Impact Matters
The big idea...
Our founders saw an underserved market, the opportunity to move from entrepreneur to social entrepreneur, and a way to leverage the latest web capabilities for local good in their communities. They also listened when nonprofits and donors talked about how the presidential campaign of ‘08 had forever changed how political fundraising would be done. Was there a way to harness the power of social networks, grassroots efforts, and online fundraising to create the definitive giving marketplace? A giving marketplace in their own virtual backyard and in the virtual backyards of major communities throughout the U.S.?
With a mission to energize, innovate and drive efficiencies across the social sector, givezooks! was formed as an angel funded startup in October 2007. The founders, technology executives with a successful track record of working together building businesses, decided to work together again. But it wasn’t so much about the latest technology this time…this time it was the impact that mattered.
What is givezooks?
givezooks! is an online network of local marketplaces where individuals, nonprofits, corporations and foundations engage in community-based philanthropy.
Nearly $300B in charitable giving is done annually in the U.S., primarily coming from individual donors (76%). A fraction of that (4%) comes from corporate giving, and depending on what study you read or how you define “online” giving, anywhere from 1% to 10% of charitable giving is done online. Typical costs of fundraising range from 15-30% and are being scrutinized by all potential funding sources.
givezooks! levels the playing field on the internet for all sizes of organizations engaged in doing good. The ultimate objective is to get more money to the cause. Implicit in that mission are the following sector needs which form the foundation for givezooks! offerings:
- To increase the amount of giving that is done online
- To increase the percentage of charitable giving done by corporations
- To remove cost from the overall philanthropic model
- To foster more "green" giving
- To create an online giving marketplace for the next generation of philanthropy that empowers nonprofits, donors, corporations and foundations to engage in a new model, providing a one-stop shop for all things philanthropic, with a local view.
