# iGive responds to criticisms

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/1999/04/04/igive-responds-to-criticisms/
- Published: 1999-04-04T12:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Online shops that offer to give a percentage of sales to non-profits are not always
handing over the money very promptly, reports the New York Times. In the story [Electronic Fine Print Is Limiting Internet Charity](http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/03/biztech/articles/31charity.html)
on 31 March, reporter Reed Abelson asked: “what happens to the few dollars you thought
was speeding its way to a good cause? While many charities are getting checks directly
from these sites, it is impossible to know in every case. It may not end up in the
charity’s hands as fast as you imagined – if at all.”

The story featured a range of online shopping companies that had delayed payments,
made few payments or failed to make payments for some reason. Stores featured in
the article included CharityWeb, iGive, Shop2Give.com, 4charity.com, MyCause.com
and socialgoods.com. UK Fundraising has featured the development of [iGive.com](http://www.iGive.com/)
in particular since it was launched in 1997. Of iGive, Abelson reported “fewer than
a quarter [of its listed non-profits] have been paid or can expect a check soon.”

There is, of course, a danger of individuals or organisations using the Web in this
way to perpetrate a telemarketing scam to defraud charities and donors, so such 
critical analysis is essential for the development of this method of fundraising.
The way forward is, of course, closer co-operation between these entrepreneurial
sites and their beneficiary charities, greater transparency on donations generated
and paid, and a clearer understanding on the part of the entrepreneurs of the laws
regarding trading to make donations to non-profits.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

iGive’s founder Robert Grosshandler, who was interviewed for the New York Times 
article, wrote on 1st April to the CharityTalk e-mail discussion list to address
some of the issues raised. He wrote: “Our goal is complete transparency (in the 
openness sense of the word). Absolute accountability and explicitness, member by
member. So, to that end –”

 1.  We’re going to put online a list of the last 45 days worth of checks we’ve sent
     out, including amounts, the NPO, and the date sent.
 2.  We’re going to put online images (a sampling) of the thank you notes and receipts
     we’ve received from nonprofits.
 3.  Each member can already go online and see ALL of the checks we’ve sent to their
     particular NPO. Each member can see ALL of the transactions we’ve credited to 
     them. Each member can see the total amount of money earned on behalf of their 
     favorite worthy cause. If there is a problem, we want to know about it.
 4.  Unlike others making noise in our space, a member knows exactly what’s up with
     iGive and their particular worthy cause, down to the penny. Heck, unlike others,
     we have something to report.
 5.  With iGive, your favorite nonprofit gets $2, just for your signing up.
 6.  Just visiting also does good. It may be pennies a day, or dollars per day, but
     we offer ways for members to help their favorite nonprofits at no cost to themselves
     or their cause.
 7.  We invite you to sign up and list your nonprofit. We think we’re very clear on
     our policies. Judge for yourself.
 8.  We have about $2,000,000 invested in this business so far, and expect to invest
     multiple millions more. This is a business for us, not a dorm room adventure. 
     It’s our opportunity to do well by doing good. To succeed, we’ll have to work 
     very hard, get the cooperation of the community, and focus.
 9.  We do not discriminate. If you feel that helping somebody with a broken nose is
     a worthy cause, we’ll help you support that somebody. If the only person who thinks
     that is the person with the broken nose, they won’t earn lots of money through
     iGive.com. It’s about personal empowerment. There are lots of state and federal
     officials who are in a much better position to judge ‘goodness’ than we are. We
     do NOT make recommendations as to the goodness or appropriateness of any particular
     nonprofit.
 10. 10 – 20 new nonprofits get listed at iGive every day. We’re extremely excited 
     at the difference we’re already making. Thanks to all of the participants on this
     list for helping. We’re constantly making improvements, based upon the suggestions
     of our members, the nonprofits we’re helping, the fourth estate, and just anybody
     else who’s willing to help. So, please keep those cards and letters (and now e-
     mails) coming.”