What is the goal of Generocity?

The overall purpose of Generocity is to increase the resources available in the region for a wide range of charitable and nonprofit causes. Resources include not only dollars but also volunteer time, in-kind goods and services, and support through advocacy and public education.

What will it be, exactly?

The short answer is that Generocity will be a website. More fully, Generocity will be an integrated initiative that includes these components:

1. An online publication dedicated to presenting original and shared content about the region's charitable sector, individuals working to improve their communities, businesses with novel approaches to supporting social causes, and so on.
2. A series of tools and functionality that will make it easier for people throughout the region to find, connect with and support causes. Conversely, these same tools will make it easier for local nonprofitsNonprofit:  An organization that exists for reasons other than to make a profit, such as charitable, community or service organizations, schools, cultural groups, and faith-based institutions. to promote and raise support for both their ongoing efforts and short-term projects.
3. Tools, content and functionality that will allow local businesses to promote and coordinate their cause marketing, employee giving and community donations.
4. Consulting services provided by Generocity staff to help both nonprofit and corporate members fully leverage our online services.
   
   

How do you know it's needed or wanted?

We've done extensive market research including one of the region's largest online surveys. You can read more about the survey results here, but the bottom line is that the region told us they were ready and eager for the kinds of content and functionality Generocity will offer.

We will offer people of all ages throughout Greater Philadelphia the information and tools they need to make meaningful contributions (whether of money, time or support) to the local causes and nonprofits they care about.

Parents, teachers, students, business leaders, nonprofit executives and just regular folks will all have specialized tools to help nurture their inner philanthropist and inner activist. We'll give everyone the ability to easily support and even initiate desperately needed charitable projects throughout the region.

Our digital tools include the ability for individuals to set up "giving accounts." Much like saving or checking accounts, a Generocity giving account will make it easy for everyone to make deposits into their own giving account, or to others (for example, as birthday gifts or as part of wedding registries). With just a couple of clicks, individuals can donate monies from their giving account to nonprofit member organizations that they read about or see listed on the Generocity website.

What will Generocity offer nonprofit organizations?

We're building Generocity to help nonprofits get the attention and support needed to advance their missions and have an even bigger impact. Once completed, Generocity will offer organizations across the region access to an unparalleled regional audience, with a robust mix of online giving tools and the ability to add information about its organization and projects.

What will Generocity offer businesses?

Smart business leaders know being community-minded isn't just about charity. Consumers are much more willing to patronize businesses that support causes they believe in. And employee satisfaction and retention are both significantly improved when employers are seen to care about more than the bottom line.

Generocity will offer online content and tools that will not only make it easier for businesses to tell their stories and get involved in causes, but also to engage their employees in meaningful ways in their corporate giving efforts.

We'll also be looking to partner with retailers and other businesses on unique co-branded campaigns that encourage people to select socially-conscious products. Using what we hope will be innovative and thoughtful ways, we will join with local businesses and encourage consumers to use their buying power to leverage corporate giving and help promote a more sustainable economy.

What will Generocity offer schools?

A major goal of Generocity is to provide the content and tools teachers need to help instill a habit of charitable giving and volunteerism among their students. We will be offering inspiring stories about what's going on at local schools, and special tools classrooms can use to raise and distribute funds.

We're also going to make it easier for people throughout Greater Philadelphia to support educational causes, everything from scholarships and regional reform efforts to art supplies for individual classrooms.

What is your timeline?

We are looking to launch the Generocity website with most of the functionality discussed here by late 2010. For the first half of 2010, we will be focused on designing and developing the website, assembling our editorial and support staff, building the coalitions needed, engaging advisory boards of local experts, audience-testing select aspects of the system as they are ready, and beginning the process of promoting our advertising and sponsorship packages.