UniversalGiving

UniversalGiving is an online nonprofit organization based in San Francisco. The organization focuses on raising money for international charities through its web based marketplace, and on matching volunteers with global opportunities. UniversalGiving is a resource for people who want to give, but don't know how. Visitors to their site can search by country or cause, and are given a list of opportunities to give or volunteer. If you don't want to search, they've also gathered their top volunteering opportunities and top gift package opportunities. Gift packages are options to give to a cause on behalf of a loved one. Alternatively, UniversalGiving also lets you buy a gift certificate, so your friend or family member can choose their own cause.

UniversalGiving uses a venture capital approach to vetting charities that appear on their site, vetting all opportunities through their unique Quality Model. They don't take any share on donations made through their site.[1]

UniversalGiving was founded in 2002 by Pamela Hawley, one of the co-founders of VolunteerMatch. Hawley also launched UniversalGiving Corporate (UGC), helping companies with their global corporate social responsibility programs. By earning revenue through UniversalGiving Corporate, the organization is able to keep their services on UniversalGiving free to the public.[2]

In 2009, UniversalGiving received a Jefferson Award for Public Service,[3] and in 2010 was a Finalist for Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award. 2010 also saw the launch of two partnerships in Community Based Journalism, with Link TV and the Christian Science Monitor. UniversalGiving provides opportunities to give or volunteer, so that people inspired by the media sources' stories can immediately take action.[4]

The nonprofit has been featured on CBS, FOX Business Network, BusinessWeek, The Christian Science Monitor,The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Los Angeles Times, and CNN Money.

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/dec2008/ca20081224_387821.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.womenentrepreneur.com/2009/11/philanthropy-with-a-business-model.html
  3. ↑ http://cbs5.com/jeffersonawards/Jefferson.Awards.Hawley.2.1257580.html
  4. ↑ http://www.sbnonline.com/Local/Article/20152/80/0/Finding_a_purpose.aspx?Category=124
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