The smile.al program is a pioneering initiative for the promotion of social and developmental banking.
For the first time in Albania, an online platform has been created which enables the gathering of resources from the “ crowd ” – from anyone interested, wherever they may be in the world. The resources are then directed to specific projects undertaken by implementing bodies. The core philosophy of crowdfunding is to enhance awareness among the public and to motivate people to contribute, as much as they can, to the implementation of projects that are needed by Albanian society.
The various smile.al actions are being implemented by bodies with a solid track record in such activity, through the program’s website www.smile.al, by leveraging the potential of the crowdfunding financing model.
The funds raising through the smile.al are donations.
Crowdfunding is a simple, widely known fundraising concept and practice, by which an individual or legal entity can contribute, in line with their means, in kind or in cash, to various initiatives such as social welfare, solidarity and business initiatives that often focus on the community and the environment.
In recent years crowdfunding has become a valuable tool for supporting agencies, NGOs and companies in their efforts to acquire the funds needed to gain objectives such as carrying out welfare and social solidarity actions, implementing innovative business ideas, or covering operating needs. The practice of seeking funding from a large number of people – thus giving rise to the term “crowdfunding” – emerged on the margins of the traditional financial system and has become easier to achieve thanks to the spread of the internet. Besides the speed and immediacy that this fundraising model offers for the presentation of an idea and the networking of the agency that implements it, crowdfunding has the added advantages of low operating costs and wide coverage and promotion of the projects to be financed.
Crowdfunding motivates the public to contribute to the achievement of specific goals, and encourages people to support on a collective basis and in a truly practical way any kind of social or business venture that they feel merits their backing.
Our aim is to activate and mobilize Albanian society through essential partnerships and give prominence, whereas possible, to every social need from every corner of Albania by developing and supporting social programs.
Smile.al program and the online donations social platform feature the needs of significant thematic areas for improvement. The direct alliances with Civil Society Organizations and Social Partners , combined with the power of crowd, bring the vision of Smile.al into life.
We aspire to become a dynamic hub of knowledge, cooperation and action for civil society through our program.
The applications regarding proposed actions should fall within the scope of the following thematic areas of the smile.al program:
1) Health and Solidarity,
2) Promotion of Cultural Heritage,
3) Environment,
4) Innovative Entrepreneurship,
5) Social Entrepreneurship,
6) Education and Training,
7) Sporting Activities.
All these institutions contribute to the program by offering their know-how while also leveraging the potential of the crowdfunding platform so as to broaden and multiply the resources for projects or actions that they already supported.