Cause Marketing

Green America, a Washington nonprofit that wants the American economy to be dominated by environmentally friendly companies, has started a deal-of-the-day Web site called GreenDeals.

In partnership with Q4 Marketing, of Boston, Green America carefully screens businesses, allowing only those that it defines as environmentally friendly and socially responsible to offer discounted deals.

reen America says it’s on its way to raising $24,000 as part of the deal with Q4 Marketing, which is expected to make a bit less from the partnership.

While companies have had corporate giving programs for years, they increasingly are involving employees by giving them a say in which charities to support and providing time off with pay for volunteering. Corporate volunteerism is growing, with 20 percent more companies allowing employees paid time off for volunteer projects than three years ago, according to a report by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy.

Corporate giving also has been a bright spot. Corporate charitable contributions rose 5.5 percent in 2009, according to Giving USA Foundation's report.

Francisco and Pam Cruz will become first-time homeowners, helped by one of many nonprofit groups that can snag foreclosures at a discount - sometimes free - before banks make them available to speculators.

Rebuilding Together obtained the home for free from JPMorgan Chase & Co., the bank that foreclosed on its previous owner.

In a market hot with speculators snapping up cheap foreclosures, Rebuilding Together's program is one of many that give a leg up to nonprofits and redevelopment agencies trying to stabilize neighborhoods dotted with vacant houses.

A San Rafael-based nonprofit that does HIV prevention work abroad may be expanding its programs after receiving a $4 million grant from Google.

Google's sales team awarded the grant to Global Strategies for HIV Prevention "to help with access to vital medication and health services, especially for women and girls, in post-conflict areas of Africa," Google spokesman Jamie Yood said.

As charities are faced with an increased demand in services with just a slight recovery in giving in 2010, Blackbaud Inc. has a renewed focus on its corporate value "service to others makes the world a better place.” Just this year, the company participated in countless philanthropic initiatives; from donating over 4,469 toys during the holidays, and launching the Nonprofit Leadership Circle, to receiving the Green Business Pioneer Award.

In the spirit of holiday giving, Little Cupcake Bakeshop has teamed up with charity:water — a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations — to launch “Jingle Wells” holiday campaign with the aim to raise money to fund clean water projects such as building water wells

NASA is looking to hand over control of U.S. science experiments on the International Space Station to a nonprofit organization, the space agency announced Monday.

The space agency issued a call for "an independent, nonprofit research management organization to develop and manage the U.S. portion of the station," according to the Dec. 2 statement.

Having an impact on critical issues in the No. 1 reason that corporations invest in philanthropic or socially responsible activities according to a new study, "Why Corporations Invest in Corporate Social Responsibility," by public relations firm Weber Shandwick.

Big companies are most likely to give to charity or undertake other social-responsibility efforts because they want to fight national or global problems, according to a new study by Weber Shandwick, a public-relations firm in New York.

But business-oriented goals, such as building consumer loyalty, were the primary drivers for many corporations.

In unique partnership with the website JustGive, Matthews is letting fans direct the proceeds of two upcoming Seattle shows to the charities of their choice. Every ticket is matched with an equal donation to philanthropy.

"The point is the act of giving and making the process available," he said in an interview. "I think it may make people feel a certain amount of power to see the ease of how you can give."