Abstract: A method for raising funds using a participant vote based program via a communications network comprising: a) providing an online program that participants joins; b) providing a program fund where money is added to the fund based on at least one of the following ways: fees paid by participants in the program, fees paid by business related to consumer purchases, fees paid from advertising or related revenue from the program, fees paid by business partners related to participant purchases, contributions from business partners or participants, and contributions from individuals or organizations; c) providing a submission process for a submitter, who request funding; d) providing a voting process where the participant can vote on the submission, and participant can earn and use bonus votes; e) providing a disbursement process where the money is disbursed from the program fund based at least partially on the results of the vote.