Click and Give

"Give to me, give to me.. Care for me, care for me, you said you'd care for me." -Lauryn Hill

(I might have covered some of these previously, but a reminder is always good!)


GoodSearch.com: The idea behind GoodSearch is straightforward - Use it's search engine, powered by Yahoo, every time you browse the Web, and the site will make a donation to the charity of your choice. The donation is just a penny per search, but if 1,000 people search twice a day, every day, that would add up to $7,300 in a year. Eligible charities include local day-care centers, animal shelters, the Sierra Club, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. TIP: If you don't see your favorite nonprofit, complete the sign-up form and look under "add a charity."


GreaterGood.com: You click on one of the listed charitable causes and then press "click here," and the GreaterGood Network of web sites will make a donation. The site is funded with ad revenue, which is divvied up among 15 nonprofits. Although you don't see how much money each click generates, the site says one click is worth 1 to 2 cents. Total donations in the 12 months ending June 30, 2008 came to $2.7 million. The money went to such charities as America's Second Harvest food bank and the Petfinder Foundation. TIP: Spread the word. Each of the sites allows you to send e-cards that count as clicks and generate more donations.


eBayGivingWorks.com: This little-publicized section of eBay lists thousands of items for sale by private sellers who agree to donate all or part of the proceeds. You can find the usual eBay products - used books, collectibles, toys - as well as VIP packages for concerts and gift certificates for movies. As with any eBay transaction, check seller ratings and pay with plastic to protect yourself in case something goes wrong. TIP: Watch where you're going when you're on the site. Clicking "home" brings you to the regular eBay home page.


GoodShop.com: Click on any of the 500-plus participating online stores, shop as you normally would, and any purchase you make will generate a donation to the cause of your choice. Donation amounts vary by retailer. There are literally thousands of organizations you can help, from local schools and health clinics to large national foundations. TIP: Also check BuyForCharity.com. It has fewer stores, but it works the same way, and the donations might be bigger.


ThePetitOnSite.com: Click on a category such as human rights or corporate accountability, look at the petitions, and decide whether to add your support. Petitions under "environment and wildlife," for example, support protection of gorilla habitats in Congo or call for limiting oil exploitation in the Arctic. To add your name, fill out a form. If you don't want your identity made public, check the "don't display my name" box. TIP: Look at petition sponsors. Some are reputable organizations; others are private citizens with an ax to grind.

Etsy Bitsy

"Let me play the itsy bitsy spider." -Paul Wall


Etsy.com is like the world's largest craft fair. The gifts are unique, the prices tend to be reasonable and it feels good to support mom-and-pop businesses. Since you buy directly from artists and crafters who set up their own shops on the site, you can find out how an item was made and sometimes make special requests.

How it works:

-After setting up a free account, you buy items directly from sellers using PayPal or credit cards.
-In each seller's online shop you can browse product photos and descriptions and read the owner's profile and policies. Shipping options vary. To check them out, look at the bottom of the page of the listed item under "Shipping" or click on "Shop Policies" on the main shop page. Each seller also has its own policies on returns and exchanges; they're usually listed on the "Shop Policies page as well.

-To see whether a seller has a good reputation, click on the "Feedback" link on the shop's main page to view ratings and comments from other buyers.

-If you have a problem with a transaction, Etsy.com encourages you to contact the seller via the "Conversations" feature, an internal email system for site members. You can also report the problem to Etsy.com via email to support@etsy.com, and it will investigate and work to resolve it. Keep in mind, though, that like eBay, Etsy.com is a venue for connecting buyers and sellers and is not directly involved in purchases. Etsy.com charges the seller a fee for listing an item and a small percentage of the sale price when the item sells.

You get to support local, crafty vendors while finding unique items.

Shop For A Cause

"It's so ridicule we gotta find the right cure." -Black Eyed Peas


Guess by Marciano watch: 20% of proceeds goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.


Philosopy She Colors My Day bubble bath: 100% of proceeds goes to the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund.



Bella's Confections fudge: 50% of proceeds goes to the Fremont-Rideout Foundation Cancer Center.



Envirosax reusable shopping bag: 80% of proceeds goes to the American Cancer Society.




Erin Condren personalized note cards: 50% of proceeds goes to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and the Revlon Run/Walk for Women.





Coach: 20% of the proceeds from select purchases will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. (My personal favorite)

Support For Our Soldiers

"I need a soldier. That ain't scared to stand up for me." -Destiny's Child


Books for Soldiers: Once your application is approved, you will be able to send troops books, DVDs, games and relief supplies. You will also have access to our Pen Pal area and Post Card Jamboree. on average our volunteers fill over 1000 requests a month. Get started today and get your company, civic group or place of worship involved with supporting our troops.


Any Soldier: All the Soldiers involved in this effort are military volunteers stationed in areas that are in harm's way. You send your support (letters and/or packages) addressed to them and when they see the "Attn: Any Soldier" line in their address they put your letters and packages into the hands of Soldiers who don't get much or any mail first. Everything is shared.


America Supports You: America Supports You is a Department of Defense program that provides opportunities for citizens to show their support for the US Armed Forces. The program was launched in 2004 in an effort to highlight citizen support for our military men and women and communicate that support to the members of our Armed Forces at home and abroad.


Any other organizations, that are good and useful, that you know of...please share with the rest of us!

Charity Information and Ideas

"Ain't nuttin free, give back what you earn, no doubt." -2Pac

Good Search should be used by everyone. Enter the charity or school you support here then click "verify." Next, search from above and earn money for your cause!

The Charity Navigator will aid you in your search for a charity you can trust.

Sign up with Care2.org and network with other organizations and individuals who care to make a difference.

Bee's

"While, I'm sippin herbal teas, verbal bees plant fertile seeds." -RZA

If you have not heard yet, our bee population is dwindling. "Across the 24 U.S. states affected by the mysterious phenomenon, losses have ranged up to 90 per cent" (Lester 2007). Called the colony collapse disorder, it is of huge concern to our agriculture.

Go to the Pollinator Partnership to find out how you can help and contribute to the solution.

Journey of the Bee Collection: This collection was created as a tribute to the bee. A matte black glass is adorned with a gold bee, then hand poured with a high-quality beeswax blend. Burns 80 hours.