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November 07, 2008

New Web Site Channels Corporate Gifts to Charities

By any measure, Ashley Qualls is an expert online social networker. The 18-year old, who started a company that helps users of MySpace create customized profiles, has 80,000 “friends” on that Web site alone.

Now Ms. Qualls is using her online networking skills to raise money for nonprofit groups, thanks to a new company called SocialVibe.

The company’s Web site enables users of social-networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook to channel donations from corporations to the charity of their choice, simply by endorsing their charity and a company of their choosing on their online profile.

Ms. Qualls has helped to raise nearly $9,000 for Stand Up to Cancer, a charity in Los Angeles. Overall, SocialVibe has helped steer more than $150,000 to nonprofit groups since it was started in February. More than 400,000 people have signed up.

Users pick among 27 charities, including groups such as Direct Relief International, Charity Water, and Do Something. Next, they choose a company, such as Sprint, Powerbar, or Coca-Cola. The charity and company’s logo appear on the user’s online profile.

Then, users start raising money — which comes mostly from the company’s advertising budget — each time users add a new friend or someone clicks on their online profile.

Jim Prosser, a spokesman for Direct Relief International, a Santa Barbara group that provides medical assistance to people in the United States and overseas, says his charity has so far raised $4,500 through SocialVibe “with very little effort.”

Joe Marchese, co-founder of SocialVibe, says the Web site appeals to young people who want to be philanthropic but don’t have much cash to give.

Mr. Marchese says he would like to add more nonprofit groups to the site, particularly those that can help recruit corporate sponsors to join.

— Caroline Preston

Friday November 7, 2008 | Permalink

Comments

1. this article is awesome but it doesnt get acrost the entire awesomeness of socialvibe see not only does sv help young people like me help raise money without taking a bite out of my slim funds which is awesome but it also makes it easy to meet people like myself who have the same beliefs and morals because of the forums i can talk whith people of my age group who understand me better and can offer me great advice plus so far ive met a bunch of people who just like me sponsor music for relief and love music just as much as i do and quite frankly its cool and easy!

   — josh fleming    Nov 7, 03:59 PM    #

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