Democracy is important - but it can also be expensive. Some of the smallest countries in the world wish to run free and fair elections, but the costs can be prohibitive. SparkleTheWorld provides grants that directly support the running of free and fair elections - such as independent observers to ensure counting is correct, or even buying pens so that people can fill in ballot papers at the polling stations.
SparkleTheWorld is all about making democracy accessible to everyone.
We liaise with electoral commissioners and organisations worldwide to identify opportunities to support democracy.
All you have to do is run your voting event with SparkleVote as usual. We'll allocate some of the proceeds to help SparkleTheWorld!
When you start your voting event, we pick a cause for your event and let you know exactly where and how you're helping.
Several times per year, we'll pay out 10% of the profit from your event to the cause that you're supporting. It's that easy!
“The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.”
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 21[3]), United Nations
Democracy is important. It is a major enabler to development within countries, ensuring that there is proper oversight by the people over elected officials. This is critical to ensuring that the choices made in relation to the allocation of resources for infrastructure spending and with respect of social development, reflects the true will of society.
We're very selective with our grants to ensure that we only support causes which truly support democracy around the world. Specifically, we look to grant funds that are directly related to the running of elections or associated government causes.
The SparkleTheWorld principles guide our decisions on endorsing causes. To qualify for a grant, a country must be striving towards these principles. Here they are:
The government is run by the group that wins the majority of votes or seats, based on fair elections.
Elections are run on a regular basis and are administered independently without government influence.
Universal suffrage allows most people to vote or be a candidate so that everyone can participate.
Voters are free to vote how they wish, without influence or anyone ever knowing how they individually voted.
Elections are run fairly for all candidates, and results can be verified by independent parties.
Following an election, voting outcomes are accepted by the candidates (and government changes hands smoothly).
DO YOU DONATE TO POLITICAL PARTIES?
No. Never! SparkleTheWorld was set up to support the creating and operation of democratic instituions, such as the costs of running elections themselves. We will never donate directly to a political group or organisation that is seeking to drive a political agenda. We regularly look at the calendar of worldwide upcoming elections for opportunities to help out where we can.
As an example, SparkleTheWorld would happily support paying for the purchase of polling booths, pens, electoral eduction advertising that explains how voting works, or even independent electoral observers. We will never donate money, however, to a particular candidate or person. Donations are only made one the SparkleTheVote Committee signs off and is 100% certain that the funds are being used for appropriate purposes.
Our selection of "causes" that we donate to are governed by our principles listed higher up this page.
SparkleTheWorld is an initiative of SparkleVote Pty Limited
Copyright Sparklevote Pty Limited 2016 (ABN 63 613 546 704).
SPARKLECENTRAL, 15 ADOLPHUS STREET, BALMAIN NSW 2021, AUSTRALIA.