From Friendships to Nonprofit Partnerships!

Aug 18

by: Savanna Willis, Education Advocate

Like most twenty-something year-olds, balancing work, school, and a social life can be a daunting task. Sometimes you need a wine night with the girls to reset.

Little did I know that my wine night would lead to a nonprofit collaboration.

Did I know my friend of almost twelve years was a business genius with a heart of gold? Absolutely! Did I think that would translate into her and her tech-savvy sorority sister founding a nonprofit? Or that their nonprofit would directly benefit and support my organization (NWEA) and causes that I feel strongly about? Not so much!

However, that’s exactly what happened. In the midst of a pandemic, my friends Alex and Gigi founded Provide Now.

As Washington natives, Alex and Gigi both attended University of Washington (UW). Alex graduated with a degree in Business Administration, and has worked in marketing and advertising for four years. She has established philanthropic programs within her own startup endeavors, and has personally raised over $70,000 in charitable giving over the last 10 years.

Gigi graduated with a degree in informatics and has worked in information security for seven years with a focus in data security, web application security, development, identity, fraud analysis, and management. During their time at UW, Alex and Gigi formed a friendship that blossomed into a wonderful partnership. Together they co-founded Provide Now, with Alex Taylor serving as the COO, and Gigi Gillies serving as the CEO.

Provide Now is a Seattle-based nonprofit marketplace that allows donors to purchase materials and supplies needed by local charitable organizations. Provide Now’s mission is to provide our community with the resources necessary to thrive, but not just any resources. Alex and Gigi strive to source their resources from vendors that are women, BIPOC-owned, locally-owned, or made domestically. While it’s not always possible depending on the items needed and sourcing available, their goal remains in sharp focus.

That’s what Provide Now is all about: helping a community through the power of community. Alex and Gigi work to do good by positively reinforcing donorship in order to help new generations build a strong and consistent relationship with philanthropy.

Provide Now has been instrumental in helping NWEA directly support students by providing critical supplies that students need to continue their educational paths. With that I say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to my friends who so strongly support me and the organization I work for.

Gigi and Alex, thank you for all of the good you do, all of the relationships you grow. Thank you not just for being in NWEA’s corner, but for standing behind all of the charitable organizations you support, and the greater King County community!

“Never start a business to ‘make money’, start a business to make a difference!”

-Marie Forleo