ABOUT KOPERNIK

FAQs

GENERAL

What is Kopernik?
Through an on-line platform, Kopernik allows the most progressive technologies to reach poor people in developing countries. The goal is to accelerate development through ‘leapfrogging’ or skipping inferior, less-efficient technologies and practices and moving directly to more advanced ones.

Kopernik show-cases innovative products (such as solar powered products and water purification devices) and thereby provides a menu of options accessible to local organizations in developing countries. The organizations then develop short proposals explaining how they can utilize the products to overcome development challenges and impediments to growth. The public in turn funds the most promising proposals in order to make them a reality.

What does Kopernik mean?
Kopernik (Copernicus’ Polish name) is known for changing the way people viewed the world around them. In our own way we hope to change the way people approach development and the way in which some of the greatest challenges facing the world today are addressed.

How is Kopernik different from other on-line giving market places?
Unlike other on-line giving market places, Kopernik is innovative technology driven. Therefore, Kopernik not only connects the individual donors to organizations/entrepreneurs in developing countries, it bring an additional, and very important actor into the equation – the technology provider.

How is Kopernik Funded?
KOPERNIK is a non-profit marketplace that brings Donors together with technology providers in order to provide communities in developing countries with the technologies they wish to utilize. Donation made through KOPERNIK goes directly to fund the charitable program for which it was given, except for a nominal 5% fee which Kopernik charges to help Kopernik conduct due diligence, aggregate local organizations and technologies and continue to improve the Kopernik web site platform, and applicable credit card or Paypal transaction fees to be deducted from the contribution. For the 5% nominal Kopernik fee, Supporters can either choose to pay the 5% fee by making an additional incremental 5% contribution to cover the fee, or to have it deducted from their donation. With regards to applicable credit card or Paypal transaction fees, they typically range between 2 and 3% of the transaction amount. 

Effective April 1, 2010, for technology providers, we charge a 5% fee for the amount of sales of products made through the Kopernik website. In order to make this process simple, Kopernik will transfer 95% of the sales amount to the technology provider (sales amount excludes shipping and related charges). 

FOR TECHNOLOGY SEEKERS

How can my organization be part of Kopernik?
Technology seekers interested in becoming part of Kopernik can do so by filling out the registration form downloadable here. Once the registration form is submitted, Kopernik will review the application and conduct due diligence to determine whether the organization meets the requirements of Kopernik. If your organization is accepted, we will let you know and you can then begin submitting proposals.

What is the ceiling of the project budget, or the maximum amount my organization can submit a proposal for?
At this stage we are accepting proposals up to USD5,000 (product costs). As part of our ongoing pilot we have invited select organizations to submit proposals that exceed that limit.

How do I find out how much shipping will cost?
Once you have completed the proposal you can submit the draft to Kopernik and we will calculate the shipping costs for you.

What can my organization include in the proposal?
Kopernik only finances the cost of the products featured on the Kopernik website as well as international shipping costs. This means that the cost of domestic transportation and other related costs needs to be borne by the organization (e.g. public awareness activities, domestic distribution costs and in some cases additional customs clearance charges). Commodity products, such as ordinary desktop computers, fuel and vehicles will not be funded as Kopernik only helps to distribute break-through technologies.

What are the requirements for a proposal to be included on Kopernik?
Kopernik generally will not support those proposals from tech seekers that simply give products away for free. We encourage all tech seekers to devise a system of distribution, which could include the following:

1. Selling the products at a locally appropriate price.
2. Renting the products.
3. Developing a lease to buy system.

This is not an exhaustive list and we look forward to more creative ways of sustainable use of the technologies.

What if the technology breaks?
Each technology provider has their own maintenance and warranty provisions. These are clearly listed on the downloadable form on the technology provider page.

What if the product doesn’t work as well as I expected?
If the product is faulty, please refer to the maintenance and warranty provisions (above). However, if the product is functioning but just doesn’t work as well as you expected, or is not appropriate to your context, we want to hear about it. Each tech seeker is required to rate, and provide feedback on the usefulness and functionality of the technology. This feedback will be made public so that other tech seekers can see how the product is received. Kopernik will only feature those technologies that truly work in a developing context and your feedback is critical to making this happen.

What kind of reporting requirement is there?

1. First, you will need to inform us by email that the products have arrived.
2. If the implementation period is longer than 3 months (as outlined in proposal) you will need to submit a report every three months of the duration of the project as well as a final report.
3. If the implementation period is less than 3 months, you will need to submit one report within 3 months of receiving the products.

We have a simple reporting format downloadable here.

Individual donors (supporters) who financed your project will rate the quality and timeliness of your progress report. If your supporters are satisfied with your report, you are likely to have a higher rating on your organisation. In other words, failure to provide satisfactory reports would result in lower rating of your organisation, which will affect the prospect of your organisation’s future funding through Kopernik.

Monitoring

1. We are selecting local partner organizations in the countries that we are engaged in that will conduct monitoring of Kopernik supported projects.
2. We are in the process of establishing a network of Kopernik monitors who will conduct spot-checks of selected technology seekers.

Sustainability review

Kopernik will conduct a sustainability review one to two years after completion of selected projects. We want to know what difference the technologies have made to people’s lives, whether they are still functioning and in use, and if not, why not.

Is there a specific form for project proposal?
Yes, the 2 page project proposal format can be downloadable here.

FOR TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS

How can my technology be featured on Kopernik?
Interested technology providers can submit their products for inclusion on Kopernik using the template downloadable here. Kopernik will first review the technology to determine whether it is consistent with the mission of Kopernik which is to connect appropriate technologies to people in developing countries.

How is Kopernik Funded?
KOPERNIK is a non-profit marketplace that brings Donors together with technology providers in order to provide communities in developing countries with the technologies they wish to utilize. Donation made through KOPERNIK goes directly to fund the charitable program for which it was given, except for a nominal 5% fee which Kopernik charges to help Kopernik conduct due diligence, aggregate local organizations and technologies and continue to improve the Kopernik web site platform, and applicable credit card or Paypal transaction fees to be deducted from the contribution. For the 5% nominal Kopernik fee, Supporters can either choose to pay the 5% fee by making an additional incremental 5% contribution to cover the fee, or to have it deducted from their donation. With regards to applicable credit card or Paypal transaction fees, they typically range between 2 and 3% of the transaction amount. 

Effective April 1, 2010, for technology providers, we charge a 5% fee for the amount of sales of products made through the Kopernik website. In order to make this process simple, Kopernik will transfer 95% of the sales amount to the technology provider (sales amount excludes shipping and related charges).

What type of products are you looking for?
Kopernik promotes technologies that have been designed to benefit people in developing countries. We are looking for technologies in the following categories:

1. Agriculture
2. Energy and environment
3. Health
4. Water and sanitation
5. Education
6. ICT and mobile technologies

Can I get feedback on our product from the users?
Absolutely. One key feature of Kopernik is to give voice to the users of the products. We place prime importance on getting feedback on the usefulness and effectiveness of each product featured on Kopernik. Technology seekers will rate the products and provide feedback about the product, which will be publicly posted on the Kopernik website. Kopernik will also share photos and when possible video footage of the deployment of your technology.

FOR SUPPORTERS (INDIVIDUAL DONORS)

How can I be part of Kopernik?
There are a range of ways you can support Kopernik – the easiest is to donate towards a proposal. For other opportunities, please go to the Get involved page.

What kind of information can I expect to receive after donating towards a proposal?
Once a project is funded, the technology seekers managing the project will provide progress reports using a standard template provided.

Does Kopernik charge any fees?
In order to sustain Kopernik, we charge a small fee of 5% to technology providers for the sales made through the Kopernik website. At this stage, if the technology providers are not for profit, the fee will be waived. Kopernik also charges a 5% fee to cover aggregatino and vetting costs from individual donations. This is well below the industry norm.

Isn't shipping expensive?
Yes, shipping is expensive, especially to many developing countries. There are also handling charges and often additional customs duty. We are constantly working on finding the most efficient and cost-effective way to deliver the technologies to the people that need them most. We are also working on sponsorship opportunities from large courier companies.

Is my donation tax-deductible?
Kopernik has applied for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status which is currently pending with the Internal Revenue Services (the “IRS”). Once the application is approved, the tax exempt status is recognized back to the date of your donation. Thus, according to the IRS, while an application is pending, the Kopernik can treat itself as exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3). However, for potential donors, please be advised that Kopernik does not have advance assurance of deductibility because our exemption is pending.  If Kopernik ultimately qualifies for exemption for the period in which your donation is made, the contribution will be tax-deductible by you.  Alternatively, if Kopernik ultimately does not qualify for exemption, then the contribution will not be tax deductible. Please refer back to this User Agreement from time to time regarding our tax exempt status.

What if a project I support does not proceed to implementation?
If a project you support does not proceed to implementation, we'll let you decide how your donation should be used:

- You choose another project that inspires you.
- We choose a project that's in urgent need of funding on your behalf.

If we don't hear from you within 30 days of notifying you that the project you supported is not proceeding to implementation, we'll choose a project on your behalf.

What if a project I support has received donations in excess of that requested?
If a project you support has received donations in excess of that requested, and therefore unable to accept your donation, in whole or in part, we'll let you decide how the unallocated portion of your donation should be used:

- You choose another project that inspires you.
-We choose a project that's in urgent need of funding on your behalf.

If we don't hear from you within 30 days of notifying you that the project you supported is not proceeding to implementation, we'll choose a project on your behalf.

What if a technology seeker fails to submit a report?
In rare instances, a technology seeker fails to submit their feedback progress report for the project they have had funded at KOPERNIK. In this instance, all Donors will be notified by KOPERNIK and the organization will be excluded from future use of the Site. Donors are also encouraged to rate the quality and timeliness of the report by the technology seekers through Kopernik website.