Welcome to the JustGive Newsletter
August 2002

(NOTE: If you have trouble reading this email, this newsletter is available on our website at http://www.justgive.org/html/news/august2002.html.) IN THIS ISSUE:

*JUSTGIVE & CREDIT CARD FEES
*HOW JUSTGIVE SAVES MONEY
*HOW JUSTGIVE HELPS NONPROFITS

________________________________________
JUSTGIVE & CREDIT CARD FEES

One of JustGive's goals is to educate donors on charitable giving and the fundraising challenges all nonprofits face. As JustGive continues to lower fundraising costs for nonprofits simply by being an online donation service, as of September 1, 2002, JustGive is no longer able to cover the costs associated with the credit card fees. Many of you have heard us talk about these costs, and they are essential to understanding how we operate. Consider the $1.3 million we have already passed through to nonprofits. The credit card fees are 3%, which means that JustGive.org has paid out almost $40,000 for credit card fees ALONE! That's $40,000 JustGive has to raise -- just to cover credit card fees! As we continue to grow and pass more money through to charity, that number will inevitably rise! And JustGive is more than just a credit card processing service.
**KEEP IN MIND that fundraising just for credit card fees means NO MONEY can be allotted to actually improving our service for the donor, which is are main charitable purpose.

We hear from hundreds of people per week and get so many wonderful suggestions about how we can upgrade our services, many suggestions that have been on our own "wish list" for 2 years!
**KEEP IN MIND that $30,000 is equivalent to 1,250 hours of technology development! With $30,000, we could add new services and improve existing services to make your experience at JustGive even better!

Many of you have generously donated to JustGive and continue to each time you make a donation through our website. Thank you so much! It has helped us tremendously, but because it's not an option everyone chooses, it simply isn't enough. We need EVERYONE'S help.
**KEEP IN MIND that if JustGive continues to cover the cost of credit card fees, not only will be not be able to grow, but we simply won't be able to survive. That's not meant to be a scare tactic. It's simply the truth.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR YOU, THE DONOR?
As of September 1, 2002, 3% of donations will be sent directly to the credit card companies. JustGive is not making ANY money out of this 3%. It goes directly to cover the transaction costs, so we can concentrate on using our funds to make it easier and more effective to match donors with their favorite nonprofits.
**KEEP IN MIND that donations are still 100% tax deductible! That does not change.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR YOUR CHARITIES?
JustGive.org provides a convenient ONLINE option for making charitable contributions. By virtue of being a pass-through website on the Internet, there are inevitable credit card fees. Not unlike paying a shipping and handling fee for the convenience of ordering books online, the 3% acts as a "convenience fee" for donating online to charity.
**KEEP IN MIND that a good percentage of donations made through JustGive.org is part of "new giving," which is to say that they are donations the nonprofits would not have received if JustGive.org did not exist. New giving includes gift donations made in someone else's name (including our Wedding Registry couples), donations made through our Yahoo! Points program, our Hallmark Gift Certificate partnership, and our e-Cards partnership.

back to top

________________________________________
HOW JUSTGIVE SAVES MONEY

The JustGive staff does so much to keep our operating costs incredibly low. Here are just a few examples:

*JustGive CEO Kendall Webb has received only 10% of her salary this fiscal year. And since our inception, she has never taken her full annual salary.
*Currently, because we sublease space in our office, our rent is reduced by 60%.
*As of July 2003, JustGive's rent will be FREE.
*We receive free website hosting and email from Critical Path, and they also donated four servers to us.
*Since our inception, we have received well over $1 million in high-quality pro-bono goods and services from generous volunteers.

back to top

________________________________________
JUSTGIVE AND NONPROFITS

We look forward to continuing to make a difference for nonprofits, increasing donations to them and reducing their fundraising costs. Here are just a few things nonprofits are saying about JustGive.org:

*-"The exposure and publicity you provide for nonprofit organizations is vital to their work and to their success. Thanks to you, Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. will benefit from a great partnership with your service. One of LVA's ongoing challenges is to raise public awareness of the issue of adult literacy, and your site is a great vehicle to help us accomplish that goal!" ~Literacy Volunteers of America

*-"What a wonderful service you provide -- linking up caring, compassionate people with worthwhile causes like Habitat for Humanity. We deeply appreciate each and every contribution. Each one helps us make a difference in the lives of people in need." ~Habitat for Humanity

*-"Through the many creative giving programs you have developed, JustGive has helped Farm Sanctuary capture new online fundraising dollars. Your innovative marketing is creating new opportunities to support charities in the online world every day -- and that means more support for farm animals every day. Thanks, JustGive!" ~Farm Sanctuary

back to top

Please read more at http://www.justgive.org/html/nonprofits/npcomments.html.

Thank you for joining the Giving Movement, as we all create the world we imagine. You truly are making a difference.

Colleen A. Patrick
Senior Content & Creative Director
JustGive.org
feedback@justgive.org