When was the last time you gave —and actually knew
what happened?
Firsthand connects donors directly to verified community needs. No opaque institutions. No self-reported impact. Just a direct line — independently confirmed — from your giving to real change.
Donation
Funds held securely by Stripe from day one.
Milestone
Community completes defined milestone.
Verified
Milestone VerifiedEvidence reviewed independently.
Funds Released
Funds released to community partner.
Wyoming Nonprofit Corp.
EIN obtained · 501(c)(3) pending
Stripe-Powered Fund Protection
Funds held securely until verification
Independent Verification
No self-reporting. No conflicts.
Community-Owned Stories
Communities author their own impact
We charge less. And only when something actually happens.
We take our fee from inside the protected fund. Not on top of it.
Taken only after independent verification confirms the milestone was real. Deducted from the protected fund — not added on top of your donation.
Charged at the moment of donation — not when impact is delivered. No verification required.
Taken as overhead before any program dollar moves. Annual reports self-written by the org.
Two paths. One mechanism.
Answer 5 questions
We match you with verified projects aligned to your values and geography.
Fund with confidence
Your donation is held securely by Stripe. Full milestone breakdown visible before you commit.
Watch it happen
Receive milestone updates as the community completes each stage. Each one independently verified.
Hear the community’s voice
Verified impact report with GPS data, photos, community voice recordings, and independent verification score.
Submit a bounded project
Your application is screened across 5 dimensions within 24 hours. Detailed feedback provided.
Get funded
Your project goes live. Milestones defined, budget allocated per milestone, GPS location confirmed.
Submit evidence
GPS-tagged photos, voice recordings, written descriptions. Evidence submitted at each milestone.
Receive verified payment
Funds released within 48hrs of verification. Via Stripe (US/global) or M-Pesa (Kenya). 5–8% platform fee.
The community tells the story. In their own words.
Every other platform tells communities' stories on their behalf. On Firsthand, community members record voice notes from the field. Our AI transcribes, translates, and publishes them as donor impact stories — owned entirely by the community.
“Watoto wetu sasa wanasoma chini ya paa imara. Mvua ikinyesha, hawasimami tena kusoma. Hii ndio tofauti — si ahadi, ni ukweli unaonekana.”
“Our children now study under a solid roof. When it rains, they no longer stop learning. This is the difference — not a promise, but a truth you can see.”
“The classroom roof in Eldoret is complete. 47 students now learn without interruption during rainy season. Verified by community voice recording and GPS-tagged photo evidence.”
Luc Robitaille
LA Kings President · Echoes of Hope
Foster youth college completion — verified one milestone at a time.
Our US launch pilot, in partnership with Luc Robitaille and Echoes of Hope, funds foster youth transitioning into higher education in Los Angeles. Each milestone — enrollment, completion of first semester, scholarship application — is independently verified before funds are released.
Donors see exactly where their money is in the pipeline. Youth see their progress documented and celebrated. Partners receive payment tied to real outcomes — not just effort.
“I've stood on stages in front of 20,000 people raising money for communities I'd visited in Kenya and India. I saw the impact with my own eyes. Most donors never do. Firsthand is how we close that gap.”
Jesse Giddings
Founder & Executive Director
A philanthropy strategist and connector with 15+ years bridging global humanitarian causes, high-profile donors, and mission-driven partnerships. Jesse hosted national WE Charity events for a decade, standing on stage in front of 20,000 people across Canada while cultivating major donor relationships and leading impact trips to Kenya and India. As a television personality on E! News and MuchMusic and with years in talent management and film production, he developed the storytelling and relationship skills that now drive Firsthand's model.
Built to be trusted.
Wyoming Nonprofit Corp.
confirmedEIN Obtained
confirmed501(c)(3) Pending
pendingGates Foundation Grant App
April 2026
pending