Alexander Blass set out to change the fundraising world. Why? Blass tries explaining his motivations in an open letter posted at RealityCharity.com. That Web site, which Blass started developing about three years ago, launched publicly in April and has since hosted more than 1,000 fundraisers. It is approaching the 4 million-hit mark, according to Blass. “The inspiration is rooted in my family and upbringing.” Blass wrote in his letter. “My father is a Holocaust survivor from Budapest, Hungary. I never had the opportunity to meet most of his family, as many of his relatives didn’t survive the war. For this reason, I feel that life is a miracle and a gift.”
He goes on to describe how he was affected by seeing poverty in countries he has visited such as Burma, Laos and Thailand. Blass, who has an MBA from Oxford, also explains the lessons in charity he learned at home. And he writes about how disasters like Hurricane Katrina solidified his belief that something new was needed to connect people who need help with those who want to give it.
Blass can now talk about countless RealityCharity.com connections. There was the woman whose home was destroyed in Hurricane Rita who was able to catch up on owed rent for her new home, thanks to a stranger in California who decided to pay it all. There was the Wisconsin woman who got more than $20,000 from donors across the globe to cover medical bills. Whether it’s an individual or an organization trying to raise money, Blass wants his Pikesville-owned RealityCharity.com to be the forum in which it happens.
“When you think of auctions, you think of eBay. When you think of books, you think of Amazon.com,” Blass said in a telephone interview. “If you think of philanthropy and fundraising, to date, people have probably drawn a blank. There has not been that one-stop shop. And that’s how we see ourselves.”
Few are surprised that Blass would be making his mark through technology. “Alex was doing business on the Internet before most people had an e-mail address,” said Steven Klapper, Blass’ sophomore-year roommate who watched his friend run a mail-order business over the Internet. “Our dorm room looked like a FedEx hub.”
Blass said all his experiences, including his previous career as a venture capitalist, prepared him for RealityCharity.com, which makes money charging fees to fundraising organizations that use the site. There is no fee for individuals raising money.
“You can really see the human element on the Web site even after spending just a minute on it,” Blass said.
The site has attracted media coverage in several countries.
“There’s nothing that I’ve done professionally that has been more rewarding than seeing the true impact that our company is having on the lives of other people,” Blass continued. “And I would imagine that’s what makes others curious as well. Because they’re equally excited about having the ability to contribute to somebody’s life.”
Alexander Blass
Title: President and founder
Company: RealityCharity.com
Age: 33
Education: Bachelor’s degrees in arts and humanities from the University of Maryland, master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, MBA from Oxford University
Family: Single
Volunteer activities: He speaks to high school students through the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education; advises college students in local business plan competitions; and serves on emerging technology funding review panels at the National Science Foundation
Advice for young people in the work force today: “Find something you are truly passionate about. If you love what you do, other things will fall into place.”
What’s on your iPod: “I seem to be one of the lone holdouts without an iPod. I’ll probably give in eventually.”
Text, e-mail or cell phone: BlackBerry, but I think a phone call is always best.”
Last book read: “[I am ] more of a news junkie.”
Favorite TV show: “Entourage”
Downtime: “Traveling to fascinating parts of the world, learning about – as well as from – other cultures.”
Rebecca Logan is a Kansas-based contributor.
