What if you and your kids could raise money for your favorite charities or schools by searching the Internet?  Thanks to GoodSearch, you can do just that.  GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50 percent of its sponsored search revenue to causes and schools selected by its users.  You use GoodSearch the way you would use any other search engine.  It’s powered by YaHoo!, so you get effective search results.  The funds GoodSearch donates to organizations come from its advertisers – consumers and beneficiaries do not spend a penny.

So consider using GoodSearch as your main search engine, and let your friends and co-workers know about it, too.  We all have a cause we care about but sometimes we don’t have the time or the money to support these efforts as much as we’d like.  GoodSearch is a simple way to raise money for worthwhile issues by doing something we do every day – search the Internet!

Visit their website to learn more about how you can donate to a specific cause, support your child’s school, provide disaster relief, and more!

 © YesKidzCan, 2010

Wouldn’t our kids think we lost our minds if we said, “Stop doing your homework and play this computer game!?” I’ve identified some online games that are actually good for your kids to play. That’s because while your kids are pointing and clicking, they can also learn about giving back.  Sometimes in order to reach our kids, we have to meet them where they live – online!

www.freerice.com.  When you play this nonprofit website’s word games of increasing difficulty, the United National World Food Hunger Program donates 10 grains of rice to communities in need with the goal of ending world hunger.  

www.whyville.net.  Whyville is a virtual world geared toward pre-teen and teen boys and girls who want to learn, create, and have fun together by playing educational games that also promote socially responsible behavior.  The young citizens participate in activities ranging from science and math to art, civics, and economics. 

 www.peacecorps.gov/kids/index.cfm.  Explore information about the challenges faced in the virtual community of Wanzuzu.  Then pick a specific challenge (such as water contamination, soil runoff, educating village girls, malaria, microfinance and more) and take on the role of a Peace Corps volunteer to work with community members.

www.charitii.com. This website offers a brand new concept for donating to charity. Simply by playing a fun crossword-style game, you and your kids will be donating to a charity you select from the site. And, it doesn’t cost you a thing except your time to play.

www.onehen.org. While the games themselves are suited for younger kids (around 4 to 6) the website’s lesson is a big one – microloans. Kids are able to easily grasp the microloan concept by reading the true story of a young, poor African boy who turned a small loan that he used to buy a hen into a booming business for his community.

If you find some online games that offer fun and educational lessons about giving to others, let us know!  We will add them to our list.

 © YesKidzCan!, 2010

 When it comes to giving back, I love innovative, break-through thinking!  (As long as all the ethical boxes are checked off, of course!)  I call this pushing-the-envelope philanthropy.  So, I was very excited when I came across www.youthgive.org.  Youth Give (in their own words) “was created to help educate and enable children youth and families to easily donate to charities they care about in a safe and secure manner.”  Music to my ears! 

 They offer something so downright different.  It’s called a “Giving Account.” This idea is Youth Give’s way for kids and families to make philanthropy an ongoing part of their life.  A Giving Account can be opened for a newborn, a toddler, teen, or college student.  It is a personal philanthropic account used to make donations to individual charities. It’s like having your own personal foundation. You or anyone you invite can add money to the account which is held for future giving.  The account owners can donate online to a cause of their choosing from a menu of vetted organizations.      

 Here is another envelope-pushing piece.  Youth Give has busted through the age barrier and the minimum contribution requirement for these kinds of “Donor Advised Funds!”  Kids of any age can have their own personal foundation and can contribute as little as one dollar to get it started.  And, every penny goes to the selected charity. The only limitation right now is that Youth Give’s menu of charitable recipients is focused on two pilot communities.  However, they are working to expand the list nationally and globally.   

 So I’m giving Youth Give a standing ovation for breaking through traditional ways of thinking and creating a vehicle for our kids to set their own course as budding philanthropists. Bravo! 

 ©YesKidzCan!, 2010