Charity Merge Assists Corporates
11 September 2013 at 3:31 pm
Volunteering and online giving organisations, Goodcompany and Karma Currency have merged with a new online platform that aims to connect corporates that can give with those in need.
Described as an Australian first, the merging of the two platforms is said to give companies and individuals the benefit of visiting just one website to search for a range of volunteering projects and charitable giving options.
CEO, Ash Rosshandler, who was named Australian Fundraiser of the Year after establishing Karma Currency, the first online charity gift voucher and gift registry in 2007, is the man behind the merge.
“The merger aims to create a step change in the philanthropic landscape of Australia,” he said.
“The new website merges both the Goodcompany functions and Karma Currency functions to create a one stop giving shop for corporates and individuals.
“As Goodcompany our focus will be on assisting companies of all sizes to engage with the community and do good.
Goodcompany was established in 2001 by Kate Kennedy to allow professional volunteers to offer their skills to charitable organisations.
“Worldwide studies prove that ‘doing good is good for business’. It’s good for staff attraction and engagement, it’s good for the environment, it’s good for customer advocacy, it’s good for the community and it’s good for business. But up until now, nothing good came easy,” Rosshandler said.
“The aim of the new Goodcompany platform is to offer those companies struggling with staff engagement and management of any kind of corporate social responsibility (CSR) program an efficient, engaging and simple solution.
“We recognise that for many companies the process of engaging in volunteering, payroll giving, fundraising and other meaningful CSR programs are not core to their business.
“It can be very costly and time consuming. The new platform will allow them to fulfill their core business objectives along with their social impact objectives.”
Rosshandler said companies such as NAB, Telstra and ANZ were already on board with Goodcompany.
“One of the real bonuses for the corporates is the range of key reporting tools, which will enable companies to set up their own meaningful, CSR programs with an ease not previously experienced."
