Site highlights charity of the day, $1 at a time
Yesterday, we talked about the incredible popularity of Groupon and its clones. Now there’s a similar service that draws attention to struggling non-profits that could use a little help.
Philanthroper follows the daily deal styling of Groupon but instead features one charity per day, allowing you to donate as little as a dollar – most charities require a minimum of $10 or $20 – if that’s all you can manage.
The thinking here is that handing over a buck is as tempting as, say, downloading that new app or buying a cup of discount joe at Tim Hortons.
The tax-deductible money reaches those in need quickly, Philanthroper claims, with most featured charities drawn from six major categories – arts, education, animals, environment, human rights, and health – receiving the funds within the week.
It’s also secure, as the payments are protected by Triple DES encryption, so your personal data is protected. As for the non-profit to which you're donating, don't worry: they can't see any of your private information either so they won't be spamming you for donations in the future.
In fact, when users make a donation, the money is transferred directly from their bank account straight to the non-profit’s. Rather than take a finder’s fee, the site plan to support itself with ads.
Although not yet available in Canada, Wilson hopes to expend the service internationally in the coming months. I wish him luck. Other than the subway, I can’t think of another place where you can give small amounts of cash to a large number of deserving groups so simply and quickly.
Are charities like these on your list? Would you sign up for a dollar-a-day service or is the amount too insignificant to be worthwhile?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
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