Kopernik

Kopernik is a registered public charity with tax exempt 501(c)(3) status in the United States which has set up an online marketplace to bridge the gap between innovators, developing communities and financial supporters in order to distribute life-changing technology effectively to the developing world.

Kopernik (Copernicus’ Polish name) is known for changing the way people viewed the world around them. In our own way we hope to change the way people approach development and the way in which some of the greatest challenges facing the world today are addressed.

Kopernik focuses on appropriate technology designed specifically for the developing world, because of its direct and transformative effect on people’s lives.

Unlike other on-line giving market places, Kopernik is innovative technology driven. Therefore, Kopernik not only connects the individual donors to organizations/entrepreneurs in developing countries, it also brings an additional, and very important actor into the equation – the technology provider, thus promoting innovation in solving development challenges.

Kopernik is a non-profit marketplace that brings donors together with technology providers in order to provide communities in developing countries with the technologies they wish to utilize. Each donation made through Kopernik goes directly to fund the project for which it was given, except for a nominal 10% fee calculated on the amount of each donation, which is automatically deducted from each donation. Kopernik charges the nominal fee to: Help Kopernik conduct due diligence;  Aggregate local organizations and technologies and continue to improve the Kopernik web site platform.  Applicable credit card or Paypal transaction fees are also deducted from the contribution.   These typically range between 2 and 3% of the transaction amount but may vary from time to time and depending on the transaction.  Kopernik has no control over the transaction fees as these are charged by the payment processor.

For technology providers, unless otherwise agreed, we charge a 10% fee on the cost of any products supplied through our site. In addition, we also charge a listing fee for technology providers to feature their products on the Kopernik website. For more information, please see the For Tech Providers page.

 Yes, Kopernik is a registered public charity with tax exempt 501(c)(3) status in the United States. However, for potential donors based in other jurisdictions, please be advised that Kopernik does not currently have tax exempt status under the laws of any other jurisdiction.

There are a range of ways you can support Kopernik – the easiest is to donate towards a proposal. For other opportunities, please go to the Get Involved page.

Each technology provider has their own maintenance and warranty provisions. These are clearly listed on the warranty tab of the technology detail page.

Kopernik believes in total transparency. We share the budget breakdown of all projects listed on our site, under project budget section of the proposal page. A typical budget includes:

• Product cost
• Shipping cost
• Transaction fee (e.g., Paypal fee)
• Local duty
• Wire transfer fee (from Kopernik to tech provider)
• Kopernik's 10% fee

If a project you support has received donations in excess of that requested, and therefore unable to accept your donation, in whole or in part, we'll let you decide how the unallocated portion of your donation should be used:  

• You choose another project that inspires you
• We choose a project that's in urgent need of funding on your behalf. If we don't hear from you within 30 days of notifying you that the project you supported has received donations in excess of that requested, we'll choose a project on your behalf

1. First, you will need to inform us by email that the products have arrived.
2. Kopernik’s project officer will make a monthly check up call to learn the project progress
3. If the implementation period is longer than 3 months (as outlined in proposal) you will need to submit a quarterly report (quarterly reporting format downloadable here) every three months of the duration of the project as well as a final report.
4. If the implementation period is less than 3 months, you will need to submit one final project report (final project report format downloadable here) within 3 months of receiving the products.

If a project you support does not proceed to implementation, we'll let you decide how your donation should be used:

• You choose another project that inspires you. 
• We choose a project that's in urgent need of funding on your behalf. If we don't hear from you within 30 days of notifying you that the project you supported is not proceeding to implementation, we'll choose a project on your behalf.

While Kopernik is active in many countries in Africa and Asia, Timor-Leste will be one of the focus countries of Kopernik, not only due to the most daunting development challenges that the country faces, but also due to co-founders' long standing engagement, knowledge and network in Timor-Leste.

Yes, shipping is expensive, especially to many developing countries. There are also handling charges and often additional customs duty. We are constantly working on finding the most efficient and cost-effective way to deliver the technologies to the people that need them most. We are also working on sponsorship opportunities from large courier companies. Once Kopernik reaches a stage where a large number of projects are funded simultaneously in one location, shipping of products could be bundled to reduce the shipping cost.

Once a project is funded, the technology seekers managing the project will provide progress reports using a standard template provided.

Local organization typically contributes funds to conduct awareness raising/training, cover domestic distribution costs, and monitoring and evaluation. We are also introducing a new 'investment model' where the money raised through the sales of the technologies will be returned to the original donors. The amount to be returned varies, depending on the local economic conditions and the types of technology. This model is being piloted in Inner Mongolia, and once ready, this will be replicated in other select projects, when appropriate. 

All technologies on Kopernik site are specifically designed for the developing world, and are extremely user-friendly. In addition, local NGOs that implement projects conduct necessary awareness raising and training to ensure the proper usage of the technology.

In order for Kopernik to verify the report from NGOs and assess the overall impact of the technology, we conduct Rapid Impact Assessment (RIA) for selected projects, with Kopernik fellows. Kopernik Fellows also oversee and assist the implementation of the projects, and take videos/photos. We have already conducted one RIA for Nigeria and Kenya projects. For inquires about Kopernik Fellow, please see 'Get Involved' section of the website. 

All 'ready-to-go technology' we feature on our site is developed in close collaboration with the people in developing countries, and many of them were indeed invented by creative people in developing countries. We now have a new Do-It-Yourself technology service line where we showcase instructions on how to construct the technologies with which people in developing countries can build themselves, using locally available materials. For DIY technologies, please see 'Browse Tech' section. 

Kopernik values the proximity, connection and knowledge of local NGOs on the community they work with, and aims to decrease the intermediaries in between the donors and the end beneficiaries.

Kopernik is currently working with NGOs, as most of the technologies that we feature may not be effectively disseminated only based on a commercial approach. However, we are currently looking into commercial technology dissemination with local businesses as well.

Kopernik generally do not support the give-away of products. We encourage all local NGOs to devise locally appropriate pricing/payment mechanisms, in order not to disrupt the local economy. However, Kopernik supports free distribution when it can be justified (e.g., in a post-disaster situation, or in order to support public institutions such as remote hospitals).

Kopernik generally will not support those proposals from tech seekers that simply give products away for free. We encourage all tech seekers to devise a system of distribution, which could include the following:

• Selling the products at a locally appropriate price, with locally appropriate payment scheme.
• Renting the products.
• Developing a lease to buy system.

Kopernik conducts legal and financial checks of the NGO and reference checks with prior donors. Kopernik also conducts interviews with the head of the organization, in order to further assess the reliability and capacity of the organization.

We appreciate your interest, but at the moment Kopernik is unable to meet the requests of donors for arranging visits to our project sites. Regular updates to all donors on the progress of the project, with photos, are made available to provide sufficient information about the continuation of the project to which you have donated.