- Home
- News Grid
- Local News
- Green Hawk
- Business
- Politics
- School Zone
- Nonprofits
- Missing Pets
- Multimedia
- Arts
- Movies
- Outdoors
- Sports
- News Releases
- Columnists
- Blogs
- Opinions
- Classifieds
- Advertise
- Donate
- Partners
Givezooks! Online Philanthropy Just Got Easier
What’s a givezooks?
That was the question on everyone’s mind before a new Santa Barbara-based startup provided a sneak peak for local nonprofit organizations Wednesday at Montecito Country Club. Afterward, those in attendance at the official launch not only knew the answer but had an idea of how it can help their own group’s online fundraising. One lucky winner even left with a $1,000 donation to the nonprofit of her choice, courtesy of Montecito Bank & Trust.
The company found a ready audience Wednesday.
Andrea McFarling, development director for Marymount of Santa Barbara, raved about givezooks! The K-8 independent school on the Riviera used givezooks! for its 2007-08 Annual Fund campaign and raised $350,000.
“We were running a capital campaign at the same time with limited resources,” McFarling said. “We typically rely on a host of volunteers to run our Annual Fund. When I heard about givezooks! I thought, ‘Let’s try it.’
The four givezooks! founders, technology executives with a history of success in the Silicon Valley, formed the company as an angel-funded startup in October 2007. Since July, more than 25 nonprofits in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Monterey counties have utilized the program in a pre-release stage for social fundraising. These nonprofits range across the education, human services, arts, environmental and religious sectors.
“In our work with nonprofits, we recognized that smaller community-based organizations don’t have the resources of large nonprofit organizations, but have the same requirements to leverage the Internet in their fundraising initiatives and marketing outreach,” said Carol Schrader, CEO and co-founder of givezooks!
“Individual donors, corporations and foundations represent potential resources for nonprofits, so why not bring them all together in the same marketplace online, in a model that has been successful connecting buyers and sellers for commercial purposes for years? Providing the definitive online marketplace for community-based philanthropy is our goal and yielding more money to the cause is our objective.”
“A critical part to our offering is the ability for nonprofits of any size to leverage the Internet and enable the next generation of philanthropy,” Fazio said. “Similarly, donors, corporations and foundations are all seeking ways to simplify the giving process and engage more productively in their communities.
“We wanted to level the playing field by removing the technology hurdles from the equation. We handle that for the nonprofit, and they can focus on what really matters, which is the mission of their organization, the cause.”
givezooks! creates an online community based on geographic locations. Within that geography, nonprofits, donors, corporations and foundations can sign up to participate in community-based initiatives. Local philanthropic and fundraising news, corporate initiatives, collaboration and volunteer opportunities all can be part of a givezooks! community site.
Multiple community launches — Santa Barbara’s site, santabarbara.givezooks.com, was the first — will lead up to the givezooks! national launch early next year.
The more than 100 attendees at Wednesday’s invitation-only demonstration had the opportunity to receive special discounts for givezooks! and enter a Montecito Bank & Trust-sponsored raffle to win a $1,000 charitable donation. Bambi Leonard, member services director of Lotusland, was the lucky winner of the raffle, which was presented by bank president and CEO Janet Garufis.
Click here for more information on givezooks! or click here to learn about or sign up for a givezooks! account.
Tracy Valenzi is marketing manager for givezooks!
Comments
Noozhawk's comments are moderated, but by posting here you accept your responsibility to follow our rules as part of Noozhawk's shared online community. Please keep your comments civil and helpful. Don't attack other readers personally, and do not use vulgar, abusive or discriminatory language. Use the "Report Abuse" link if a comment violates these standards or our Terms of Use
More Local News »
CALM’s ‘I Will Not Be Silent’ Campaign Helped Community Raise Voices Against Child Abuse
Girls Inc. of Santa Barbara Uniting Girls, Businesses for Take Our Daughters to Work Day
Old Spanish Days Saddles Up with La Primavera Unveiling of Official Poster
Kickoff party features El Presidente Josiah Jenkins, Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta, and the accompanying art work and memorabilia
Jay Leno Hosts Magical Evening for New Partnership for Cancer Care
Young Eagles Day to Take Flight Saturday at Santa Ynez Airport
Weather: Fair with Haze 61.0º
Search Noozhawk »
