Dutch Bamboo Foundation: Reversing Climate Change with a Gem of a Grant Writer and Research Assistant
Customer Company Size
Startup
Region
- Europe
Country
- Netherlands
Product
- Google Workspace for Nonprofits
- Gemini for Google Workspace
- Google Forms
- Google Sheets
- Google Maps
Tech Stack
- Google Workspace
- Gemini
- Google Drive Extension
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Environmental Impact Reduction
- Productivity Improvements
- Innovation Output
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Machine Learning
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
Applicable Industries
- Agriculture
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Product Research & Development
Use Cases
- Predictive Maintenance
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
- Data Science Services
About The Customer
The Dutch Bamboo Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating climate change by planting bamboo, the world's fastest-growing plant, to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Founded by an American living in the Netherlands, the foundation aims to establish bamboo plantations across Europe to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable uses of bamboo. Despite being a one-person operation, the foundation collaborates with global partners, board members, other nonprofits, and volunteers to create a European-based supply chain for sustainably harvested bamboo. The founder, Wennersten, leverages technology to enhance collaboration and streamline operations, ensuring the foundation's mission is effectively pursued.
The Challenge
The Dutch Bamboo Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is on a mission to combat climate change by planting bamboo, the fastest-growing plant, to remove carbon from the atmosphere. The founder, Wennersten, operates the organization solo, which makes collaboration essential yet challenging. The foundation collaborates with global partners to establish a European-based supply chain for sustainably harvested bamboo. Wennersten faces the challenge of managing a high volume of documents and spreadsheets, coordinating with board members, other nonprofits, funders, prospective donors, and volunteers. The need for efficient collaboration tools is critical to streamline operations and achieve the foundation's mission.
The Solution
To address the challenges of collaboration and information management, the Dutch Bamboo Foundation adopted Google Workspace for Nonprofits, which provides a suite of tools for efficient collaboration at no cost. The familiarity of Google Workspace among partners facilitated seamless collaboration. The foundation uses Google Forms and Sheets for volunteer recruitment and task management, while Google Maps aids in identifying potential bamboo planting locations. A significant enhancement came with the introduction of Gemini for Google Workspace, which assists in grant writing by drafting responses to common application questions. Additionally, Wennersten created a custom 'research digester' Gem using Gemini, which analyzes complex publications and provides actionable insights. This tool helps manage the influx of climate science information and supports the foundation's mission by connecting with experts and developing new strategies.
Operational Impact
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