CAPE is a decentralized and virtual organization. We don’t have a fancy office – actually we don’t really have an office. Our directors and members live all over the world and we do most of our work over the internet. As individuals, we’re not rich or powerful.
Nevertheless, we’re absolutely convinced that together we can make a real difference in people’s lives. By encouraging the participation of as many people as possible from all walks of life, there truly is no limit to the good that we can accomplish. This is the core of our organizational philosophy.
As a new charity, we realize that the only way we’ll achieve our goals is by building a vast community of supporters dedicated to our vision of accessible professional education and services. The larger and more diverse the community, the more energy, ideas, and perspectives we can harness to achieve our goals. And the more we empower supporters, the more successful we’ll be.
So if you want to organize a fundraiser, we’ll support you. If you have a great idea, we’ll ask you to do it. If you want make a YouTube video, or spread the word on your favourite social network, we’ll be grateful. We have total confidence in our supporters to help the CAPE Scholarship fulfill its mission.
But CAPE supporters don’t just help us raise money, they actually run the organization. Everyone who makes a donation to CAPE, not matter how big or how small, automatically becomes a member of the organization.
Much like shareholders in a for-profit corporation, members are responsible for making sure that CAPE is being governed properly. Members elect the Board of Directors, vote on major decisions at annual meetings, and review the audited financial statements of the organization.
The purpose of this approach is further engage our supporters and make CAPE as accountable and transparent as possible. When you donate to the organization, you’re not just supporting its mission, you’re getting a stake in its success. You’re empowered to make sure that contributions are being properly managed and used to further CAPE’s objectives.
For more information, please read our membership policy.
Consistent with our desire to build a diverse community of supporters, CAPE believes that all members – regardless of how much they donate – have an equal say when it comes to governing the organization. So whether you donate five or five thousand dollars, you receive full membership rights.
While money is necessary to achieve our goals, it’s just one ingredient of social change. We believe that our supporters have so much more to contribute. They’re a wealth of knowledge, ideas, and passion that can be harnessed to help others make the most of their potential. Since all of our members have something equally valuable to contribute to the cause, all members are equal.