Charity Through eCommerce

These days it’s a norm for businesses and individuals to contribute towards charity or associate to different social projects. The rise of philanthropic activities such as from top guns like Bill Gates to Indian corporate like Azim Premji foundation or the Infosys foundation are their stamp in socially useful projects.

Charity Going Online
On Amazon.in site, there’s a page where buyers can contribute a certain sum to verified charity and NGO organizations. On Amazon India site, the tab is called Gift a Smile. A visitor who lands on the page is bombarded with different kinds of charity, ranging from Support for girl children, to ones senior citizens and to animal welfare. So, based on your liking, your purse power, you can choose to contribute to these charities.

One thing I felt missing in this pie is this: when I donate, I don’t get a feeling that it’s really being utilized or how it benefited by the beneficiary. Well, I don’t expect them to tell me all that’s being done with the 50 or 100 rupees. But, in case my donation is beyond a certain sum, say Rs 8k or, then I would love to know it’s journey and impact.

Here’s my formula on how this E-Commerce companies can leverage their reach, and get more people to contribute to verified NGOs and institutions.

1) First task. Scout for institutions ( orphanages, Old age homes, etc) which lack in certain equipment like fans, furniture, water filters, water purifier, or even rain water harvesting tanks, or beds, mattress, or a air conditioner for an operation theater in a remote hospital, or a shelter for a family ( Buy a pre-molded house, fix it and start living), etc.

2) Step 2: Take pictures of the institution, and then write a story on how  they suffer due to the lack of it’s convenience, or how this equipment will make this place better.

3) Step 3: Tell the cost of the project. For instance, you folks can show how these equipment could be purchased from the e-store. If they require fans, keep a link which takes the visitor the page selling fans. And, in few clicks the items should be in the cart. Also, add the cost of installation. Now the donor know  how much it’s going to cost him or her or the organization which is donating.

3) Step 4: Once the deal is done, the next task starts for Amazon or Flipkart or any other estore.
They have to make sure that the delivery of the goods or the handing over of goodies is captured on camera. Also, the stage of fixing and finally the picture of the place with the new item

Hope it works!

Idea from Colonel Charles:)