How Cause Capitalism is solving problems caused by Capitalism and empowering communities through social enterprises.

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The widening gap between the rich and poor has emerged as one of the biggest threats to the global economy.

According to a report by the World Economic Forum, the impact of Capitalism and its disruptive potential contributed heavily to the Brexit vote as well as the now controversial Donald Trump victory in the U.S presidential election.

Worsening income inequality can’t be remedied by higher economic growth alone and is casting doubt on the very future of capitalism, according to the report, which surveyed 750 business, government and academic leaders on the largest risks to the planet.

“There is a widespread sense that the growth model we’ve been following in past years does not deliver, in terms of increasing the incomes of the population,” said Margareta Drzeniek Hanouz, head of global competitiveness and risks at the World Economic Forum at a press conference.

“There is a call for a more fundamental rethink of how we generate growth and how we distribute growth.”

Income inequality has been declining for the last 30 years on a global level as countries in Asia, Africa and elsewhere play catch-up with more developed economies.

However, in large countries like the U.K., U.S., Canada, Ireland and Australia, the 1% have disproportionately benefited from economic growth.

The financial crisis only made matters worse, notes the World Economic Forum. In the U.S., economic growth has been slow, real wages have barely budged and many have missed out on an extended bull market that has been bolstered by massive quantitative easing.

“The growing mood of anti-establishment populism suggests we may have passed the stage where [reviving economic growth] alone would remedy fractures in society: reforming market capitalism must also be added to the agenda,” according to the report.

Wage disparity has also contributed to a “lack of solidarity” among people at opposite ends of the income spectrum, says the report. This polarization has manifested itself in politics and fostered concern about the ability of nations to properly function and for global collaboration to take place.

“The momentous political changes in 2016 raised worries about the health of liberal democracy that has underpinned global prosperity,” said Cecilia Reyes, chief risk officer at Zurich Insurance Group.

Politicians have blamed globalization for the loss of jobs at home, but the report emphasized the role of automation in displacing workers, calling it a key threat to the economy.

“While innovation has historically created new kinds of jobs as well as destroying old kinds, this process may be slowing,” noted the report.

With the reinvention of capitalism being a hot topic in many minds, enters to the world stage a new principle, Cause Capitalism.

According to the Father of Cause Capitalism Steve Down, many global problems can be addressed if individuals, businesses, companies and governments were to adopt his philosophy and implement it to the latter.

“We believe that a better future for the globe lies in empowering low-income and middle-income households to improve their cashflow. We believe this can only be achieved through the principle of Cause Capitalism, which is when a for- profit organization chooses as its partner a non-profit organization, not as a gimmick but as a true sustainable partner.’ Said Steve Down, Cause Capitalism Founder.

According to global reports, an estimated 698 million people, or 9% of the global population, are living in extreme poverty, that is, living on less than $1.90 a day. Over one fifth of the global population live below the higher $3.20 poverty line (1,803 million people), and over two-fifths (3,293 million people) live below $ 5.50 a day.

The goes to show that poverty is not entirely the problem of the poor, its implications affect any country’s security. Citizens unable to meet basic needs resolve to illegal activities to earn a living. Crime rate continue to soar as the living standards depreciate.

Through Cause Capitalism, Business, Entrepreneurs and Communities are brough together by the initiatives run by the nonprofit. These initiatives go a long way towards ensuring that each and every vulnerable household in the remote of places has an equal chance at wealth creation and being self-reliant in their own way.

“Through Cause capitalism, this future is safeguarded in community development. This is why our operations are not only focus on promoting financial literacy but also partnering with a non-profit like The Goat Foundation to achieve a cause for good.” Said Financially Fit, CEO Steve Down.

Governments can easily be faulted for the imbalance yet for-profit companies globally generate profits every fiscal year with out embedding safeguarding and developing the community in equal measure as a key priority. Some of the highest paid Founders and CEO walk away with millions of dollars, with the pretext of dangling a carrot in the name of corporate social responsibility, if any to the community.

“Cause Capitalism, dictates that for-profit companies set aside a fixed percentage of their gross income, to go towards community development and support” says Steve Down.

Cause Capitalism envisions countries where no one retires to bed hungry because they cannot afford food and a decent livelihood for themselves.

Additional Copy from Lauren Debter 

She dares to dream

The Father of Cause Capitalism Steve Down leads The Goat Foundation in its 5th Community Giveback of 200 goats to 100 families in Kilifi County, Kenya.

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On Saturday the 23rd of April 2022, The Father of Cause Capitalism and Founder of the Goat Foundation Steve Down lead the team from The Goat Foundation in donating 200 goats to 100 widows in Mnarani Ward, Kilifi county, Kenya. The donation which targets to propagate his vision of Cause capitalism where for profit companies should choose non profit organizations not as a gimmick, but as true sustainable partners across the world seeks to ensure vulnerable widows in the community have an equal chance to wealth creation. Speaking to the media, Mr. Down said that his vision for The Goat Foundation is to reach out to the most vulnerable populations that contribute to nation-building but have limited to no wealth creation tools.

” Every person deserves a chance at wealth creation, and we are here to ensure that we provide these opportunities to the most vulnerable and marginalized communities.” said Mr. Steve Down.

In rural Africa, one in ten women above the age of 14 is widowed. At this young age with no self-sufficiency skills and children to cater to, they are vulnerable to many socio-economic challenges including sexually exploitative practices. According to research conducted by one of Kenya’s leading university, Kenyatta University, Kilifi county records the highest prevalence of child marriage at 47.4%. True to this, some of the widows who benefitted from The Goat foundation’s donation stated that they dropped out of primary school and resorted to early marriage.

“We take care of widows across low-income households because they fall under marginalized groups,” said Mr. Steve Down.

When widowed at a young age, they are left with the burden to care for their young families. While some resort to agriculture for provision, others choose prostitution or are inherited as wives to older men.

Access to equal opportunities.

Majajani area in Kilifi county in Kenya is among the poorest areas in the region. Characterized by poor infrastructure, long dry spells, water shortage, and early marriages. Goat farming in the area is believed to be exclusively for the fairly wealthy. A gift of goats to this community is to ensure the widows have equal opportunity in wealth building.

” Goats survive under any climatic conditions. Embracing climate-smart agriculture will ensure even the people who depend on agriculture will be self-sufficient,” said Mr. Steve Down.

To strengthen the local capacities of stakeholders to reduce the near-, medium- and long-term vulnerability to current and future climate variability, The Goat Foundation targets to reach out to 10 Million widows in East Africa by 2025. The gift of goats will ensure populations that were previously fully dependent on agriculture will not be affected by climate change as they can adjust to learning new and smart farming methods.

Steve Down: Creating wealth for the most vulnerable in the society ensures a balanced economy.

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Steve Down’s companies are all founded on his philosophy of Cause capitalism. He argues against the doctrines of capitalism by fronting a gentler, compassionate and rewarding model. Cause Capitalism according to the Financially Fit CEO is when a for-profit company partners with a non-profit organization; not as a gimmick but as a true sustainable partner. In achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development goal of No poverty by 2030, it is necessary that profits generated by for-profit companies serve the communities they are within.

Throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Poverty remains the biggest economic challenge in achieving economic equality. By 2015, 80% of the world’s poorest came from the region. It does not help that climate change equally continues to widen the wealth gap as the most vulnerable populations have been exposed to hunger from prolonged dry spells. Most of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa fully depend on agriculture for a living. With the unpredictable rainfall patterns’ that the region currently experiences; women and children are most at risk of facing the pangs of food insecurity.

The factors above contribute to income inequality that requires global solutions. One of Steve Down’s companies has partnered with The Goat Foundation, a non-profit organization that reaches out to low-income households in the most rural parts of Kenya to address by teaching wealth creation. The charity-based organization has experienced robust growth since its inception and has 450 beneficiaries across Kenya.

The inspiration behind the 10,000,000 empowered households by 2025.

The binding vision for The Goat Foundation is to ensure low-income households have income-generating activities that will enable them to cater for themselves financially.

Steve Down says he was inspired by the story of a young widow whom he first met while visiting Kenya. She had just lost her husband and at the time, she had no reliable source of income. With children to fend for he wondered how she was going to survive. As the members of the community contributed to the woman’s husband’s proper send-off, Steve noticed no one talked about contributing to the young family’s future.

He then asked one of the attendees what he can do to ensure the woman is self-sufficient.

“Only 2 goats will keep the widow’s children in school!”

Steve Down was shocked that a small family would only need $100 to sail them through life normally. He thought about the families that are forced to sacrifice education for their children because they cannot afford it and the disadvantaged women are left without any inheritance and knowledge on wealth creation. It is then that The Goat Foundation became a solution for poverty alleviation in rural communities.

By 2025, The Goat Foundation envisions to have reached 10,000,000 low-income and vulnerable widows in East Africa. The gift of 2 goats; a male and a female should give widows a chance to partake in wealth creation.