Abstract: A computerized system for managing the distribution of charitable donations among a plurality of beneficiaries selectable by the donors or by authorized third parties, wherein the system comprises data input means (an Internet site) enabling donors or authorized third parties who access the system via the data input means to each select one or more beneficiaries or to alter their selection of beneficiaries to create a personal donation profile or PDP. The system is so arranged that when a given donor or authorized third party accesses the data input means to establish or modify a selected PDP, he can adopt at least one previously-established PDP such that successive donors or authorized third parties can likewise establish new or modified PDPs which adopt previously-established PDPs.

Abstract: Offers are presented to one or more users of a crowdfunding platform based upon information gathered from multiple users' activities across one or more campaigns. An offer may be provided to the fundraiser based on a campaign category, a campaign keyword, a campaign profile, offer profile or user activity history. A user profile may be used to determine an offer by comparing the profile to attributes of one or more offers. The selected offer can be presented to users such as funders, fundraisers and others.

Abstract: An email payment gateway may be configured to send emails to potential donors. The emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with one or more fundraising campaigns, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the fundraising campaign associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the fundraising campaign, donor identity or donation amount. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the email payment gateway. The email payment gateway may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, process the donation on behalf of the donor.

Abstract: An e-fundraising system includes a mobile device and a server. The mobile device produces, or is configured to respond to, an indicator of one or more specific donation amounts. The mobile device sends a first message to the server in response to the indicator. The mobile device receives a second message in response to the sent first message. The mobile device receives a user input based on the received second message. The mobile device sends a third message to a server in response to the user input. A user of the mobile device donates a specific amount based on the sent third message.

Abstract: A method of operating a sponsorship exchange system to connect sponsors with organizations or individuals within a community for the guided sponsorship from sponsors of organizations or individuals linked to a digital media network. A related method includes providing a system that includes a networked electronic forum for the submission and display of a sponsorship proposal, receiving and processing an electronic communication from a community organization or individual, where the communication indicates acceptance of the sponsorship proposal. Sponsors may be automatically awarded advertising as sponsorship proposals reach predetermined support levels. The method also includes automatically sending an electronic communication with information regarding the acceptance of the sponsorship proposal by the community organization or individual.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating a donation receipt. For example, in one embodiment, a method for generating a donation receipt is disclosed that includes receiving an email from a user that includes a receipt, parsing the receipt to gather information to identify an organization to determine whether a tax deductible donation was made, performing a query of a database containing information about known organizations using the information about the organization parsed from the receipt to identify the organization, generating the donation receipt that includes a tax identification number associated with the organization, and sending the donation receipt to the user.

Abstract: A charity badge may be set up for a web site of a publisher. The publisher may indicate a charity organization that the publisher wants to support. The charity badge may not be visible until an event occurs. The event may be a disaster event.

Abstract: A system for selling comprises allowing an item 10 to be purchased by a user, allowing at least one cause to be associated with the item, providing a dispersement indicator 12 to indicate to a user that purchasing of the item liberates a dispersement to at least one cause, and dispersing the dispersement to the at least one cause when the item 10 is purchased by the user. Preferably there is provided a user account for the user which may allow dispersement information to be viewed by the user. Preferably dispersement settings are alterable by the user. Preferably there is provided a link protocol so that user and cause can be linked when a dispersement is made by user to cause. In an alternative embodiment, spontaneous cause creation may be facilitated via the system, with users able to push a cause, dispersing to the cause via otherwise unrelated purchases.

Abstract: A method of generating charitable donations without incurring marketing costs for the charity including the steps of making a donation to the charity and recording the donation amount in a computer database, paying a monthly fee to a redistribution pool and recording the monthly fee amount in a computer database, sponsoring a second member, calculating a redistribution amount based on a percentage from a lookup table from the redistribution pool based on the number of times the member appears in the database wherein a processor determines the redistribution amount, and paying the redistribution amount to the member. The charity may operate the invention directly under a license agreement, or contract with a marketing company that operates the invention, the fundraising efforts, generating donations to the charity and managing marketing. The method and system permit the charity to raise funds for charity while incurring no marketing expenses related to the fundraising.

Abstract: A custom postage has an artwork region and an adjacent cancellation region that includes a meter mark. The artwork region contains an original image having a top edge adjacent to the cancellation region. The custom postage may be placed onto an item of mail with a delivery address thereon, with the custom postage oriented to the upper right of the delivery address and with the image in a vertical orientation relative to the delivery address. The custom postage may be offered for sale as a fundraising effort, optionally via a website. The website may also include a social citizenship program and/or it may promote literacy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sponsoring an area of land are disclosed. Certain systems and methods may cause the display of areas of land that are available for sponsorship, receiving input identifying an area of land to sponsor, processing sponsorship of the identified area, and generating an interface for displaying the sponsored area.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a computer-implemented method for donating one or more items to at least one recipient selected from a plurality of potential recipients is provided. The method comprises using at least one processor to perform presenting the donor with a plurality of items that a selected recipient desires to receive as a donation, receiving first input indicating the donor's selection of at least one item from the plurality of items, and interacting with the donor to allow the donor to donate at least a portion of the at least one selected item to the selected recipient.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for matching funding needs of an entity in need of a donation. The technology can receive information about a potential donor's desired donating requirements; store the captured information in a database; receive information about a nonprofit entity; receive from the nonprofit entity a request for a donation; automatically generate a list of matching potential donors, the list including the potential donor from which information was received, the list generated by matching the received information about the potential donor with the received information about the nonprofit entity; and enable a user of a Web site to accept or decline a donated item.

Abstract: A system and method for managing sponsorships by a sponsor, in which the party requesting the sponsorship requests to use content owned and protected by the sponsor, such as trademarks, logos, and copyrighted material. An embodiment of the method involves receiving, at a computer network site, a request for sponsorship from a requestor and responding to the request by sending either an approval or a rejection. If an approval is sent, the method further involves providing the requestor with access to content of the sponsor through the site. As part of providing this access, the method can involve requiring the requestor to accept an agreement posted on the site. The method can also include monitoring the requestor's actual use of the content.

Abstract: A system and method of providing, at the time of the donation, the direct benefits derived from an asset donation. The asset is electronically bid instantaneously after the donor enters the asset's specific description. The bid amount is then compared with the stored cost, or impact metric, of a particular benefit.

Abstract: A donation processing system receives a text message from a donor indicating that they would like to make a donation to a non-profit organization. In response to the text message, a response message indicating the particulars of the donation including the donation amount and the non-profit organization is sent to the user. The donor reviews the information and, if the information is correct, a confirmation message is sent from the donor in response to the response message. The confirmation message confirms the donation. The donation is then made to the non-profit organization in response to the confirmation message.

Abstract: A socially-interactive cause platform for multiple users and multiple causes accessible via an internet-accessible computing device, including a log-in initiator to present an optional security challenge and direct the multiple users to the socially-interactive cause platform from an internet-accessible computing device; the multiple users including a cause-creating user and a cause-following user; a cause creator to allow the cause-creating user to create a specific cause within the socially-interactive cause platform; an action coordinator to establish one or more action initiators defined by the cause-creating user in connection with the specific cause for distribution to the cause-following user; and a search engine to allow the cause-following user to search or otherwise make themselves aware of the multiple causes, and if elected, join the specific cause created by the cause-creating user and receive the one or more action initiators from the action coordinator.

Abstract: A method for generating and allocating a charitable donation or investment through a membership-based service, which method comprises: searching for an affiliate which is participating or willing to participate in the membership-based service; making a purchase from the affiliate by a member of the membership-based service for a purchase price; determining a charitable amount of the purchase price to be remitted by the affiliate to the member's charitable account; the member selecting which charitable organization or investment will receive at least an allocated portion of the charitable amount; and distributing the allocated portion of the charitable amount to the selected charitable organization or investment.

Abstract: A fundraising system includes: a controller adapted to: associate a unique identifier with each of a plurality of a fundraiser participants; receive an accounting from a financial institution identifying a plurality of deposits made to a single financial account at the financial institution, wherein each deposit is associated with one of the unique identifiers; and provide a user interface adapted to identify the one or more deposits contributed by each fundraiser participant using the associated unique identifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sponsoring an area of land are disclosed. Certain systems and methods may cause the display of areas of land that are available for sponsorship, receiving input identifying an area of land to sponsor, processing sponsorship of the identified area, and generating an interface for displaying the sponsored area.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for facilitating agreements negotiated by users of the system to exchange professional services in return for charitable contributions. The system allows a first user to locate another user who can perform a service requested by the first user or who requires a service that the first user can provide, and facilitates the negotiation of a contract where the service is performed in exchange for a contribution being made to one or more charitable non-profit organizations, without the user performing the service being subjected to income tax liability for the contribution.

Abstract: A system and method for providing software tools within an online platform for organizing groups and facilitating communications among group members are disclosed. Sub-groups can be created hierarchically below an umbrella group, where information associated with a sub-group is automatically shared with the umbrella group. A standardized set of tools is provided to facilitate philanthropic efforts by charities, companies, schools, and individuals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an application on a mobile phone or other portable digital device that allows a user to utilize a digital wallet to round up a purchase to the nearest dollar and then contribute that change to a third party, like a non-profit organization or fundraising campaign. In some embodiments, the present invention may be incorporated directly within a digital wallet on a mobile device. In other embodiments the present invention may be a stand-alone application on a mobile device that interfaces with a digital wallet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computerized processing method and system for managing charitable donations and providing a giving lifecycle for the donor. The method and system includes granting a donor electronic access to a giving account, wherein the giving account includes a plurality of donation funds. The method and system includes electronically receiving a donation request from the donor to generate a donation to a selected charity from a plurality of charities, the donation providing a donation value of at least a portion of the donation funds within the giving account. The method and system includes processing the donation including transferring the donation value to the selected charity, updating the donation account of the donor to reflect the allocation of donation funds, and providing a graphical user interface to the user including types of charitable donation causes by the user within a defined time period.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium for allocating one or more charitable resources are disclosed for obtaining a charitable need request and validating the charitable need request by approving or denying the request based on information known about the request and the person/entity submitting the request. The charitable need request preferably is submitted by a potential beneficiary or donee to the invention, and the charitable need request preferably is validated by a local validator. Preferably, the local validator has personal knowledge of the need request and the beneficiary. Once the charitable need request is approved, one or more donors may provide time, money and/or other resources to help fulfill the need request. The donated funds and/or item(s) may be passed through the invention to the local connector acting as receiver of the funds and/or item(s) to the one or more beneficiaries. Preferably, the local connector validates the local validator.

Abstract: Methods, software and devices for fundraising events over the Internet are disclosed. Donations are collected on behalf of a donee using collaborative puzzles to be solved by donors. For each fundraiser, a a collaborative puzzle is defined by defining regions in a fundraising image and associating with each region a requested donation amount. Donors are notified of the puzzle based on electronic contact information received from each fundraiser. A representation of the collaborative puzzle is presented donors. The representation includes a depiction of the fundraising image, in which some of the regions are obscured, and others are unobscured. The Obscured regions are those for which an associated requested donation amount has not yet been received, while unobscured regions are those for which an associated requested donation amount has been received. Donation amounts are received from donors and then provided to the donee.

Abstract: A method is described for providing efficient contribution allocation recommendations to contributors providing contributions to political candidates. The method includes: receiving, by a contribution allocation system, inputs from a contributor indicating the contributor's position with respect to a plurality of issues; quantitatively comparing the contributor's positions with respect to the plurality of issues to a plurality of candidates' positions with respect to the plurality of issues; assigning a score to each of a plurality of candidates based on their compatibility with respect to the compared issues and further based on election-related parameters; and providing a recommended contribution allocation for the contributor based on the scores assigned to the plurality of candidates.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for implementing a currency system for giving includes: receiving a donation to a donor-advised fund; converting, by a computing system, the donation to an intermediate currency different than a currency of the donation; receiving, at the computing system, instruction designating a gift for distribution to a recipient organization, the gift including at least a portion of the donation in the intermediate currency; and transferring, from the computing system, the gift to the recipient organization.

Abstract: A system and method of making a charitable donation on a mobile device includes reading a code with the mobile device and requesting code related content in response to reading the code. The code related content is received from a server, the code related content comprising at least one short code associated with a charitable organization. In some embodiments, additional content may be provided to provide incentive to the user to make a donation. At least one of a SMS or MMS message is sent using the short code to make a donation to the charitable organization.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate donating to a charity with a donation level linked to the outcome of a specific event or series of events. Participants raising money for a charity log onto a website where they select a charity, an event and a performance based wager. A donor, planning to contribute to a charity, logs onto the same website, and selects a charity, an event and a participant, and agrees to participate in the wager proposed by the participant. The donor authorizes payment of the proposed wager to the charity dependent on the participant performance. Participants may be individuals, teams or individual members of a team. The charities may be any registered or recognized charity. The events may be any on which a quantifiable prediction may be made. Donors may be individuals, corporations, associations, partnerships, special interest groups or fan clubs.

Abstract: A method for effecting transfer of a payment amount to a merchant during a transaction between a customer and the merchant includes determining, using a processing device, a funds shortfall, accessing a funds sharing network comprising a plurality of users, identifying one or more of the users of the funds sharing network, requesting funds from the identified one or more users, and applying funds received from the one or more users to the funds shortfall. In some embodiments, identifying one or more of the users includes determining whether one or more of the users are indebted to the customer, determining levels of connection between two or more of the users and the customer, and developing a hierarchy of users based on the indebted users and the levels of connection.

Abstract: Method and system for tagging and tracking donation transactions through accounting means between financial and non-financial entities, method comprising steps of accepting registration of one or more users to the System, accepting a donation transaction via Collection Point, capturing data related to the circumstances, type and quantum of a donation transaction, generating a Tracking Reference upon completion of the donation transaction, delivering a receipt for the donation transaction, in which is embedded the tracking reference for the associated donation, tracking the progress of the donation transaction between financial and non-financial entities by means of the interlinked transmission and receipt of reports, accepting inquiries as to the status or history of the donation transactions by reference to a cited tracking reference, accepting inquiries as to the status or history or delivery of the associated donation value by reference to a cited tracking reference and delivering reports in response to su

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for producing a competitive giving marketplace through a social impact marketing platform is disclosed. A portal for consumers, merchants, nonprofits, merchant processors, and financial institutions (participants) is provided to interact in the online and physical marketplace connected to the portal and may create and host competitive events to generate revenues for a designated nonprofit, purpose or cause. An administrative system coordinates the relationship between participants and the receipt of revenue generated for participants. The system and method disclosed provide ways for participants to measure, verify, and market the generated revenue through a portal, in order to combine and direct designated revenues for a designated nonprofit or other purpose in a competitive giving marketplace.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encouraging and identifying new talent, as well as an incentive structure for financing creative/media projects, are described. A social network web site allows users to post their own content, and filters users to the top who have achieved a given level of popularity. Popular users can then post media proposals to a private section of the web site, through which established stars and talent review the proposals. Users, in exchange for access to the private section, grant to a proprietor of the web site an option to make one or more future productions with that user at a reduced rate should that user reach stardom. Established stars and talent, in exchange for participating in a media proposal at a reduced rate, receive an interest in one or more productions by the user if/when the proprietor of the web site exercises an option to make a future production with the user.

Abstract: A method, system, and software for creating a competitive marketplace for charities and patrons in an online social networking environment.

Abstract: A candidate fact checking system is able to verify the correctness of information and/or characterize information related to a candidate by comparing the information with one or more sources. The candidate fact checking system automatically monitors, processes, fact checks information and indicates a status of the information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for enabling a fundraising program using fundraising cards redeemable by not-for-profit organization (“NPO”) supporters for branded stored-value cards. The system includes a scrip company host system having a server, where the server includes a microcontroller. A remote user device, having a display, is operatively coupled to the scrip company host system and configured to enable access to the scrip company web site. The microcontroller is adapted to detect access to the scrip company web site by a NPO, and cause the plurality of fundraising cards to be distributed to the NPO in response to detecting an order for the plurality of fundraising cards by the NPO. The fundraising cards are distributed to the NPO prior to receiving payment from the NPO for the fundraising cards, thereby making it unnecessary for the NPO to carry a paid-for inventory of fundraising cards.

Abstract: A system and method for managing sponsorships by a sponsor, in which the party requesting the sponsorship requests to use content owned and protected by the sponsor, such as trademarks, logos, and copyrighted material. An embodiment of the method involves receiving, at a computer network site, a request for sponsorship from a requester and responding to the request by sending either an approval or a rejection. If an approval is sent, the method further involves providing the requestor with access to content of the sponsor through the site. As part of providing this access, the method can involve requiring the requestor to accept an agreement posted on the site. The method can also include monitoring the requestor's actual use of the content.

Abstract: An economic allotment computing system and method. The system and method may include a first engine programmed to receive, from a plurality of users, user profile information, and to receive an association by each of the plurality of users of a non-profit endeavor with the respective profile information, a second engine programmed to sell to marketers the user profile information of ones of the plurality of users for at least one of targeted marketing, promotions, polling, and surveying, and a third engine programmed to allot at least a portion of proceeds obtained from the sale executed by the second engine to the non-profit associated with the one of the plurality of users undertaking an action indicated by at least one of the targeted marketing, promotions, polling and surveying.

Abstract: A system and method for allocating a common resource based on individual user preferences. Voting points are awarded to at least one user member of an online community for at least one participation activity. A plurality of recipient members is accepted to the online community. At least one user member selection is received including at least one selected recipient member. A revenue pool is aggregated from at least one revenue-generating activity and any advertising revenue. A donatable pool is determined, where the donatable pool includes at least a portion of the revenue pool for allocating to the plurality of recipient members. The donatable pool is allocated to the plurality of recipient members based on the at least one user member selection.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for matching funding needs of an entity in need of a donation. The technology can receive information about a potential donor's desired donating requirements; store the captured information in a database; receive information about a nonprofit entity; receive from the nonprofit entity a request for a donation; automatically generate a list of matching potential donors, the list including the potential donor from which information was received, the list generated by matching the received information about the potential donor with the received information about the nonprofit entity; and enable a user of a Web site to accept or decline a donated item.

Abstract: A fundraising system (10) allowing donors (100) to identify, target and contribute to multiple recipient groups (150) within a primary institution (130). These recipient groups (150) can include the primary institution (150), legally associated entities (151), outside recipients of funds (152) from the primary institution, volunteers (160), and individuals served (170).

Abstract: An online Internet-based method for funding scientific research comprises presenting a plurality of candidate research projects to potential or executing donors for the donors' review. The potential or executing donors view the candidate research projects on a computer system using a web browser. Donations are received from executing donors. Selections are received from the executing donors regarding research projects to be funded. Finally, funding is provided to a research project. A system that implements the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of facilitating pledges of monetary value between a pledgee and pledgor, the method including the steps of providing a graphical user interface having a plurality of selectable performance metrics and at least one input for a factor of monetary value, receiving a selected performance metric of the plurality of performance metrics and the at least one input for a factor of monetary value, transmitting and storing the received selected performance metric and the received input of a factor of monetary value to computer readable memory of a computer server system, periodically querying and obtaining a measured value of the selected performance metric and storing said measured value in the computer readable memory of the computer server system, and calculating a pledge amount of monetary value by applying said factor of monetary value to the measured value of the selected performance metric and storing the pledge amount of monetary value in the computer readable memory of the computer server system.

Abstract: The disclosure enables a buyer to beat an advertised price and make a deal and a donation via a network by specifying at least one of a product and a service desired for purchase by the buyer, calculating a price range from a real-time network search of a comparable advertised product or service and making an offer to at least one registered seller based on a graded price from the price range comprising the seller's asking price. Furthermore, the disclosure transacts a deal between the buyer and a seller and transfers a difference between the graded price and the seller's asking price to a charity or a third party of the buyer's choice. Also, a loss difference to the seller between the seller's asking price and a graded price may be donated to a charity of the seller's choosing from the seller's proceeds and a difference with the graded price.

Abstract: Charitable donations are increased by automatically providing immediate on-line recognition of on-line donors. A list of donors is maintained on a Web page acknowledging the on-line contributions. Donor names on the list can be links to additional information about the donation or the donor. Information about donor and donation is entered by the donor, who can specify what information is to be published on the Web and what information is to remain unpublished. The donor list can be arranged in order of donation size, and donors can compete for position on the list. The donor information can indicate membership in a group, and donations can also be totaled by group to encourage donation competition between groups.

Abstract: A system and method whereby certain nonprofit entities and/or their business contributors may recover portions of certain fees currently being paid in the normal and regular in their course of doing business. These recovered fees may then be used as essentially automatic contributions to qualified IRS 501(c)(3) organizations, or public charities described in Internal Revenue Code Section 509, or agencies which operate for the public good (e.g., disaster relief, homeless shelters, support groups such as booster clubs, etc.) (such eleemosynary organizations all being referred to herein generally just as non-profit entities). This system and method is termed “Non-profit Organization Residual Merchant Account Contribution” (NORMAC).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for preparing ad-books over a communications network. The method includes preparing an advertisement at a user terminal connected to the communications network. The method further includes processing the advertisement at a server connected to the communications network for placing the advertisement in an ad-book.

Abstract: A business is contracted by a budget or another business to execute a non profitable deal like public health care by a managerial art to minimize costs. The costs will be compensated by a contractor while surplus value would be given the executor indirectly (administratively, politically etc.).

Abstract: Apparatus (method implemented with a machine, the machine, and the method for making the machine, and products produced thereby). The computer system can, for example, be structured (e.g., including programmed) to carry a method including: controlling, with at least one application computer program, a server system to create, and to maintain, multiple sites on a wide area network, each said site providing electronic greeting cards, each said site corresponding to an independent party.