Once upon a time in a surf camp in Africa...
No seriously, that's how the story starts.
Once upon a time in a surf camp in Africa... Jeremy had an idea. "When I get back to the states, I want to create a company that helps nonprofits use technology to do what they do, but better," he said to no one in particular.
Jeremy Berman was on a sabbatical from his fancy job at a big consulting firm in a big city. On this sabbatical he'd gone to Africa to mentor kids via a run-down surf shack attached to an elementary school. He was stoked. Except when he got there he learned the kids he'd be in charge of were aged 1 to 5 - not exactly shredder material. He had no training, the school had no money, and was located in an area of extreme poverty. Needless to say, little actual surfing took place. Jeremy didn't speak their language and the kids didn't speak English. After a few days he ended up going door-to-door fundraising for the school.
And he had a blast. He discovered he loved giving back, maybe more than surfing, and the idea for GoodUnited was born. So, back in the states, Jeremy went to get his MBA and met Nick Black.
Nick was a recently retired Army Captain, Airborne Ranger and Afghanistan combat veteran. After seeing firsthand the suicide epidemic among veterans and Soldiers, Nick and two friends started the nonprofit Stop Soldier Suicide in 2010. Nick shared Jeremy's passion for giving back and also believed that helping nonprofits use cutting edge technology could be a game changer.
They studied. They graduated. They drank craft beer in between. Then they moved their families to Charleston, South Carolina to start GoodUnited.
Today Nick and Jeremy work more hours than there are in the day because they truly believe in that idea born in an African surf camp all those years ago.
"Why should nonprofits have to use old technology or be left behind technically when they are competing for the same dollars as for-profits?" Nick says.
Why indeed?
Nick and Jeremy and all of the smart people they've hired at GoodUnited truly care about making the world better by helping nonprofits like yours access the same kind of advanced technologies that are making for-profit enterprises successful.
If you'd like to see how it works, we'd love to show you.
