New E-Commerce Fundraising Program Triples Nonprofits' Earning Power
In the post-recession nonprofit world, donations are down while
demand for services is up, and nonprofit organizations (NPOs)
everywhere are avidly searching for new, more powerful fundraising
vehicles.
Enter
ShopAsYouGive.com, a new twist on e-commerce fundraising that �
according to co-founders Jack Schacht and Jim Novak � pays nonprofit
partners three to four times more commissions than traditional
affiliate marketing programs.
Sure, there are already dozens of online malls that offer
commissions to member NPOs. But these programs, by their own
admission, deliver an average of just 3% of gross sales. (Don't let
their �we pay up to 30% commissions� claim mislead you. The reality
is that very few retailers in such programs pay at the highest
levels.)
�The affiliate marketing model only takes you so far,� noted
Schacht, Managing Partner, who built the largest independent U.S.
barter exchange (ITA) in the 1980s. �We conducted mountains of
research, and then collaborated with nonprofit professionals to
develop an original business model.�
Instead of basing commissions on gross sales, Shop As You Give bases
commissions on gross profits. A full 30% of gross profits, to be
exact. The company, which cut aggressive deals with more than 100
top manufacturers, employs a 50-60% retail markup. NPO partners
share 30% of that markup. Do the math, and it translates to 10-12%
of gross sales, as opposed to the standard 3%. That�s a much better
deal in any economy.
Shop As You Give not only was created with input from the nonprofit
community, its advisory board is composed of nonprofit
professionals. As a result, it boasts some unique twists and
benefits that cater to NPOs.
For example, �Our nonprofit partners can request an additional
donation at check-out, a benefit other programs can�t duplicate,�
declared Leticia Villalon-Soler, who chairs the firm�s Nonprofit
Advisory Board and is a professional fundraiser at a major
university in the Northeast. �This can make a significant difference
in earnings.�
And that�s just for starters. Other benefits with Shop As You Give
include:
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Each nonprofit can essentially create its own online store, by
branding web pages with the organization�s own logo.
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NPOs can easily eliminate categories or sub-categories of products
that conflict with their mission.
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While the store is stocked with thousands of products � including
apparel, jewelry, electronic items, and pet supplies � there�s a
special emphasis on natural, organic and eco-friendly products, as
well as items that are American made.
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Prices are competitive. Shop As You Give developed proprietary
software that allows it to regularly compare its prices to those of
other online retailers.
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Participating NPOs will receive ongoing promotions and discounts,
which make it easy to publicize the program to supporters.
To participate in the program, nonprofits must be licensed 501(c)
organizations, reported Novak, VP of Enrollment. The enrollment form
is posted on
www.ShopAsYouGive.com.
In the process of launching a 60-day beta test, the firm is
enlisting the aid of 500 NPO test partners. Participating nonprofits
will receive an extra 20% commission � for a total of 50% of gross
profits � during the test period. The test will launch in late
summer, with the official grand opening planned in time for the
Christmas season. �We can�t wait to get started,� admitted Novak.
�And, yes, we�re still accepting nonprofit test partners.�
For more info or to participate in the nonprofit beta test program
e-mail
j.novak@shopasyougive.com.