Abstract: A customer uses a mobile device to verbally request an offer that includes an incentive to transact at a merchant's brick and mortar store in the customer's local community in exchange for the merchant's agreement to make an auditable donation to a charity serving the local community. Business rules limit the merchant's charitable donations over calendar periods, which donations can be made directly by the merchant to the community charity, or indirectly to the charity by way of a blind donation made by the merchant to a donation disbursement agency acting on the merchant's behalf to satisfy the merchant's commitment to donate.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium that, when executed on a server, establishes processes for providing a brand sponsorship environment, the processes including providing a computer-implemented platform establishing a sponsorship junction involving, in case 1, a set of trigger-monitorable activities defined by a set of sponsoring brands or, in case 2, a subset of the trigger-monitorable activities defined by the set of sponsoring brands.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for automatically creating a funding event in response to identifying an issue. The method includes one or more processors identifying an issue and an individual associated with the issue. The method further includes one or more processors determining whether the individual meets eligibility criteria of a crowdfunding platform. In response to determining that the identified individual does meet eligibility criteria of the crowdfunding platform, the method further includes one or more processors creating a funding event for receiving donations to resolve the identified issue.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining gratitude scores for a plurality of people who have interacted with an organization. In one aspect, a method comprises: obtaining, for each of a plurality of people who have interacted with an organization, history data characterizing previous interactions of the person with the organization and third party data characterizing aspects of the person outside of their previous interactions with the organization; and processing, for each of the plurality of people, the history data and the third party data for the person using a gratitude prediction machine learning model to generate a gratitude score for the person, wherein the gratitude score for the person characterizes a likelihood that the person will take a specified action on behalf of the organization in the future.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a crowdfunding platform comprising one or more computer systems, one or more memories, and one or more central processing units (CPUs). The crowdfunding platform has one or more alternative interfaces to one or more alternative networks. The alternative networks are not capable of operating directly with the Internet. There are also one or more Internet interfaces to the Internet. A crowdfunding platform receives information about a crowdfunding project from one of the alternative interfaces, processes the information into processed information, sends the processed information over one of the Internet interfaces. Further, the crowdfunding platform receives Internet information over one of the Internet interfaces, translates the Internet information into transformed information, and sends the transformed information over one of the alternative interfaces.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program for providing a loyalty engine for automated cause marketing. The method includes a loyalty program system administrator linking merchants and charities to the loyalty system. Members register with the loyalty engine through loyalty system which is accessible via the Internet. Once the merchants and the charities are linked and the members are registered, by operation of the loyalty engine, the merchants can create a customized loyalty program defined by a plurality of merchant defined rules for administering their loyalty program. The merchant defined rules instruct the loyalty engine as to which charities should receive in-kind donations in connection with one or more transactions by a member that is associated to the loyalty program. Once a loyalty system defined time period or donation threshold has been achieved, the loyalty system releases the donation in-kind to the specific charity.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium that, when executed on a server, establishes processes for providing a brand sponsorship environment, the processes including providing a computer-implemented platform establishing a sponsorship junction involving, in case 1, a set of trigger-monitorable activities defined by a set of sponsoring brands or, in case 2, a subset of the trigger-monitorable activities defined by the set of sponsoring brands.

Abstract: A network computing system can coordinate on-demand transport serviced by transport providers operating throughout a transport service region. The transport providers can comprise a set of internal autonomous vehicles (AVs) and a set of third-party AVs. The system can receive a transport request from a requesting user of the transport service region, where the transport request indicates a pick-up location and a destination. The system can determine a subset of the transport providers to service the respective transport request, and executing a selection process among the subset of the transport providers to select a transport provider to service the transport request. The system may then transmit a transport assignment to the selected transport provider to cause the selected transport provider to service the transport request.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining gratitude scores for a plurality of people who have interacted with an organization. In one aspect, a method comprises: obtaining, for each of a plurality of people who have interacted with an organization, history data characterizing previous interactions of the person with the organization and third party data characterizing aspects of the person outside of their previous interactions with the organization; and processing, for each of the plurality of people, the history data and the third party data for the person using a gratitude prediction machine learning model to generate a gratitude score for the person, wherein the gratitude score for the person characterizes a likelihood that the person will take a specified action on behalf of the organization in the future.

Abstract: A plurality of content groups are stored in a memory, and some of the content groups are determined as selectable target groups by a selection. One content group is selected from among the selectable target groups on the basis of a user's operation, and a selection process is executed for the one content group. A content selected is given to the user, and a given status of each content is stored in the memory such that this given content is excluded. In addition, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, selectable target groups are selected again. At this time, the given status of each content in each content group is retained regardless of which content groups are set as the selectable target groups.

Abstract: A customer uses a mobile device to verbally request an offer that includes an incentive to transact at a merchant's brick and mortar store in the customer's local community in exchange for the merchant's agreement to make an auditable donation to a charity serving the local community. Business rules limit the merchant's charitable donations over calendar periods, which donations can be made directly by the merchant to the community charity, or indirectly to the charity by way of a blind donation made by the merchant to a donation disbursement agency acting on the merchant's behalf to satisfy the merchant's commitment to donate.

Abstract: A system and method of processing, within a single procedure, cash equivalents and fix assets from any disposition class. The method includes identifying the benefactor and asset to be donation. Once identified, the asset is classified into one of three disposition classes. The disposition classes are used to determine the value for valuing. Once the value is determined, an impact statement is generated. Depending on the disposition class, the item is either converted to funds directly or through an intermediary. Once the item is converted to funds, the funds are transferred to the identified benefactor.

Abstract: Aspects described herein may allow for scanning text and a logo image from a document including a solicitation to donate, comparing the scanned text to a database including legitimate and fraudulent solicitations; determining a scanned text confidence level, based on a likelihood that the scanned text is a legitimate solicitation for donations; comparing the scanned logo to a known legitimate logo, determining a logo confidence level based on a likelihood that the scanned logo a legitimate logo, and calculating a solicitation confidence level based on the scanned text confidence level and the logo confidence level.

Abstract: A customer uses a mobile device to verbally request an offer that includes an incentive to transact at a merchant's brick and mortar store in the customer's local community in exchange for the merchant's agreement to make an auditable donation to a charity serving the local community. Business rules limit the merchant's charitable donations over calendar periods, which donations can be made directly by the merchant to the community charity, or indirectly to the charity by way of a blind donation made by the merchant to a donation disbursement agency acting on the merchant's behalf to satisfy the merchant's commitment to donate.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for automatically calculating charitable donations for donors and for distributing the charitable donations in accordance with the donors' wishes to approved and/or registered recipients, such as approved charitable organizations. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving contributor information, recipient information and donation data during a predetermined period of time, and then aggregating the donations from a plurality of contributors into a plurality of recipient contribution amounts. The process also includes distributing, at the end of the predetermined period of time, the recipient contribution amounts to recipient financial institutions based on the contributor information, the recipient information and the donation data.

Abstract: A gaming system, having a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium. A server is operatively associated with the non-transitory computer readable medium. Communications means enable donors to access the server and donees to receive information related to donations sent by the donors through the server. An accumulation value is measured by the computer program. A trigger value is associated with the accumulation value. A selection of at least one award recipient from the donees is made whereby the selection is rendered by the computer program once the trigger value is reached. A notification to a respective at least one of the donors is made and a transmission of at least one award corresponding to the trigger value.

Abstract: In one aspect, this disclosure provides a crowd endorsement social engine for endorsing an athlete. In various aspects crowd endorsement of athletes includes income and training support for semi-pro, amateur, Olympic athletes, sponsorship from family, friends, fans, and social community. In one aspect, individual athlete campaigns highlight goals, progress and achievement. In another aspect, athletes produce blog style updates on progress, physiologic tweets during competition in the form of broadcasting messages. In another aspect, sponsors create emotional attachment to their athlete and his/her success and provide encouragement. In another aspect, fans that attend events provide live updates to athletes' pages. In another aspect, community growth is based on athlete adoption and sponsor base.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a notification of a charitable action by an actor. In the method, a goodness magnitude of the charitable action is measured, the goodness magnitude providing a quantified moral value of the charitable action. The actor is assigned an amount of exchangeable currency, the amount being based on the measured goodness magnitude, the assigning being for the charitable action.

Abstract: A process for collecting and distributing to multiple beneficiaries funds donated by multiple donors, including the steps of presenting to a donor a group of potential beneficiaries to which the donor may donate, providing to the donor a beneficiary selection means through use of which the donor may select one or more beneficiaries for effecting a donation, and providing the donor with access to a payment means through use of which the donor may make a payment to a fund managed by a process manager.

Abstract: Systems and methods that incentivize physical fitness of a user are discussed herein. A system can include a motion component and a control component. The motion component can monitor motion data associated with the user. The control component can provide one or more rewards to the user, wherein the rewards can be based at least in part on the user meeting a target associated with the motion data.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for raising donations by collecting and reviewing content from various information sources based on a set of criteria. The information sources can include user network information and third party information. The criteria can include keywords, parameters, or a combination thereof. The results can be used to prioritize prospects. The results can be used to customize communication with the prospects. In some cases, results based on multiple criteria can be overlaid.

Abstract: A method of using near field communication to facilitate charitable giving and volunteering. The method includes the steps of: determining, by a computing device, information about a person and information about a charitable organization based at least in part on reading a near field communication element; determining, by the computing device, whether the person desires to give to the charitable organization or to volunteer to help the charitable organization; sending, by the computing device, the information about the person to the charitable organization in an event that the person desires to volunteer to help the charitable organization; and sending, by the computing device, a donation to the charitable organization in an event that the person desires to give to the charitable organization. Also, computing devices that perform such methods.

Abstract: A device-implemented method and multi-component system are described. The method and system enable the selection of a charity to receive donations from persons interested in one another, and further enables a subject who is the target of interest from an initiating party to confirm the sincerity of the initiating party by third party brokered transactions that quantitatively demonstrate the substantive interest of the initiator. The initiator is also able to confirm the genuine interest by his or her target recipient in that the initiator and the recipient can set minimum donation level thresholds that must be met before their identities are confirmed.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and systems for processing search requests and for performing searches over a network. In an embodiment, a recipient designation is received from a user over a network. The designation indicates that future searches performed by the user are to be associated with the recipient (even if the subject matter of the search is not related to the recipient). A search request is received from the user; causing a search to be performed in response to the search request. An identifier corresponding to the recipient is stored in association with an indication regarding the occurrence of the first search request.

Abstract: A software product comprises instructions stored on non-transitory computer-readable media. The instructions, when executed by a computer, perform steps for providing a guided tour to a user via a mobile computing device. The steps include the step of playing a first data file on the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is at a first location, and the step of playing a second data file on the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is at a second location. A media file locally stored on the mobile computing device is automatically played after the playback of the first data file and before the playback of the second data file. The user is provided with an option to make a donation to an organization associated with the first location when the mobile computing device is at the first location.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for placing and operating an automated donation station is disclosed. An automated donation station can be placed at a location upon receiving a request for an automated donation station from a charitable organization or event organizer. The automated donation station can be customized according to a particular requestor's needs. One or more donations may be collected using the donation station by displaying information to a donor, receiving a donation offer from the donor, and collecting donation details (e.g., payment information) from the donor. A donation receipt can be dispensed to the donor at the automated donation station. Further, donation gifts may be selected by the donor at the automated donation station and dispensed at the automated donation station.

Abstract: In one example, we describe methods and systems for automated online merchant charity donations. In one embodiment, a donation agent interacting with a merchant website can offer an online user an option to allocate at least a portion of a payment for or price of a purchase, associated with a transaction made by the user via the merchant website, to be donated by a merchant corresponding to the merchant website on behalf of the user to a charity of the user's choosing. If the online user exercises the option, the donation agent can calculate an amount of the donation to be made and store the calculated donation amount in a database. The donation agent can disburse the calculated donation amount to the charity selected by the customer. The method also works for the off-line model. The points earned can be combined with a college scholarship award mechanism.

Abstract: A system, computer program product and method configured to stage an event for fund raising or other promotional cause wherein participants are geographically dispersed and/or participation in the event comprises activities spread over a number of venues that are geographically dispersed, or particular locations chosen by the participants, and/or a range of dates.

Abstract: A method of operating a digital system where the method includes providing a server connected to a communications network configured for two-way communications for system users, and configuring the server to display purchase offers, prizes, or other marketing information on user devices. The method also includes linking scannable codes with the digital system and user devices, so that when one of the scannable codes is scanned, the user device, on which the scan was made, is connected to a website where an offer is presented, wherein the offer can be a discount associated with a purchase, a sponsorship amount associated with a purchase, a gift card, a rebate, or a prize.

Abstract: An on-line system utilizing a social graph allows users to establish an account with the system and establish connections to nodes in the system. The social graph uses system-provided nodes that are created and maintained by the system, so that users cannot edit the system-provided nodes. The system aggregates and analyzes the social graph to present information in ways useful to its users. For example, the system reveals connections between persons in the system, with a corresponding strength of each connection.

Abstract: A philanthropic donation management system and methods of use and doing business. The system includes a computing server in communication with a communications network, such as the Internet, a LAN, or a WAN. The computing server maintains information about charitable projects and provides remote users and others with management tools for inputting information about charitable projects, pre-approving or otherwise assessing them, and accessing and managing charitable project information, portfolios, user team member information and access. The system can provide a business based on, for example, providing system, access, charitable fund management, and charitable donation transaction fees.

Abstract: A method of enabling philanthropic donation includes receiving from a user target data designating a donation target and item data corresponding to a non-monetary item. A processor automatically determines a currency amount of a monetary currency using the received item data and automatically produces a donation record indicating that the determined currency amount should be donated as specified by the designated donation target by a donating party different from the user. The donation can be verified and the user informed if the donation is not permitted. A system for enabling philanthropic donation includes the processor, a storage device storing target-menu data including indications of a plurality of donation targets, and a communications interface adapted to provide to the user at least some of the target-menu data and to receive the target and item data including social media functionalities for the user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for processing on-line donations is disclosed. An example embodiment includes elements to generate a donation badge for display on a web page; link the donation badge with an account on a payment site; receive a donation from a donor via the donation badge; and credit the donation to the account linked to the donation badge.

Abstract: A directed giving system allows a giver to conveniently manage their one-time and recurring gift giving, where the giver can easily find the desired beneficiary and/or project, and where the giver is in complete control of the entire process. A giver can configure a single or recurring gift in their bank's bill pay system or employers payroll system, and then configure the distribution of gifts in a gift processing system. The distribution of gifts can be single or recurring, and the distribution can be for a specific beneficiary or for a project. It may also be possible for the beneficiary to receive funds as a loan rather than a gift, where the loan is repaid and the funds can then be given or lent to another beneficiary. The system can also produce consolidated charitable receipts for the giver for tax purposes.

Abstract: A mobile device application includes computer-executable instructions configured to determine a donation context, and to select from among a plurality of non-profit organizations (NPOs) or charitable campaigns for receiving a donation from a user of the mobile device. In one embodiment, a machine-readable symbol decoder configured to extract scan-to-give data from a scanned scan-to-give symbol. The scanning of the scan-to-give symbol can initiate a charitable contribution.

Abstract: A platform can receive information about a product including a product cost. The platform can also receive a registration message that can designate the product and at least one beneficiary. The platform can provide a description of a campaign associated with the product and the beneficiary to at least one funder. One or more funders can fund the campaign. The funding amount for the campaign can be stored by the platform. The platform can determine that the campaign meets or exceeds at least one campaign threshold. Examples of campaign thresholds can include a time limit, a minimum funding amount, a maximum funding amount a minimum number of funders and a maximum number of funders. Based on the determining that the campaign meets or exceeds the at least one campaign threshold, the platform can cause the ownership of the product to be transferred to the beneficiary.

Abstract: A food donation tracking system is provided for tracking food donations along a food donation route that includes a food recipient location and a plurality of food rescue locations. The system includes a display device at each of the food rescue locations, each display device being operable to generate a dynamic unique code specific to the food rescue location where the display device is located. A driver scans the dynamic unique code with a handheld unit. Tracking information is recorded and transmitted from the handheld unit to a central server. The tracking information includes location information identifying the food rescue location of the food donation pickup based on the dynamic unique code scanned at the food rescue location and time information corresponding to when the unique code was scanned at the food rescue location.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of facilitating charitable donations using a smart device comprises receiving a transaction amount, assigning the transaction amount into a transaction category, retrieving a donation amount associated with the transaction category, charging the transaction amount plus the donation amount to an account, transferring the transaction amount to complete the transaction, and transferring the donation amount into a donation accumulation account. Based on predefined criteria, a donation is made from the donation accumulation account to a second account which can be a charity account. In some embodiments the donation accumulation account is a virtual account. In some embodiments, a user provides customizable user preferences to the smart device.

Abstract: A contribution aggregation system enables a user to purchase or otherwise acquire a block of one or more contribution units from which to contribute desired amounts to selected recipients. This may be performed, for example, by the user logging on to a Web site or other system interface provided by the contribution aggregation computer system and then selecting individual recipients to receive selected donation or contribution amounts. These amounts from various different contributors are then aggregated and totaled to enable a single contribution transaction to be made to the recipient including the amounts contributed to the recipient form the various contributors. The current balance of the contributor's block of one or more contribution units is tracked and the contributor may also input or select comments and/or conditions associated with their individual contributions to individual recipients to be sent to the recipient or otherwise published.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a community contribution index (CCI) for organizations and providing reports pertaining to the CCI for one or more organizations is described. The CCI for an organization is calculated based upon monetary donations provided by the organization and the members associated with the organization and the number of volunteer hours provided by the members. The CCI provides a standardized way to measure an organization's contributions to the community.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system comprising a controller and a memory that stores program instructions executable by the controller. By executing the program instructions, the controller displays a plurality of pledge options including an associated task, wherein each associated task includes an assigned score. The controller also receives a selection of at least one pledge option, a pledge value associated with the pledge option, and user information from each a plurality of users, and to communicate the pledge option, the pledge value, and the user information to an entity associated with the pledge. Upon confirmation of a user completing the associated task, the controller generates a user score based on the sum of all the assigned scores of the associated tasks completed by the user. The controller also provides a dashboard displaying the user score for each of the plurality of users.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated, mobile device-based donations to charitable organizations including software operable on mobile communications devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a fund raising method and system wherein a provider produces discount cards containing information such as the manufacturer ID, the family code, and the value code. The information may appear on the card in the form of a bar code, a magnetic strip or by any other commonly recognized means. Representatives of an organization sell the discount cards to interested parties. When those parties present the discount cards at an enrolled retailer at the time of check-out, the card is read by the reader which is in communication with the retailer's payment system. The holder is then credited a pre-specified percentage of the sale at the time of sale and a percentage of the sale is set aside by the retailer. On a periodic basis, the amount set aside by the retailer is paid to the provider whereupon the provider pays a pre-specified portion of that amount to the organization.

Abstract: A system for charitable giving. The system has a charitable network server that is operable to obtain from a transaction processing utility information relating to a transaction between a retailer and a user. The information corresponds to a donation amount to be directed from the retailer to a charity by the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing a sectorial donation service for a small-sum donor, which is performed using a service provision server that provides a donation service to a donor, the method, comprising: opening a virtual donation foundation for which a donation field and a targeted collection amount are fixed; receiving information about a virtual donation foundation and a collection amount selected and inputted from a user terminal and registering the user as a donor when payment for the contribution amount is completed; selecting a winner among donors when the total amount of contributions reaches the targeted collection amount; receiving information about a beneficiary among donation recipients falling in the donation field of the virtual donation foundation selected in the step (2) inputted from a winner terminal of the selected winner; and (5) performing donation of the collection amount in the name of the winner to the inputted beneficiary.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for networked fundraising and communication includes a platform for conducting regional and even global fundraising events in real-time. Individuals and/or groups from different geographic areas can participate in real-time in the events via the internet. For some events, the system enables normalized competition. Plural organizations sponsor and/or conduct events utilizing the system. The system is flexible allowing organizations to set participant entry requirements and event rules. The system functions to collect the event proceeds which are distributed following the event.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for aggregating individual charitable contributions to fund public-space improvement projects as defined by consensus of the contributors and approved by a designated government officer, and by which service providers may submit competing bids for completing such projects, all by means of a charitable foundation formed for purposes of funding such projects and a website incorporating functions that address the formation and performance of contracts relating to such projects.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a fundraising/voting service is described. In one example, the method includes receiving user information, a candidate selection and a pledge amount, storing, by a processor, the user information, the candidate selection and the pledge amount, and determining, by the processor, an election influence associated with the candidate selection and the pledge amount.

Abstract: A collaborative giving system/method that coordinates the decimation and sharing of donor gifts within a cooperating group of donee recipients is disclosed. The system/method allows donee-specific donor databases to drive automated and spatially-distributed fundraising efforts for a collaborative project with donated funds being decimated and shared among collaborative donees while simultaneously guaranteeing that donor anonymity is maintained with respect to each individual donee-specific donor database. This donor/donee anonymity permits large groups of potentially diverse donors to be assembled to support collaborative projects while still maintaining donor privacy and donee autonomy. Within the context of this typical gifting application the disclosed system/method provides the necessary accounting interface and reports to ensure that the internal/external accounting/tax issues associated with the decimated gifting transaction are properly accounted for with the donor and all collaborating donees.

Abstract: A virtual funding campaign method is disclosed. The method includes: executing instructions on a computing processor to electronically display a graphical user interface; receiving first pledge data of a first funder from at least one displayed field of the graphical user interface; receiving additional pledge data from at least one second funder from the at least one displayed field of the graphical user interface; modifying the first pledge data as a result of receiving the additional pledge data from the at least one second funder; after the modifying step, tabulating a pledge amount for the first funder that is related to the modified first pledge data; and electronically communicating the tabulated pledge amount to the first funder. A virtual funding campaign system is also disclosed.