What is Network for Good?

Founded by a consortium of leaders from the Internet and nonprofit sectors, Network for Good is a not-for-profit organization and website dedicated to providing real opportunities for you to donate, volunteer and get involved with issues that matter to you. Its mission is to stimulate philanthropy, volunteerism, and involvement among internet users, while also helping nonprofit organizations strengthen their relationships with supporters.

Network for Good is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

When will my donation(s) get to designated charities?

Donations made via Network for Good's Giving System are distributed on a monthly basis, on the 15th of the month following the month in which a contribution was made. For instance, a donation made during the month of August will be distributed on September 15th.

How do I make a donation?

To make a donation, first find in the Catalogue an organization you want to support. Once you do so, click the Donate Now button. The click will take you to a second page, where you will enter the information requested, including the donation amount, your donation preferences, your donation designation (optional), and your donation dedication (optional). When you are done, click the Add to Giving Cart button.

Next, you will see your Giving Cart, which lists your donations. On this page, you may Change your donations, or Remove them from the Giving Cart. From this page, you may click to Make Another Donation or Continue to proceed to check out. Clicking Make Another Donation, returns you to the Catalogue, where you can find another charity, and add the donation to your Giving Cart.

Once you proceed to check out, you will be prompted to sign in to Network for Good. If you are a returning donor, enter your e-mail address and password and click Sign In. If you are a new donor, simply enter your e-mail address and click Continue. This information will only be used to process your donation and does not imply you have created a profile on Network for Good.

Enter your billing information, as requested. PLEASE NOTE THAT NETWORK FOR GOOD NOW CHARGES 4.75% for all credit card transactions, and that this amount will be subtracted from your donation if you don't choose to make an additional contribution to cover the cost. You have the option of adding the 4.75% which covers the program costs associated with providing online fundraising and donation tools and services to thousands of nonprofits. Because Network for Good is a public charity recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, this (entirely optional) donation is tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. If you do not choose to make this contribution, then click Continue.

On the following page, review your donation and billing information. If any of it is incorrect, click Change. If it is correct, click Complete Donation.

Once your donation is complete, you will see a receipt that you can print out for your records (it will also be e-mailed to you), and the option to send a card to a recipient, or to the person to whom you dedicated your donation.

How does the money get to the organization of my choice?

If you use a credit card, Network for Good will process your donation through your credit card company. Once the payment has been approved, Network for Good notifies the appropriate charities that donations have been designated for them. If a charity has provided its electronic funds transfer (EFT) information to Network for Good, your donation will be transmitted electronically through our secure servers to the charity's bank account. If the charity has not provided EFT information, Network for Good will mail a check directly to the charity. Beginning in late 2004, online check writing will also be an option.

Does Network for Good take a cut, commission or service fee for processing my contribution?

While NFG takes no cut or commission for processing donations, a 4.75% fee is charged to nonprofits to defray the direct costs NFG incurs for processing donations. These "hard costs" include credit card fees, banking fees and check processing fees. Online check writing costs depend on the number of donations you make: $10.00 for a single donation, and $5.00 each for multiple donations. For large donations, online check writing may be extremely cost-effective.

Network for Good is itself a 501(c)(3) charity and makes no profit from the services we provide.

Can I have my gift card mailed through regular post?

No. You may e-mail your gift card when you make your donation or you may print out your gift card. When you make your donation, you will be asked if you want to send a gift card. Simply select and address your card; when your donation is complete, your gift card will be sent to its recipient.

Can I make an anonymous donation?

Yes. We will only pass on the information you provide us if you authorize us to do so. Read more about NFG privacy and security.

How do you protect my privacy?

We understand that you may be concerned about privacy issues that surround the use of the Internet. And, we believe that you should have control over who receives your personal information, whether it concerns where you live, what your interests are, or how you choose to conduct transactions. We do not use the personal information that you provide, except to complete the transaction. In fact, we only disclose personal information to the charities if you give us your permission. You may also choose to make your donation anonymously. We will never sell, trade, or rent your personal information to other individuals or companies. Read more about NFG privacy and security.

Will the charity I contribute to protect my privacy?

Each charity has its own policies regarding privacy of donor information. Please contact the charity you contribute to directly to learn about their privacy policies. We will only pass on the information you provide us if you authorize us to do so.