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FAQ

1. What was the inspiration for GiveToBenefit?

Co-founders Dan Sossaman and Dave Richman saw an opportunity to merge their passion for philanthropy and technology in late 2010 after seeing more and more people going online to create fund drives, make donations, and build communities around the desire to "do good." Inspired by the success of companies like Crowdrise, StartSomeGood, and Kickstarter, Dan and Dave introduced a new twist: They elevated the importance of the supplier in the equation, challenging the notion that donors and non-profits should be satisfied with anything less than giving or receiving high-quality goods. With this approach, GiveToBenefit will succeed based on the idea that there is an opportunity to go beyond "doing good," to "doing better."

 

2. How does GiveToBenefit plan to make money?

Our income comes from charging the supplier a marketing fee. GiveToBenefit has submitted US Provisional Patent Application No. 61/657,338 to patent this novel approach. Unlike other sites we do not charge a fee to the Non-Profit for our service.

 

3. Do you have any success stories to date?

Our first online funding project was completed in July 2012: The Philadelphia Orchard Project used GiveToBenefit to raise $1,000 to buy commercial-grade tools from supplier Shemin Nurseries. Philadelphia Orchard Project then used the tools to work with the students at University High School Urban Garden in West Philadelphia, who then sell the produce from the garden at local farmers markets and donate some to emergency food shelters.

 

4. Is GiveToBenefit licensed and bonded?

Yes, we are licensed in the State of Pennsylvania to collect funds on behalf of non-profits, and we have a bond for performing these activities.

 

ABOUT SUPPLIERS

 

5. How do you find suppliers?

We believe there are a number of manufacturers of wonderful products who don't always have the time or resources to work with non-profit organizations, so we make that connection for them. These brands are not necessarily leaders in their categories, but they are looking for ways to gain exposure - and incremental sales - for their high-quality offerings. After a non-profit organization expresses a need for something, we research companies who might be a good match.

 

6. What is the supplier marketing fee?

The fee we receive from the supplier is based on the available margin of the item they supply. The fee is a negotiated amount that varies from project to project.

 

ABOUT NPOs

 

7. How do you identify non-profit organizations to work with?

In general, we look for non-profits who don't have the financial or human resources to do their own fundraising and who can benefit from the high-quality goods our suppliers provide. Currently we focus on what we call the "Mission Areas" of the Arts, Environment, and Human Services. In some cases, NPOs will contact us to see if there's a good fit; in other cases, we will reach out to NPOs we think we can help.

 

8. Are there specific requirements for a non-profit to participate?

Yes, a non-profit must be a 501c3 in good standing. The organization also must provide documentation explaining its charitable intent, as well as its IRS ruling letter.

 

9. Do you charge a fee to the non-profit?

No, we do not charge a fee to the non-profit. All we ask is that they work closely with us to make their campaign a success.

 

ABOUT DONORS

 

10. How does your crowdfunding process work?

We create online campaigns that are designed to encourage individuals to pledge money towards helping a non-profit purchase a predefined item from a supplier. Once the amount required to purchase the item is reached, the supplier receives their payment for the item and the item is delivered to the non-profit.

 

11. How will you attract donors to your site?

The topic of social good, by its very nature, evokes strong emotions and spurs passionate people to participate. We are counting on social media and viral marketing to motivate donors not only to give to projects on givetobenefit.com, but also to build awareness for their favorite causes.

 

12. Do you charge a fee to the donor?

No, we do not charge a fee to the donor.

 

13. Is there a minimum pledge amount?

Yes, the minimum pledge per credit card transaction is $10. Donors may pledge multiple times per project.

 

14. Is there a maximum pledge amount?

Yes, the maximum pledge per credit card transaction is $500. Donors may pledge multiple times per project.

 

15. Can a pledge be refunded?

No, once a donor pledges there can be no refund.

 

16. What happens if a project doesn't meet its goal?

If a project does not fully fund, all pledges - less credit card processing fees - are refunded.

 

17. How long does a typical project take to fund?

It really depends on the nature of the project and the interest and participation of the donors. Since we feature mostly goods with a high dollar value, our projects can take several months to fund.