Through industry uncertainty or political intent, the future of charity is under threat. It’s clear that something needs to be done with traditional aid work to remain effective.

As Not For Sale turns 18, co-founder Mark Wexler reflects on how charity is evolving, what needs to change, and how NFS has the answer to many of these challenges.

USAID and the attempted dismantling of foreign aid

“There have always been challenges along the way with our work. More recently, we’re facing ongoing funding issues. When we first started Not For Sale we were very involved in a more DC-oriented network that worked to unlock funding from the State Department. Or from United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and others. In time, our entrepreneurial mindset and evolving business model took us in a different direction.

“The fact that there’s work being done to dismantle and close USAID does cut close to home in the human trafficking space. I’m getting feedback from our projects on the ground and other partners in the space. A number of projects received funding from USAID and are facing funding gaps, just like our project in Not For Sale Vietnam. Not For Sale faces a significant $400,000 a year funding gap if USAID is discontinued. We don’t know where those funds will be made up.”

Your role in the future of Not For Sale’s work

“We are looking for support. Do people within your network have connections to foundations who have a passion or interest for the work being done in Vietnam? Please do let us know. You can email team@notforsalecampaign.org to get in touch. And if you live in Minneapolis or the surrounding region, listen up! We plan on having Not For Sale Vietnam Director Michael Brosowski with us in person in May 2025. Be on the lookout for those event details in the coming months.

“Through getting feedback from communities and individuals that have come through the reality of being a refugee. The largest funder in the world of refugee services via the UN is USAID – this will have a major effect.

“I know this for a fact, in East Africa. This will have a huge effect on countries such as Uganda, which is home to the second largest number of refugees in the world. We work directly with Congolese refugees in Kyangwali Refugee Camp. These are people who have been forced to flee their country.”

Philanthropic engagement and the future of charity

“Part of our philanthropic engagement through Not For Sale Uganda has been with a school for 1500 students in Kyangwali Refugee Camp. These funding changes will have a major effect on the refugee community, which is already enough of a difficult situation.

“I visited the camp recently and, when a refugee comes in from the Congo, they first stop at a welcome center. From there, after about two or three days of processing and health checks, they’re provided a plot of land, a tarp, an axe, some utensils, and some firewood.
Along with a very small amount of money, that’s it.

“For people who are trying to restart their lives, the funding amendment is going to set them back even further. Don’t take my word for it, I’m simply reporting what I hear from our community leaders in East Africa.”

Monitoring the effect of funding cuts from the front lines

“These actions have real-world effects. It’s our job to report back to our community here the reality of what people are facing in other areas of the world. I see our community on the whole as one large group of friends who are coming together to support one another.

“We’re a critical conduit helping facilitate that work and also to explore some of the innovations that are needed in creating a healthier future for at-risk people around the world.

“This is going to be a very difficult situation if things continue as they are. More people will need help. More people will want to leave their already dire situation, and more people will be looking to come to the U.S. and Europe, not less.

“We’ll keep monitoring it closely and we’ll report from the front lines what we’re hearing on the effects of any actions within the communities where we work.”

How charities can do more through business for good

“As I think about the last 18 years of Not For Sale, I think about the start was driven by the passion and mission. I think that’s a very normal and healthy way of starting any organization.

“It’s about meeting demand and meeting need – helping raise funds and rally support towards survivors of human trafficking. That work continues to this day, and your support is integral to that. We’re incredibly grateful to those of you who are in a place to financially support Not For Sale so we can continue to support tens of thousands of at-risk people around the world.”

However, it’s clear that charities around the world need to do more to remain effective during these challenging times. This is where Not For Sale’s approach is vital – delivering life-changing support for people and planet through sustainable business.

Understanding the root causes of vulnerability has resulted in Not For Sale establishing businesses and innovations around the world to stamp out the exploitation in entire regions.

“REBBL is our beverage company that we started. They buy ingredients such as Brazil nuts from communities that we work with in at-risk regions of the world like southern Peru.

“Alongside this activity, Dignita, are our restaurants in the Netherlands. They showcase how to build a sustainable business model that supports survivors from the Red Light District. The team at Dignita has also done a lot of work with refugees from Ukraine.

“These initiatives and restaurants are a living embodiment for both the element of sustainability. But they’re also where people can work with dignity. We’re very grateful for these opportunities to explore and innovate in building opportunities with partners such as these.”

Protect the planet to protect the people

“In places such as the Congo or the Amazon where we work, if you don’t begin to address the environmental root causes of exploitation, you will not stop the vulnerability that leads to forced labor and human trafficking.

“Combining environmental sustainability and the social enterprise or business for good, you get a company like Regenerate Technology. Regenerate is a battery recycling company that we’ve been helping incubate over the past few years.

“Many minerals and metals that go into our phones, our computers, or our cars come from the Congo. Often, there’s extreme conflict as part of the extraction of those materials. We need to create solutions like closed loop energy systems where we don’t have to be reliant on continually pulling metals out.”

Sometimes that extraction is essential, so Not For Sale has also found a way to keep the supply chain of minerals and metals as sustainable as possible.

“Another company that we’re deeply involved with is M2i Global. They’re working to integrate sustainable business practises into the supply chain of minerals and metals. We’re grateful to be a part of the creation and growth of M2i Global.”

Your donations are more important than ever

“Help all these projects progress by financially supporting our work. We have survivors that are dependent on us. That can only be sustained through gifts from people like yourself. Thank you for your ongoing gratitude and support. Without you, we would not be able to have the impact that we have.”

Through sustainable business, the future of charity is a place where more people can thrive. Stamping out vulnerability is more than just an aid campaign. We focus efforts on positive impact for people and planet. Through business and social enterprise, we make a difference for life.

• Support Not For Sale in cementing the future of charity through sustainable business.