerica from the Fund are made in its sole and independent discretion.
CAFAmerica:
–is registered in the US as a 501c3 tax-exempt entity.
–is a member organization of the United Kingdom based Charities Aid Foundation network of offices, which provide charitable financial services to individuals, global corporations, charities, and foundations.
–made the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Philanthropy 400 list of US private fundraising charities in October 2009.
Are donations tax-deductible in other countries?
For the launch in the US, the Millennium Foundation can guarantee tax-deductibility for US residents. For each other country in which MASSIVEGOOD will be launched, the Millennium Foundation will establish a similar fund so that gifts can become tax-deductible in those countries. However, the tax treatment applicable to gifts in each specific case may vary depending on the country.
MISCELLANEOUS
How can I get assistance to use my account?
You can address your questions to enquiries@millennium-foundation.org
Is the login and the password information personal or can I share it with my colleagues?
It is probably best to keep confidential data private.
What are cookies? How can I enable them?
A cookie is a message given to a Web browser by a Web server. The browser stores this message in a text file. The message is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and possibly prepare customized Web pages for them. The method of enabling or disabling them will vary depending on which browser you are using. You can set your browser to notify you before receiving a cookie, giving you the chance to decide whether or not to accept it. You can also set your browser to turn off cookies. If you decide to disable them, some areas of our site may not function properly.
Does MASSIVEGOOD sell Tie-In products?
Visit our website for more information on how you can receive MASSIVEGOODIES.
How can I contact the Millennium Foundation?
The Millennium Foundation for Innovative Finance for Health
Route de l'Aéroport 31
PO Box 526
1215 Geneva 15
Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 799 2228
Tel: + 41 22 799 2210
General enquiries
enquiries@millennium-foundation.org
Press enquiries
press@millennium-foundation.org
I would like to work for the Millennium Foundation. How can I get a job or an internship?
You can contact the foundation using the information above.
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