Graphic design titled "Dancing Girl in School Uniform" by Budi Satria Kwan, as shown on CommonThreadz websiteThe nonprofit, CommonThreadz, builds awareness of philanthropic initiatives by selling limited-edition, artist-designed t-shirts and donating 100 percent of funds raised to purchase school uniforms for children in developing countries.
CommonThreadz's philosophy is that our "common thread" is a common desire and committment to making a positive difference in the world. This nonprofit is supported by a community that choose new project ideas and votes on the ones that will receive CommonThreadz support and fundraising campaigns. Each project must raise at most $25,000 and be related to one of the following categories: the environment and wildlife, health, arts and culture, human services, and education. This "community-generated philanthropy" hopes to spread the word and inspire others to participate at a grassroots level.
The t-shirt project is an ongoing CommonThreadz project. The organization's community votes on t-shirt design themes that represent the good work of nonprofits around the world. The design theme is then submitted to the organization's artists that then create and donate a design for that cause. CommonThreadz occasionally hosts a design competition as well. For every t-shirt sold, CommonThreadz donates a school uniform to a child in a developing country; any leftover funds are used toward the nonprofit cause for which the t-shirt was designed.
CommonThreadz was recently highlighted in a Lucky Magazine article in the October 2008 issue.