I think they have a huge opportunity to create a habit for these first donors. Big donations from big VC people certainly is an opportunity for fundraise, but not for learning. As a early stage social network site is all about engagement, not traffic, they should focus on engagement for small, regular donors. Impulse donations are used and abused all over the social sector, but they won't be the base for a game changer nonprofit, as I imagine Watsi is trying to be.
Even more important is engagement because nonprofit usually have multiple missions. Watsi shouldn't just "get the money to the people" as a business oriented mind would think about their model. Engage donors to give money and understand the situation of the people receiving the money, and the situation of their city, the public health system in their country, how their families and neighborhoods deal with health issues. These are the things that will make the world smaller and the humans closer. A big VC writing a check of 100,000 dollars won't acomplish anything on that, 10,000 people giving 10 bucks each month, a reading their newsletter, understanding more about the world. That is an accomplishment.
Even more important is engagement because nonprofit usually have multiple missions. Watsi shouldn't just "get the money to the people" as a business oriented mind would think about their model. Engage donors to give money and understand the situation of the people receiving the money, and the situation of their city, the public health system in their country, how their families and neighborhoods deal with health issues. These are the things that will make the world smaller and the humans closer. A big VC writing a check of 100,000 dollars won't acomplish anything on that, 10,000 people giving 10 bucks each month, a reading their newsletter, understanding more about the world. That is an accomplishment.