http://www.groupdonate.com

I have built a website to enable users to passively raise donations for groups like AnimalsTaiwan and Forumosa, etc.

In short the goal was to create a website where users can select a group they would like to donate to and then if they begin their online shopping from the site the group can earn the affiliate commission.

A very simple but obvious example is Skype, many expats in Taiwan are using Skype to call home, and by routing the purchase of SkypeOut minutes via this site 5% of the sale value can be given as a donation. SkypeIn earns 10% of the sale value.

This does not cost the user anything except maybe a little time. It is also not intended to ask users to spend any more money than they would normally be spending, but rather take advantage of the opportunity for receiving the commission. As this type of donating is passive in so much as you don't spend any of your own money, I am hoping participation will be quite high.

The site is still under construction, but I am interested in getting some people using the system so I can iron out any problems. I will continue to add more advertisers on a daily basis as I get accepted to their affiliate progams, I will also later add a section where commissions can be earned through non-purchase activities like completing forms, answering surveys, surfing, clicking links, etc.

Now my disclaimer, my interest in this website is part educational and part financial. The entire website (html, images, scripts, database) is written by myself, it's a challenge and a hobby. My hope is in time to earn some benefit from this site (if it pays for its own hosting great), that said any groups that are enrolled into the system during the start-up phase I will always continue to pass on 100% of the commissions earned.

All feedback good & bad welcome!

Connel

Thank you, Connel. Your idea is a good one. This thread shall be stickyized.

Great idea, and thank you very much - you are now part of the AnimalsTaiwan team.

Quick update.

I switched Skype to a different affiliate program and now offer:

SkypeOut 7.5% of sale value
SkypeIn 15% of sale value

Whats the URL?

Was sure I wrote it in the original message, I will add it. Anyway

www.groupdonate.com

Ah yes, right at the top....did you just add that? I'm sure I looked for it.

Sorry


BTW, I assume there is no cross border issue if I want to reccomend the site to folks in the UK or HK?

Excellent idea

It was in the thread title all along, but yes i did add it to the top of the OP just in case.



No should be no cross border issues, especially for donors. If you look at the details page for any advert it will detail if it is region specific (there's a little flag or a globe) there are also restrictions posted, for example Real Rhapsody only accepts application from US postal address and needs to be complete from a US IP range.

Since announcing the site I noticed no user accounts had been created.

This got me thinking, are people weary of creating accounts online and giving limited personal information (email address)? If so I can also enable the system to work anonymously and just let users select the group once when they first visit the site, this way there is no need to create an account.

It also raises the question most who donate, do you want any recognition or would you prefer to donate anonymously ? in a way this same question is also being asked in this thread Forumosa Donor Icon

I initially thought by listing users and their donations this would keep the system transparent as the user would see their donation and the transfer of funds to the specified group. Also by ranking users it would drive them to use the site more to get a better ranking.

Connel