Change Round-Up Announces E-commerce Fundraising Service -- Virtual Donation Jars to Generate Real Change
Change Round-Up helps online retailers increase customer loyalty and sales while raising donations for charities by applying the concept of the “spare change donation jar” to online shopping carts. We work with existing online retailers to offer their customers the option to “round-up” their final purchase price to the nearest whole dollar and then donate that “spare change” to a charity of their choice.
Troy, NY (PRWEB) August 23, 2006 -- Change Round-Up, Inc., a cause-marketing service for online retailers, recently announced the launch of their e-commerce fundraising program that brings retailers and charities together to generate change for good causes. Change Round-Up’s service takes the fundraising concept of the “spare change donation jar” and applies it to the growing e-commerce market by enabling e-shoppers to round-up their online purchases and donate the electronic “spare change” to a charity of their choice.
Total e-commerce sales are expected to pass $100 billion in 2006. Change Round-Up provides an opportunity for these transactions to be a powerful cause marketing tool with a donation process that is easy for donors, efficient for charities, and effective for retailers.
Easy for donors.
Online shoppers can donate painless amounts of spare change, conveniently, to support the causes that are important to them. During checkout, consumers are offered a drop-down menu selection of charities that the retailer supports. With a simple click they can round up their purchase price to the nearest dollar, or designate any amount, to the charity of their choice and the donation is included in their payment.
Efficient for Charities.
With no upfront or hidden costs, Non-Profits are able to generate donations at a fraction of current costs. Change Round-Up deducts only 10% of donations received to cover the retailer’s administrative costs, credit card fees and operations. This fee is well below the maximum 35% standard for fundraising costs set by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. Furthermore, aside from the few minutes it takes to complete the online sign up form and then periodically cashing donation checks, there is no effort required by the charity.
Effective for Retailers.
Each year, American companies spend close to one-billion dollars on cause-related marketing efforts. With Change Round-Up’s easy online donation service, retailers can leverage their e-commerce business to provide their customers with the opportunity to join them in support of a cause. Retailers can also set up matching fund programs to extend giving support. The Change Round-Up service is provided free to retailers. These companies do not profit from the donations; however, they do gain public relations benefits resulting in increased customer satisfaction and retention. “The Change Round-Up service is easily installed on most shopping cart platforms and is flexible enough to seamlessly integrate with any shopping experience.” said Daniel Quigley, President of Change Round-Up. “The system has been designed with online retailers in mind so that we can provide them with a number of real, tangible benefits that have a positive impact on their business.”
On-line retailers are encouraged to select between 4-5 charities that align with the causes they support. E-shoppers then choose the specific charity to which they would like to donate. Participating charities receive incremental funding with virtually no effort on their part, as well as increased exposure for their cause.
Change Round-Up does not bill consumers, or become involved in the actual transaction between the shopper and the online retailer. Online retailers collect full payment while Change Round-Up compiles donation data and bills each online retailer monthly for the total amount of donations raised on their site. Once collected, Change Round-Up aggregates donations from all online retailers and distributes the funds to the appropriate non-profit organization via check or electronic transfer.
“We are really looking forward to partnering with Change Round-Up. The concept supports our core values of being good corporate stewards.” John Hambleton, President and CEO of IslandSurf.com said. “We believe our customers will also feel more strongly about our IslandSurf brand when they experience this form of giving, so Change Round Up will make good business sense as well.”
Any 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization is eligible to join the Change Round-Up Non-Profit Network. There is no cost to sign up and Change Round-Up only charges a 10% fee of donations generated through the system. For information visit the Change Round-Up website at www.changeroundup.com or call 518-276-3949.
About Change Round-Up
Change Round-Up is a cause-marketing service for online retailers. The Change Round-Up service takes the fundraising concept of the “spare change donation jar” and applies it to e-commerce. E-shoppers are asked at the time of checkout if they would like to round-up their purchase price to the nearest whole dollar and donate the electronic “spare change” to a charity of their choice. The service is easy for donors, efficient for charities and effective for e-retailers.
Change Round-Up: Give a little. Help a Lot.
Contact:
Daniel Quigley
(518) 276-3949
www.changeroundup.com
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