Last week marked the public beta launch of Ching™, the first purchase-driven fundraising tool designed specifically for nonprofit organizations. Ching allows nonprofits to earn revenue through their supporters’ everyday online purchases at some of the nation’s top online retailers including Amazon and Nordstrom. Through Ching’s technology platform, nonprofits are able to secure a portion of the more than $250 billion spent annually online — at no additional cost to the organization or to their supporters.
“As veteran fundraising professionals, we understand the unique needs of nonprofit organizations, said John M. Suddes, Ching’s founder and CEO. “We work directly with each nonprofit to develop and implement a specific strategy to maximize the impact of Ching. Not only does Ching provide additional revenue for nonprofits, but it also provides a great opportunity to engage with existing supporters and cultivate new donors.”
Ching’s first partnership is with Florida-based Food for Thought Outreach, a charity supporting students who often go hungry outside of school hours. Supporters are now able to sign-up for Ching and directly support the organization through everyday online purchases; as little as $2.50 can fill a backpack with food for one child in need. The funds are paid to the charity by the retailer, so supporters can participate at no additional cost. Food for Thought Outreach supporters can click here for more information and to sign-up.
“We’re thrilled to be Ching’s first partner and excited to offer our supporters a new and convenient way to contribute to our mission,” said Tiffanie Shelton, Founder of Food For Thought Outreach. “Our vision is to see that all children are able to focus on their development and education by eliminating the worry of wondering where their next meal will come from. We started off feeding just six children and now provide for well over 150 kids in our community each week through four local schools. With Ching, we are able to reach new donors and cultivate existing donors, so we can make a bigger difference in the lives of Florida’s children.”
Nonprofit organizations interested in becoming a Ching partner can click here to sign up for free.
Startups and nonprofits now have access to a range of innovative ways to meet their funding needs. Last week, for example, Fair Trade USA announced a new partnership with nonprofit microlending platform Kiva to help small-scale coffee farmers access financing, improve crop quality and invest in the future of their families and communities. Mission-driven entrepreneurs are increasingly finding startup capital for their for-profit enterprises through crowd-funding platforms such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter, which also gives them a direct connection to the consumers most interested in their offerings — a distinct advantage over traditional financing tools. And earlier this year, ING partnered with StartSomeGood to launch Dreamstarter, an online platform that allows social entrepreneurs to raise funds towards an array of social change projects — those that garner significant community support receive additional funding from ING.
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Published Oct 14, 2013 4pm EDT / 1pm PDT / 9pm BST / 10pm CEST