Charity Gift Vouchers - Good Karma
27 August 2007 at 11:53 am
A new Not for Profit with the tantalising name of the Karma Currency Foundation has joined with the National Australia Bank and Nova radio to launch what they describe as Australia’s first Charity Gift Voucher.
The fundraising concept will be launched in Australian in October and is expected to be marketed to over 4 million Australians and 500,000 businesses.
The concept allows individuals and corporates to purchase Karma Currency online – a Charity Gift Voucher which they can then send to their family and friends, customers and colleagues for Christmas, weddings, birthdays, promotions and other occasions.
The recipient of the gift is then directed back to the website to give the donation to the charity of their choice.
Not for Profits with DGR status can register online to become a beneficiary and tap into this new source of revenue.
Currently it is free to register with a fee of $25 a month to be established later down the track.
Founder and CEO Ashley Rosshandler says each year over $1 billion is wasted on unwanted gifts that end up in the closet, in storage and ultimately in landfill.
As an alternative the Karma Currency Charity Gift Certificate is soulful, meaningful and an environmentally friendly gift.
Rosshandler studied philosophy and accounting at university, is undertaking an MBA, sits on the board of DepressioNet and comes from a career in advertising.
He says rather than sell two minute noodles he is putting his energies into selling something that could save a child, protect a forest, find a cure, educate a mind, aid the arts, spur on spirituality or perform countless other wonderful acts.
He chose the name Karma Currency he says because Karma is a great word that transcends religions, cultures, races and creeds and the ‘currency part’ is pretty straight forward as all charities need monies to survive and continue their work.
Rosshandler says the advantages for Not for Profits are:
– Access to new funds through a new revenue stream
– Exposure to large corporates across Australia
– A content management system to submit details and manage directed gifts (eg. goats, counseling sessions, mosquito nets)
– E-mails alert when someone has made a donation to your organisation
– Extra time to focus on core fundraising activities.
For more information on how it works and how to register go to: www.karmacurrency.com.au
