Country: Australia

Organization: The Intrepid Foundation

Year the initiative began: 2002

Project Website: www.theintrepidfoundation.org

Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions:

• Main barrier addressed: Corporate monolithic approach to tourism
• Main insight addressed: Develop community assets

Youtube upload:

What is the goal of your innovation?
To support initiatives in Intrepid's destinations worldwide, that empower residents to improve their quality of life and conserve their heritage.

How does your approach support or embody geotourism?
The approach of the Intrepid Foundation is to identify and support worthwhile non-government non-profit organizations that work to empower local people to improve their lives and help to protect the community's heritage. Areas addressed include health care, education, human rights, child welfare, sustainable development and environmental and wildlife protection. Travelers learn about these organizations and their work through participation on Intrepid Travel's trips. Currently Intrepid Travel takes over 70,000 travellers a year visiting 95 countries. When choosing an organization or project to support we consider how it will help Intrepid travelers better understand global inequities, how these needs are being met and the role they can play in creating solutions.

Describe your approach in detial. How is it innovative?
The Intrepid Foundation's Management Committee (of suitably experienced professionals) accepts submissions from Intrepid Travel staff and associates inviting support for non-government organizations addressing community needs and conservation. These need to be: • Operating in a Not-For-Profit manner. • Community based in both aims and operation. • Addressing a clearly identifiable need. • Not primarily established to serve a religious purpose. Consideration is also given to the degree to which the organization is: • Open and transparent in their decision making and financial management. • Able to demonstrate a cost effective method of operation; • Accepted and respected in the local community; • Focused on the poor and marginalized within the community; • Environmentally sustainable; and • Aimed at raising the self reliance and skill base of the community. The Intrepid Foundation is currently the broadest travelers' philanthropy program in the world with its reach, level of engagement of travelers and the commitment from Intrepid Travel. Intrepid travelers may visit the organization on their trip and then are given incentives to support the organizations; their donations are matched dollar for dollar by Intrepid Travel who also pay all administrative costs, ensuring every cent they donate will reach their nominated project.

What types of partnerships or professional developement would be most beneficial in spearding your innovation?
Partnership with the International Ecotourism Society and their Travelers' Philanthropy network has been a valuable way to share ideas and spread our innovation. Since the Intrepid Foundation's establishment, several international tour operators have used our model to develop their own philanthropic initiatives. The completion of an International Development degree has helped enable our founder to incorporate best development practices into our operating guidelines. Partnerships with organizations such as the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism, Amnesty International, TRAFFIC (reducing trade in endangered species) and ECPAT (working to prevent child sex tourism) have also helped The Intrepid Foundation's positive reputation.

In one sentence describe what kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
Engaging and educating travelers to participate in supporting destination communities improve their well-being and conserve their natural and cultural heritage.

Describe the degree of success of your approach to date. Clearly define how you measure quantitative and qualitative impact in terms of how your approach contributes to the sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How does your approach minimize negative impacts?
In the first 5 years of operations, The Intrepid Foundation has distributed more than $1m to more than 50 organizations and their projects in 21 countries. There are two avenues for support: a) The Intrepid Community Project Fund, currently supporting 30 organizations and their projects; and b) The Foundation's Intrepid Perpetual Support Fund Account. Donations received are divided equally each year with half going into an annual grants pool to support a selection of respected international non-government organizations (currently 10) and half being held in perpetuity to grow capital for future support. This fund has distributed more than $240K and is currently holding more than $500K. We also measure the educational reach to travelers via passenger feedback and the number of donations received. Negative impacts are minimized by the evaluation process whereby potential beneficiaries are reviewed against a set of criteria. These include assessment of the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the project, by our ground staff, the Disbursements Working Group and finally by the Foundation's Management Committee. Successful projects are reviewed annually via reports and by visitation from Intrepid Travel employees. Regular communications help to ensure accountability and that funds are used as originally intended.

How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
Many of the organizations or projects can be visited by Intrepid travelers during their trip. Some of the organizations aren't suitable to visit, but Intrepid travelers may widely observe the 'issue', learn how it is being addressed by the organization, from their group leader and Intrepid literature. Through Intrepid's online feedback system, travelers often quote that visitation to some of The Intrepid Foundation projects is a highlight of the trip, that their eyes were opened by the experience and that they much appreciate being given a meaningful opportunity to give back to their destination.

In what ways are local residents actively involved in your innovation, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?
An important prerequisite for the choice of organization and projects supported by The Intrepid Foundation, is that they are community based, largely implemented by local people and are accepted and respected within the local community. Communities are empowered by this approach. It may sometimes take much longer to get a project moving, than if outside 'experts' were brought in, but when it is being implemented with wide community participation and control, ultimately it is likely to be more effective. Mistakes along the way are seen as valuable learning opportunities.

Describe how your innovation helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area's cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues. How do you motivate them to act responsibly in their future travel decisions?
Several Intrepid Foundation projects specifically address cultural and natural heritage and conservation ex. Kiau Community Project in the Dusun community adjacent to Mt Kinabalu National Park, Sabah; KEEP – Kathmandu Environmental Education Program in Nepal; the Amazon jungle preservation projects; and the work we do promoting TRAFFIC's information on preventing the trade in endangered species; WSPA's Animal Friendly Travel guidelines; and carbon reduction measures embraced as part of our carbon neutral goals. The best motivator for travelers is experiencing first hand the positive outcomes gained through the Intrepid Travel model of responsible tourism and the role model of their group leaders.

Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? What is the potential demand for your innovation?
For transparency and accountability, The Intrepid Foundation operates independently to Intrepid Travel. Current income is mostly from travelers and Intrepid Travel. The Foundation's Intrepid Perpetual Support Fund Account is holding more than $500K, and these funds can be called upon when need surpasses annual income, ex. a small withdrawal topped up our Tsunami Appeal donation of over $210K. This money supported Plan and Medecins Sans Frontieres' work in tsunami impacted communities. Intrepid Travel is expecting over 70,000 travelers this year, each of whom are potential donors. The company is financially sound and growing.

How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.
Intrepid Travel has budgeted for a contribution of $280K this financial year. Much of these funds will be used to match travelers donations to their chosen beneficiary or to the Perpetual Support Fund. There is potential for The Intrepid Foundation to contribute over $560K this year to the current 40 beneficiary organizations. The Intrepid Foundation Incorporated has an elected Committee of Management which oversees the operations and meets at least bi-monthly. It currently has 11 members, holding positions that include Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, 3 working group conveners and the Administrator. The 3 working groups, each made up of 4 – 6 members/volunteers, are: Income Generation, Communications and Disbursements. Our volunteer Administrator currently works 2 half days per week processing and receipting donations. Administrative overheads are funded by Intrepid Travel - approximately $5-10K per annum. These include fees to CAF Australia who manage the Intrepid Perpetual Support Fund Account.

What is your plan to expand your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.
The Intrepid Community Project Fund is currently supporting 30 grassroots non-government organizations in 20 countries. Intrepid Travel is currently operating in 95 countries. We would like at least one or two project options for all developing countries or regions visited. Due to Intrepid Travel's expansion, we hope to identify at least another 5 worthwhile beneficiary organizations in each of Africa, Latin America and Europe/Middle East in the next 3 years. We also to wish to increase our traveler participation and engagement to encourage a higher percentage of travelers to donate.

What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
Intrepid Travel group leaders have the greatest opportunity to teach travelers about community needs and invite travelers to participate and possibly donate. We have found that travelers are often eager to give back in some reliable way where they can be assured that all of their donation will be suitably used. They just need to be told how. In the last 5 years Intrepid Travel has employed many more local people in the developing countries that we visit. They are often not comfortable with asking travelers if they would like to donate, so we are rethinking how to train the local leaders on these matters and how we can more effectively communicate with travelers. Another barrier is the competition for the charitable dollar and possibly so-called 'compassion fatigue'. We would like to be making a greater contribution to environmental conservation programs in our destinations. But as they don't tend to attract travelers funds to the extent that children's projects or those supporting health and education do, Intrepid Travel tends to compensate by being the greater donor in these important areas.

What is the origin of your innovation? Tell your story.
When Intrepid Travel started in 1989, the two founders and current directors, Darrell Wade and Geoff Manchester, were committed to bring positive benefits back to where Intrepid traveled, not only through business and friendship but also by supporting local development needs. They committed to contributing 10% of their after-tax profit to worthwhile charitable projects as soon as they could. Very soon, Darrell and Geoff were lending a hand to locals in their endeavours by ex. funding and equipping a school for hill-tribe children in Northern Thailand, micro-enterprise development in Indonesia and supporting several international NGOs and their work across our Asian destinations. Their concept of small group adventures quickly took off and the company grew. After 12 years of operating only in Asia, Intrepid expanded to include Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australasia, the Pacific and Latin America. By 2002, Intrepid was supporting dozens of worthy organizations. Our travelers were increasingly contacting us and trusting us to hand carry donations back to the projects and charities they had learnt about while traveling with Intrepid. We were aware that as a travel company, not a charity, we may encounter problems with this informal support. We decided that with the establishment of a more effective mechanism for our charitable support we could capitalize on this good-will and enable our travellers to give back to the many wonderful places they travel to. After much discussion with development agencies and charitable fund managers, and a AU$200,000 start-up donation from Geoff and Darrell, The Intrepid Foundation was launched to our staff and traveler community in October 2002. Intrepid now takes 70,000 travelers to more than 90 countries worldwide each year, employing more than 700 staff throughout the world. As the company has grown, Intrepid's philosophy has stayed the same – to provide fun and affordable travel adventures that are sustainable and beneficial to both travelers and local communities. The hallmarks of Intrepid trips and their responsible travel approach are small groups, the inclusion of as much public transport and locally owned and operated accommodation as possible and lots of opportunities to interact and make friends with the local people. Over the past 5 years, thanks to the support of more than 2000 donors, we have proudly distributed more than $1 million to over 50 great projects in 20 countries. Positive achievements include: 270 young Chinese girls who dropped out of school have been able to return to primary school for 3 years through the Spring Bud Plan. In Cambodia, the Starfish Foundation has been able to support many disadvantaged individuals and families to start up small businesses and become self-sufficient. Starfish has also facilitated the construction of community wells and arranged for food and transportation to enable clients to access free medical care. In Luxor, we helped Animal Care in Egypt improve the welfare of working animals, which in turn helped their owners' livelihood.

Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
Co-founders, Darrell Wade and Geoff Manchester are passionate travelers. They met at Melbourne University where they both completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree. It was during an epic journey across Africa in 1988, with a group of friends, that their idea for Intrepid was born. The Intrepid Foundation idea was conceived by Responsible Travel Manager, Jane Crouch, with Geoff and Darrell's support. Jane has also traveled extensively, has a long involvement with several development agencies and has recently undertaken a Masters Degree in International Development.

Please write an overview of your project. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the Google map located on teh competition homepage.
The Intrepid Foundation Inc (TIFI) is a philanthropic initiative of small group adventure operator, Intrepid Travel. TIFI aims to educate and encourage travelers to participate in supporting community development organizations in the countries they travel, improving their well-being and conserving their natural and cultural heritage. TIFI supports communities through: a) The Intrepid Community Project Fund, currently supporting 30 organizations and their projects; and b) The Foundation's Intrepid Perpetual Support Fund Account. Donations received are divided equally each year with half supporting a selection of respected international non-government organizations (currently 10) and half being held in perpetuity to grow for future support. Positive achievements include: - 270 young Chinese girls who dropped out of school have been able to return to primary school for 3 years. - Supporting many disadvantaged individuals and families to start up small businesses to become self-sufficient in Cambodia. - Helping Animal Care in Egypt improve the welfare of working animals, which in turn helps their owners' livelihood. Thanks to the support of more than 2000 donors, we have proudly distributed more than $1 million to over 50 great projects in 20 countries, and we have more than $500K held in perpetuity.

Contact Information
Ms Jane Crouch
Responsible Travel Manager
The Intrepid Foundation
The Intrepid Foundation, PO Box 2781 Fitzroy, Victoria AUSTRALIA
jcrouch@intrepidtravel.com