Web Searches Help Fund Medical Research

From Baruchnewmedia

According to the ePhilanthropy Foundation, online donations have skyrocketed, going from $250 million in 2000 to close to $7 billion in 2006. Some of the most interesting things and the ideas in e-philanthropy are being driven by young people. Facebook and MySpace have become hotbeds of charitable giving for healthcare organizations as have sites such as Kiva.org, SixDegrees.org, Change.org, DoSomething.org, and DonorsChoose.org. Ken Ramberg has created GoodSearch, a Yahoo powered search engine which donates 50% of its revenues to the charities. GoodSearch is another idea for fund-raising which is simple and give people at all income levels a tool for benefiting charity without spending a dime. Nonprofit and other healthcare organization are encouraging its supporters to use search engines like GoodSearch which give a fraction of the revenues earned to the organization. For example, Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA), an organization dedicated in fighting the spinal muscular atrophy and supporting the families of those suffering was able to raise nearly $800 in just a few months by encouraging its supporters to regularly use GoodSearch. "It is a terrific passive fundraiser from our perspective," said FSMA Communications Coordinator Lenna Scott, "one that does not require a lot of extra effort to gain a positive benefit.

FSMA began the campaign about the GoodSearch in April, 2006 informing its supporters through email and newsletter requesting them to use the search engine. The organisation continues to remind its members and supporters to use GoodSearch in hopes of keeping its fundraising momentum going. FSMA will fund over $5 million in research every year and asks its supporters to use GoodSearch more often as every cent it raises can make a difference. GoodSearch is an Internet search engine with a simple concept and unique social mission. GoodSearch enables you to help fund any of hundreds of thousands of charities or schools through the simple act of searching the Internet.The company was founded by a brother and sister team who lost their mom to cancer and wanted to find an easy way for people to support their favorite causes and loved ones.

There are thousands of charities connected to cause in healthcare Here are just a few of the many success stories thus far:

ASPCA has earned $29,000, Children's Tumor Foundation has earned $3,700, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has earned $12,100 Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy has earned $5,100, Food Allergy & Anaplylaxis Network has earned $4,900, Invisible Children has earned $5,400, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has earned $10,700

GoodShop.com

GoodShop.com is a part of GoodSearch website, The GoodShop Online Shopping Mall Fundraiser is partner with different merchants like Gap, eBay, Macy's, Land's End, Sears, Target, etc. any click from the GoodShop.com website and then making a purchase at the partner website allows your favorite charity to earn money which is approximately 3% of the total purchase amount. GoodSearch sends each organization a check once a year in December for the funds earned through the prior 12 months. For example, a shopper made a $purchase for $432 at online shoe store Zappos.com, resulting in a $26 donation to the Berkshire Humane Society. Thousands of other purchases large and small have been made helping out different causes.

References

GoodSearch.com http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/charity-may-begin-at-home_b_115082.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/giving/11SOCIAL.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&sq=goodsearch&st=cse&scp=3 http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=217805