Hope International

Donating money to a good cause via donation box is not a common practice in Japan. This posed a big challenge to HOPE International Development Agency Japan, a non-profit organization that helps people in need become self-reliant, when it set out to create donation boxes to raise awareness and expand its mission. Together we found a better way to introduce HOPE’s donation boxes to the public.

HOPE wanted to increase its monetary donations in Japan. Initially, we hypothesized that our challenge was to design a box to encourage more people to donate. But a closer look revealed that the box ‘hosts’ – people who manage a donation box – were the real opportunity. They have a lot of clout when it comes to expanding a support network, especially for an organization like HOPE, a smaller player in the Japanese donation box scene. We determined we needed to find ways to increase the number of hosts and encourage them to act as multipliers for the non-profit – while also keeping a close eye on the solutions’ production and shipping costs.

Along with co-creating a visually appealing donation box, we also co-designed a seamless box hosting experience. The donation box now comprises of a kit with a poster and sticker representing different causes people can support. Clear instructions on how to use the box and how to submit a donation make the hosting experience completely straightforward. After careful consideration, we decided to manufacture a donation box made of thick paper. Not only does it minimize production, shipping and storage costs, it also simplifies the hosting process. Plus, the paper boxes can be produced in the Philippines by communities HOPE supports.