My name is Joshua Kristal and I am a documentary photographer living in Brooklyn, NY.   For 20 years I have been working professionally and for 20 years I have donated my services to needy organizations.  Detroit, India, New York, Ethiopia, Madagascar.  I am about to do it again, this time in Nicaragua and I could use your help.

I have never asked for support in my charitable efforts.  Though I can't really afford to volunteer at this time, I still will.  I do so because my skill-set has such a tremendous value for organizations that can't afford it and simply, I enjoy doing it.  It feels great to serve and the experiences are usually humbling and inspiring.  In fact, some of my best moments travelling have been while serving organizations.

I feel strongly in the power of the still image to open people's minds, hearts and wallets.   Organizations utilize the dynamic imagery I supply to market themselves and raise more funds to help achieve their mission. These valuable marketing resources are used in a myriad of ways and the better their marketing materials the better response they have from donors. It's simple.

You most likely seen the terrible state of small organizations websites, if they have one at all and how they are riddled with bad quality imagery, graphics and design. They are hobbled by tiny budgets which are spent on important services on the ground and never marketing. Even well funded organizations rarely budget for photography.  In fact, an organization with a $60,000,000.00 annual budget just told me yesterday that they can't afford to pay me.  

It's incredibly disheartening for someone who wants to make a difference, to use their skills for the betterment of society and to not be able to do so.  I write to you today in hopes of changing that. 

So, as I embark on Sunday to Nicaragua to volunteer for Kulanu, an organization I volunteered with in Ethiopia and  then again last summer in Madagascar, I am contacting other organizations there that can benefit from my services.  I've never asked for support before in my efforts but I am asking today. 

The good thing is, you will receive art in exchange for your donations!  So, you help me help others and in turn you get some high quality artwork in return.  It's a win-win.

This is serious business for me.  I have been trying to start my own nonprofit for years that would do just this. The organization, The Visual Aid Foundation has nonprofit status, a website but I have yet to launch it.  

Besides Kulanu, whose mission is to support the world's neediest Jews and emerging Jewish communities (here is a link to my work in Madagascar) I am also talking to and hope to work with several other organizations there.

•The Manna Project International are excited at the chance to get new photography of their projects.  I will spend at least 3 days with them in the capital city of Managua documenting their operations.  

Their mission states: "OUR VISION IS TO CREATE COMMUNITIES OF YOUNG LEADERS THAT HELP BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD."

•La Central Cooperativa Las Diosas (“The Goddesses”)  is a dynamic network of community-based cooperatives run by women and supporting true development and respect for women’s rights. This female cooperative of coffee growers is doing amazing work and helping women gain independence and a foothold in this traditionally male dominated field.

So, 3 causes in 3 weeks.  It's going to happen.  

Thanks for the support.

Joshua