| OneCause launches new social networking community to help nonprofit causes and schools raise money in difficult times |
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First online community to help nonprofits engage current supporters, attract new supporters and increase contributions without direct donations BOSTON (October 20, 2008) – OneCause announced today that it has released its new online community aimed at people who want to raise money for their favorite nonprofit causes and schools even during tough economic times – without making direct donations. “Nonprofits are really seeing their direct donations shrink significantly,” said Stephen Avalone, president of CauseLoyalty LLC., which owns OneCause. “Not only are donations from individuals shriveling, but foundations with investment portfolios are severely affected and corporations are cutting spending – resulting in decreasing contributions. Realistically, we can’t solve the entire problem for everyone but we can ease it with another revenue stream independent of direct donations.” Thousands of local, regional and national nonprofit causes and schools participate with OneCause to earn contributions through their supporters’ everyday purchases: Every time an eligible purchase is made at any OneCause merchant, up to 20% is contributed back to the chosen cause or school, at no extra cost to the nonprofit or the supporter. In addition, nonprofit causes and schools can engage their current supporters and attract new supporters simply by using the freely available interactive marketing tools at OneCause.com. Boys & Girls Clubs, Cribs for Kids®, Irish American Association, The National Adoption Foundation, Scottish Rite, Delta Kappa Gamma, National Soccer Hall of Fame, Cancer Fund of America, Breast Cancer Foundation, John Wayne Cancer Institute and Prostate Cancer Foundation are just a few of the causes that have recently contracted OneCause to participate in the new online community. OneCause partners with hundreds of well-known merchants and service providers to help supporters contribute to their chosen cause or school with every eligible purchase. Partners include Barnes & Noble.com, Kmart® and Lands’ End®, as well as Visa® and Chase, who issues the cobranded OneCause Visa Platinum. This credit card offers a $20 one-time bonus contribution plus a 1% contribution on every purchase, anywhere Visa is accepted. “Our merchant partners have stepped up to help nonprofits,” Avalone continued. “Discretionary spending may be down, but we still need to buy clothes for our kids, groceries to eat, and there will be some level of holiday shopping… all of which add dollars to nonprofit coffers.” Participating OneCause merchants have established loyalty with two coveted demographics: families with school-aged children – a group that spends approximately 38% more on consumer products than households without school-aged children, according to the National Retail Federation – and cause-minded shoppers, of which 79% will switch to brands associated with their cause, according to Cone Inc.
About OneCause OneCause blends social networking, social shopping and loyalty marketing to help consumers support their favorite school or nonprofit cause. Through our online community at OneCause.com, schools and causes can raise money through their supporters’ everyday purchases. When a supporter makes a purchase at any participating merchant through OneCause, a percentage of the purchase is contributed, at no extra cost, to the supporter’s chosen school or nonprofit cause. Founded in 1999, OneCause programs have contributed more than $200 million dollars to thousands of schools and nonprofit causes – without any direct donations. OneCause is operated by CauseLoyalty LLC., a subsidiary of Rakuten, Inc. (JASDAQ: 4755). With U.S. headquarters in Boston, Rakuten is one of the world's largest and most comprehensive Internet service companies. Learn more at www.onecause.com.
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Robyn Lorusso |