An Interview With Jared Opsal of Givable
Today I sat down with one of our long time members, Jared Opsal, of the company Givable. For those unfamiliar, Givable is a nonprofit platform that helps connect people to other nonprofits. It allows them to give (as little as 50 cents per day) in a fun and gratifying way. Every day, Monday-Friday, Givable sends its users an email and allows them to decide where they want to micro lend for that day.
This interview's timing is relevant, as Givable will be launching a big campaign on December 1st, their 50/50 raffle. This essentially is a raffle ticket where you can win 50%, and the other 50% is donated to nonprofits! Let's be real; this campaign is just a better version of the lottery.
One of the major reasons we are excited to highlight Jared, besides just the 50/50 raffle, is because nonprofits, like Givable, have always been an enormous part of the TechArtista community. Beyond adding to our diversity, we believe supporting local nonprofits makes us a stronger city committed to helping all boats rise together. We continue to offer nonprofit discounts and support to companies looking for space within our community in St. Louis.
Here’s my interview with Jared:
Alex: Hey Jared, let's jump right in. How would you describe the work you do to a complete stranger with a significantly low attention span, like me?
Jared: I run a nonprofit (Givable) that helps raise money for other nonprofits. We do this by offering fun and engaging ways to give. All it takes is a quick enrollment and then you’re all set to give to local nonprofits from your inbox each weekday. Donate as little as 50 cents each day along with other Givable members and together you’ll make a positive impact on your shared community. The difference we make is exponentially greater when we collectively give as a team.
Alex: What inspired you to start doing the work that you do?
Jared: Put simply, I got into nonprofit work to start making a positive change in the community. I used to work in web development for a company in Downtown St. Louis, and one day I decided I didn't want to sit in a cube in front of a computer screen all day. So I went back to school with a focus on public service and found my way into the nonprofit world after graduation.
Alex: Who are your clients or customer base?
Jared: Any individual, family, or workplace looking to find ways to help St. Louis nonprofits. A couple of the workplaces that have signed up with our email giving program are Lockerdome and S.M. Wilson Construction.
Alex: How long have you been a member of TechArtista, and what do you love and/or hate about it?
Jared: I joined the Downtown location with the previous nonprofit I worked for, the Downtown Neighborhood Association, in February 2017. So, I practically came with the building. My favorite part of our membership here is the diverse community of creative and smart people that converge together to support one another.
Alex: So, I'm hearing you have zero complaints. Great, next question…
Alex: How has the current pandemic affected you and your business – positively or negatively?
Jared: We have been unable to host events for nonprofits and conduct outreach to gain new people to sign up for our email giving program. However, the pandemic has allowed us to focus on a new program that we have been conducting a soft launch for since June.
Alex: Care to share a fun fact about yourself or your business?
Jared: Fun fact about me, I am a huge sci-fi and fantasy movie nerd.
Alex: Want to name a few?
Jared: LOTR, Star Trek (Next Generation), Star Wars, District 9, Solaris, Dark City, Blade Runner, The Expanse, you know, those sorts of movies.
Alex: Completely off-topic, but I have to ask (staring upwards)... how tall are you?
Jared: That's usually one of the first questions someone asks me when I meet them in person because I am tall enough that I have to duck indoors sometimes. I usually turn this question around and have them guess my height before letting them know the answer, and I'll do the same now.
Alex: 9ft?
Jared: ...
Alex: Do you have any big news you would like to share?
Jared: We are launching a new campaign on December 1, 2020 called STL 50/50. It's an online, region-wide 50/50 raffle held once a month that supports a different charity every raffle. All tickets are digital and will be purchased at STL5050.com. Thanks to promotional partners and sponsors, we will have a BIG launch for this campaign on December 1, 2020. If people are eager to get a ticket early, they can check it out now as it has already gone live.
We are hoping this will raise tens of thousands of dollars for charities in St. Louis. We are always looking for others willing to help us spread the word with a social media post, email, or whatever else will help.
Special thanks to Jared for taking the time to chat with us about himself and the work he does with Givable. If you are interested in learning more about Givable, and their 50/50 raffle, visit givable.org.
You can also contact Jared directly if you have any questions or are looking to connect:
Jared Opsal
jared@givable.org