With a mission to empower donors and bridge the funding gap for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)–led nonprofits and candidates, EvenScore is working to level the playing field for small-dollar donors and the causes they care about most. Through data-driven, customizable fundraising guidance and easy access to relevant data, donors make intentional contributions and monitor the impact of their money. And with a focus on supporting underrepresented communities, EvenScore is committed to creating a more equitable world for everyone.
In the healthcare space, EvenScore provides personalized giving recommendations and connects donors with effective healthcare nonprofits. Additionally, they remove barriers to accessing information and empower individuals to advocate for their communities, leading to a more diverse and representative healthcare sector.
We spoke with EvenScore founder and chief executive officer Johnnie Turnage about how EvenScore works and what’s on the horizon for his business.
Company mission: To empower donors and bridge the funding gap for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)–led nonprofits and candidates.
Questions and Answers
What compelled you to create EvenScore?
With the growing importance of brand reputation, people worldwide are more invested in social impact, politics, and community involvement than ever before. However, fundraising can be challenging for both donors and causes, resulting in small-dollar donations that may not have any possibility of success. This issue is due to a lack of organization en masse to drive campaigns toward success, diminishing returns as time passes, and unsafe channels for funding distribution.
I started community organizing when I was 12; I learned the importance of organizing not only people but also money to win elections. After reflecting on the surge in donations during the 2020 election, I was inspired to create EvenScore. We focus on the fight and even the score, allowing people to make an intentional donation to their chosen cause while monitoring the impact of their money. Our work is grounded in data-driven, customizable fundraising guidance and easy access to relevant data.
At EvenScore, we believe that every person deserves the right to choose who represents them and the policies that affect their lives. We aim to empower donors to identify candidates who align with their interests and values, focusing their contributions for maximum impact. We recognize that equity is a critical issue in fundraising, and there is a $2.7 billion average funding gap for BIPOC-led nonprofits and candidates in comparison to their counterparts. Our goal is to bridge this gap and create a society where the voices of the many eclipse the voices of the elite.
We strive to empower donors to make intentional contributions and monitor the impact of their money while bridging the funding gap for BIPOC-led nonprofits and candidates. With data-driven, customizable fundraising guidance and easy access to relevant data, we aim to level the playing field for small-dollar donors and the causes they care about most.
How does EvenScore connect to healthcare innovation?
At EvenScore, we support healthcare innovation by providing personalized giving recommendations for health-related causes and connecting donors with effective nonprofits in the healthcare space. We also democratize access to data and information, enabling nonprofits to improve their programs and services and drive innovation. By empowering individuals to use their voices to advocate for their communities, we’re helping to amplify the voices of those who have been marginalized in healthcare decision-making processes, leading to a more diverse and representative healthcare sector.
Tell us more about the technology. How does it work?
EvenScore is a direct-to-consumer product that combines interest-based targeting, digital organizing tools, and financial technology tools to amplify the voices of small-dollar donors. Our app presents users with a list of preset topics and areas of interest, and provides a list of organizations, campaigns, and candidates most aligned with their interests. With a few clicks, users can safely donate and share campaigns with their community. Our proprietary code scours the web for relevant nonprofits and candidates, and our dashboard allows users to easily track their donations and the status of each campaign. Join EvenScore and make your impact today!
Who are your customers?
At EvenScore, we serve a diverse range of customers, including nonprofits, campaigns, and institutions, as well as impact-focused individuals and corporate customers. Our platform is designed to support small-dollar donors who are passionate about social impact, social justice, and community organizing. We provide personalized recommendations and real-time feedback to help donors make informed decisions and maximize their impact while also enabling organizations to leverage the power of storytelling, data analytics, and community building to achieve their goals.
How did you get connected to MedHealth? What has MedHealth done to help your business?
In October 2022, our team took home the grand prize at Michigan Tech Week’s. We formed a powerful collaboration with two other companies to utilize our innovative technology and unique insights to help move Michigan off the Justice40 list. With over 25 percent of the state’s population living in communities burdened by pollution, our team worked tirelessly to provide data and actionable pathways for residents to advocate for change and promote healthy communities.
As a result of our win, we were invited to open the MedHealth Summit in November. Being able to present to an audience focused on health communities helped us gain invaluable support and interest from investors and potential partners. Our collaboration has been able to secure pilots, funding, and support to help move Michigan toward a more equitable and sustainable future.
What’s next for EvenScore in the months ahead? What are you working toward?
We are excited to start ten new paid pilots in May. Once our pre-seed community round is complete, we will launch the app in the third quarter of this year. We already have more than 100 customers and 3,000 people on our waiting list.
In addition to our formal launch, EvenScore is committed to the advancement of the Black tech founder community. Earlier this year, we established and hosted the inaugural “Changing the Narrative: Celebrate Black Founders & Inspire the Future of Black Tech in Michigan,” an education and collaboration series for founders in Michigan and the Midwest. Deepening the ties between founders with knowledge-sharing, problem-solving, and intentional networking will be a major focus of EvenScore’s work long term. We don’t just want to ensure our success, but that of the entire community.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting that you know now?
When I first started out as a founder, I wish I had known just how expansive and supportive Michigan’s tech community is. Building within this community has been crucial to our success, and I’m committed to helping other founders benefit from the same resources and connections that have been so valuable to us. By improving outreach and strengthening ties within the community, we can all work together to create a thriving ecosystem that supports innovation and growth. Join us in our mission to create a healthier and more just world for all!