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MissionFish expands online fundraising opportunities on eBay

Howard Lake | 2 October 2005 | News

MissionFish and eBay.co.uk have launched a new online auction service for charities to help them make the most of eBay. BBC Children in Need is the first charity to benefit, but at the end of November the service will be opened to other charities.

eBay for Charity, launched in October, enables eBay members to give all or a portion of their sale proceeds to charity and provides charities with a method of of selling their own merchandise or donated
goods online. Ebay for Charity items will be clearly indicated so eBay users will know that by buying them they are supporting a charity.

MissionFish, a registered charity, has been running this service in the USA for more than five years where it is a service of the Points of Light Foundation. In the UK it is a service of the Points of Light Foundation-UK, itself a registered charity.

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As eBay for Charity’s dedicated solution provider MissionFish verifies all charities wishing to participate in the programme, processes donations from sellers and reclaims any eligible Gift Aid before distributing the gifts to charities. It provides secure management and reporting tools for charities and donors so that they can review and monitor their participation in eBay for Charity.

Lara Nagoski, business director of MissionFish UK, said: “MissionFish has helped raise more than more than $12 million (£7 million) for 6,500 US organisations. We look forward to helping UK charities create new fundraising channels, raise new money and attract new donors.”

eBay for Charity offers three methods of generating income for charities:

* it provides individuals with a new way to give: whenever they sell an item on eBay they can donate 10-100% of the item’s final sale price to the charity of their choice, with a minimum donation of £5

* charities can sell their own goods in eBay’s worldwide marketplace to eBay’s ten million UK members and 168 million members worldwide

* by using eBay charities can, argue MissionFish, promote their causes to eBay’s large membership, and attract new supporters.

Where possible, MissionFish will also collect and distribute Gift Aid on behalf of charities. In addition, eBay will donate “a portion of its selling fees” for items sold to benefit charities.

Head of charity at eBay, Mark Lewis, said: “eBay.co.uk is thrilled to be working with MissionFish to provide small and large charities alike the opportunity to welcome the eBay community to their supporter base 24/7.”

BBC Children in Need will be the first charity to benefit from the new service By partnering with a high profile charity like this, eBay is clearly aiming to raise awareness amongst the eBay community of its new charitable endeavour.

Once Children in Need’s telethon has passed, eBay for Charity will be open to any eligible UK charity that registers with MissionFish.

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