College Students Begin Project For All To Aid Nonprofits

Originally posted by 27 East

Amid the COVID-19 recession, college students Lily Kot and Mali Gruber began Project For All — a nonprofit that aids other nonprofits.

By collaborating with artists and activists, who donate their artwork and time, Project For All strives to raise awareness and funds for nonprofits, activist groups, and organizations that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to their mission statement.

On their website, they place the 31 organizations Project For All supports in into three categories — social justice and human rights, healthcare and basic needs, and environmental and scientific initiatives — and supports them by raising awareness for their causes.

“We didn’t want to just focus on helping one cause, so we found a way to help as many as we could in an efficient way,” Ms. Kot explained.

Prior to co-founding Project For All, Ms. Kot had managed social media content for Solmaa, a social impact company working to help marginalized communities in Ecuador build a stable economy, and fundraising to construct a bakery in Esmeraldas, Ecuador. She also did the Google Ads Grant Challenge with a nonprofit called Latino Heritage LA through the American Marketing Association chapter at her school, the University of California, Santa Barbara.

“These two experiences definitely made me realize that I have a passion to help others, which is why I became even more passionate about Project For All,” Ms. Kot said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Gruber has worked as a marketing and special project intern at MindLeaps, a nonprofit that helps vulnerable youth in six countries get an education through dance.

According to Ms. Kot, the two fully launched their nonprofit in only three weeks, quickly pulling together their team and website.

Max Micalief, who originated the idea for Project For All, could not continue with the organization, but Ms. Gruber and Ms. Kot brought the idea to fruition, she said.

“It was extremely overwhelming at times, but we knew we needed to build Project For All quickly if we wanted to help other nonprofits affected by COVID-19,” Ms. Kot said. “That’s what really fueled us to dedicate so much of our time so quickly.”

The graphic designers involved with Project For All are generous enough to donate their artwork, Ms. Kot explained, and so they don’t have a consistent number of artists involved. They currently have received artwork from about 15 artists, but are constantly looking for people who are willing to donate their pieces.

“Personally, I have found our community learning segment to be the most fulfilling part of creating Project For All,” Ms. Kot said.

“Our sales are a little slow right now,” she said, “so even though we are raising money for the nonprofits we support, I wish we could gain access to more consumers and share our message. But what I like about community learning is that we don’t depend on people buying anything. It is our way to share information about relevant issues in the U.S. while also spotlighting one of the nonprofits we support.

“We really want Project For All to be a place where people can donate and buy our products,” she added, “but also a place where we can educate people and build awareness.”

Ms. Kot and Ms. Gruber, who have been best friends since the age of 2, have always wanted have an impact, and give back to their communities, Ms. Kot explained.

“We had always talked about [creating] something together, whether it be a children’s book or anything that we could collaborate on,” she said, “so being able to start a nonprofit and help others is really one of the most special things we could do. I know we are both so passionate about our work and being able to work together brings me happiness every day.”