This honor recognizes leaders driving meaningful, measurable change, and Ben embodies that mission every day.

Through his vision and leadership, Ben has transformed Charitybuzz from a pioneering idea into the world’s leading impact marketplace, raising more than $650 million in unrestricted funding for thousands of nonprofits globally. More importantly, he has reimagined how the world gives, unlocking new forms of capital, harnessing cultural influence for good, and inspiring the next generation of philanthropy.

A Vision Rooted in Purpose

Ben has consistently championed a bold belief: philanthropy must evolve if it hopes to meet the demands of today’s world.

“Giving hasn’t changed in 50 years,  but the world has. To unlock new resources for the causes that matter, we have to rethink what people can give and why they give.”
— Ben Erwin

Driving that evolution has been Ben’s conviction that giving becomes more powerful when it becomes personal. Under his leadership, Charitybuzz pioneered the idea that access is a new form of generosity and that unforgettable experiences can be a catalyst for extraordinary impact.

Redefining How People Give

Ben has helped shift philanthropy from a passive transaction to a deeply human, engaging, and emotional exchange.

Traditional donations often begin and end with a receipt. Charitybuzz offers something different: participation in something meaningful. Whether it’s a mentorship session with a visionary CEO, dinner with a cultural icon, a walk-on television role, backstage access to a global tour, or a private visit to a world-renowned sporting event, each experience brings purpose to life and makes impact tangible.

Through storytelling, access, and connection, Charitybuzz invites people not just to donate, but to be part of something that matters.

Engaging the Next Generation of Philanthropists

Ben also understands a fundamental reality: traditional donors are aging, and the future of philanthropy depends on cultivating new audiences now. Nearly 70% of charitable giving still comes from donors over 50, yet Millennials and Gen Z will inherit $84 trillion in wealth over the next two decades.

This next generation gives differently. They seek:

• Experiential connection rather than transactional charity
• Authenticity and transparency
• Purpose with personal relevance
• Impact they can feel and share

Ben has ensured Charitybuzz is built for this shift. By transforming philanthropy into something culturally meaningful, Charitybuzz has become a preferred entry point for modern donors, where passions and purpose collide across business, film, music, sports, travel, and entrepreneurship.

To make giving even more accessible, Ben led the expansion of Charitybuzz Sweepstakes. With entry donations starting as low as $10, sweepstakes democratize impact, welcoming first-time donors and younger audiences into philanthropy in a way that feels exciting and inclusive.

As a result, tens of thousands of emerging donors now give through Charitybuzz each year, many making their first significant charitable contribution through a sweepstakes or auction. Ben is not only leading charity innovation, but he is also building a sustainable pipeline of future philanthropists.

Transforming How Nonprofits Raise Critical Funding Through Influence

While donor behavior evolves, nonprofits face intensifying urgency. Demand for their services continues to grow, yet traditional funding sources have remained flat for decades. Ben tackled this challenge head-on, not by competing with traditional philanthropy, but by expanding it.

He recognized a simple but powerful truth: philanthropy is not limited to financial wealth. Influence, time, expertise, access, and cultural capital are equally valuable—if given a platform. Under Ben’s leadership, Charitybuzz has converted these untapped assets into a powerful new source of philanthropic capital.

• A lunch meeting with a global leader can raise $50,000
• A studio tour can fund a classroom for a year
• A mentorship session can change the course of a career
• A golf round or design review can fund critical cancer research or build homes for families in need

These aren’t hypothetical stories; they're the soul of Charitybuzz.

Because unrestricted funding is the most valuable gift a nonprofit can receive, every dollar raised through Charitybuzz fuels program expansion, innovation, and long-term impact.

Ben often shares a core belief that defines his leadership philosophy:

“Philanthropy is not just about money. Influence, access, and expertise are equally powerful currencies—and when mobilized, they can transform what’s possible.”
— Ben Erwin

That philosophy has shaped the Charitybuzz model and driven partnerships with cultural icons and industry leaders who use their platforms for good, including Paul McCartney, George Clooney, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Oprah Winfrey, and Tim Cook, along with global brands like Christie's, Netflix, Paramount, Virgin Galactic, and Polo Ralph Lauren. Together, they have proven that influence is one of the most powerful and renewable resources for impact.

By unlocking what people uniquely have to offer and aligning it with purpose, Ben has helped build a new economy of giving, one powered by creativity, community, and shared humanity.

A Finalist — and a Force for Good

Being named a finalist for the Givsly Impact Awards is more than recognition of Ben Erwin as a leader; it reflects the collective impact Charitybuzz has achieved under his vision and the movement he continues to build. His leadership has ignited a transformation in how people give and how nonprofits grow, proving that technology, innovation, and purpose can work together to unlock entirely new pathways for impact.

What began as an innovative idea has become a global catalyst for generosity, empowering individuals and organizations to use what they have—access, expertise, creativity—to drive meaningful change. Today, Charitybuzz is doing more than redefining philanthropy; it’s fueling a movement where generosity is connected, human, and limitless in possibility.

Join us in honoring Ben’s dedication to impact and his leadership in advancing Charitybuzz’s mission to redefine the future of giving.

Cast your vote for Ben before October 31: 

https://givsly.typeform.com/to/Lfd2OVXn?typeform