End Poverty Now is a nongovernmental, non profit advocacy organization dedicated to the alleviation of poverty

Poverty

Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...

 both locally and worldwide. It is based in Montreal

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 and was formed in 2004 by Ross Margulies and Nejeed Kassam, two students at McGill University. On August 21, 2006, End Poverty Now officially became a registered non-profit organization in Canada and on December 11, 2007, End Poverty Now became a registered charity

Charitable organization

A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 in Canada.

Structure (Chapters and Committees)

End Poverty Now operates all across Canada, with its headquarters in Montreal

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

, and local chapters spread throughout other Canadian cities and universities. All EPN members are volunteers. The main office consists of 18 volunteer staff and approximately 40 additional volunteer committee members, and writers.

Chapters

End Poverty Now Chapters allow a person or group to develop the End Poverty Now philosophy in their school, university, or region. These Chapters aim to provide poverty education to the public, organize fundraising and awareness events, establish local poverty related volunteer opportunities, and involve people in the effort to "end poverty now". EPN’s current chapters are at McGill University

McGill University

Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...

, Guelph University, and The University of British Columbia

University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...

.

Committees

At the head office in Montreal EPN has established a decentralized, committee-based structure which provides many opportunities for volunteers to become involved. Each committee is chaired by one of the organization's directors and staffed by dedicated volunteers.

Board of Advisors

End Poverty Now has created a Board of Advisors. Members of the Board of Advisors include scholars, professionals, politicians, and community leaders. These advisors act as mentors to the organization and provide essential experience and assistance to End Poverty Now. Members serve on a volunteer basis and have no direct responsibilities, duties, or influence on the organization’s policies.

Grassroots Projects

End Poverty Now dedicates 70% of all funds directly towards grassroots poverty alleviation projects. EPN engages in joint venture projects to establish locally developed grassroots projects aimed at creating long-term sustainability and growth. There are a variety of projects with international grassroots organizations that EPN is working on. The current projects include an agricultural training program with Village Health Works in Burundi, a beekeeping initiative with the Rwanda Village Concept Project and the Widow's Association in Rwanda

Rwanda

Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...

, a Backyard Gardening Project with the International Association for Transformation in the Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

, an Education project with Dianova Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...

 and the Las Marias school, School support/educational materials for GOUN and RADHA in India, and the Warm Fireside Project in Montreal

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

(with the Projet Autochtone du Quebec).