TripAdvisor taps NeedsList to connect employees with refugees

What if you could help refugee communities from afar?

Through Philly-based NeedsList, TripAdvisor’s workforce of 3,000+ will have a chance to volunteer remotely in 22 countries.

The Needham, Mass.-based travel site partnered with the Philly company as part of its yearly Global Volunteer Month. Through the remote volunteering effort, employees are expected to contribute 300 hours of direct volunteer time and $10,000 in assistance. NeedsList makes a digital platform that lets users provide aid to a number of refugee groups,

Amanda Levinson, NeedsList cofounder and COO, said employees will spend time on tasks like mentoring refugee entrepreneurs, offering marketing and communications guidance for nonprofits and working on a cryptocurrency platform that helps refugees have access to goods and services.

“The private sector has a vital role to play in innovating humanitarian aid for the 21st century, and  TripAdvisor is at the forefront of companies putting their financial and human resources on the line to help,” said NeedsList CEO Natasha Freidus. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with TripAdvisor on this project, which will pair their incredible network of skilled, globally concerned employees with high-impact organizations around the world.”

NeedsList employs a team of five (two full-timers, three part-timers). The startup was part of the Ben Franklin–Village Capital accelerator program and the Inquirer’s Project Liberty incubator.

“TripAdvisor is committed to providing aid to the refugee crisis and has teams of employees around the world who are passionate about solving critical social issues,” said Tali Golan, Director of Philanthropy and Inclusion at TripAdvisor. “NeedsList provides an innovative opportunity to connect our people to a custom list of remote volunteer opportunities that employees can participate in right from their computer screens to meet the urgent needs of refugees.”