Nourish Bangladesh is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing hunger, poverty, and disaster relief in Bangladesh. Founded in 2020, the organization connects global donors with rigorously vetted NGOs and grassroots initiatives to maximize impact in vulnerable communities.
Core Activities
- Emergency Relief: Nourish Bangladesh provides critical support during crises such as floods, cyclones, pandemics, and the refugee crisis. Their initiatives include dry food distribution, cash transfers for livelihoods, and winter blanket drives.
- Zakat Campaign: Partnering with trusted organizations, the Zakat program funds asset-building projects, such as livestock or sewing machines, and offers business capital to uplift economically disadvantaged families.
- Sustainable Development: Beyond immediate relief, the organization invests in Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) projects and collaborates with partners to address long-term challenges like climate change and stunting.
Operational Model
Nourish Bangladesh operates virtually with no paid staff, ensuring 98% of donations directly fund programs. The unique “Portfolio” approach distributes funds across established NGOs and grassroots volunteers, balancing low-risk institutional partnerships with high-impact local efforts. Funds are disbursed incrementally to prevent donor fatigue and ensure accountability.
Fundraising & Transparency
Donations are raised through campaigns targeting income-poor groups like rickshaw pullers and students and platforms like GoFundMe, Venmo, and Zelle. The organization emphasizes tax-deductible giving and collaborates with 501(c)(3)-registered NGOs and non-registered grassroots groups to broaden its reach.
Evaluation & Adaptation
Nourish Bangladesh evaluates its partners based on cost-effectiveness, local reach, and alignment with community needs to ensure that donors can trust that their funds are being used effectively. It operates on a volunteer-driven model, eliminating overhead costs, allocating funds efficiently, and maximizing impact. Nourish Bangladesh adapts programs to address emerging challenges like pandemics and climate change, combining strategic philanthropy with grassroots agility to empower millions against hunger.
Team:
President: Faress Bhuiyan
Treasurer: Jesse Steed
Member: Ayesha Jamy
Member: Jahirul Islam