Shortly after New Year's Day 2007, Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (CT Nonprofits) introduced a new internet fundraising tool for its members.

In collaboration with Fundlink LLC and more than 1,300 major retailers, CT Nonprofits launched an online shopping mall to benefit its members. Every time an online shopper purchases an item from one of hundreds of popular retailers included in the CT Nonprofits ePlaza, the shopper can designate a member organization to benefit from the transaction. With each purchase the merchant/vendor pays an administrative/royalty fee of which a portion is allocated to the host of the mall (Fundlink LLC) and the balance split on the basis of 90% for your organization and 10% for CT Nonprofits.

How does CT Nonprofits ePlaza Work

It's simple. It works like any other online shopping vehicle, except now your organization benefits from the experience. Consumers enter CT Nonprofits ePlaza from either your Web site OR CT Nonprofits Web site and choose to shop from stores such as Target®, Macy's®, Best Buy®, or Expedia®. Before they enter a retail site, they are asked to choose a CT Nonprofits member organization that will benefit from their shopping experience. They are never asked to make a donation. Rather, a portion of each sale is directed by the merchant to the designated CT Nonprofits member organization. Once the designation is made, consumers are sent directly to the retailer of their choice to start shopping. You will now have the opportunity to encourage your constituents, donors and stakeholders to support your nonprofit directly through their online purchases.

Check out this document — How to Use This Site — for additional information.

What should member organizations know about CT Nonprofits ePlaza?

1. Every store listed on CT Nonprofits ePlaza has guaranteed the same prices as if the shopper went directly to their Web site.

2. When consumers visit the mall, they are not sent to a reseller, they are sent to the merchant's Web site.

3. Consumers that begin at CT Nonprofits ePlaza are given an option to designate a CT Nonprofits member organization to benefit from their shopping. If they enter CT Nonprofits ePlaza through the Web site of the participating member that member will automatically be listed as the chosen benefactor.

4. All transactions made at CT Nonprofits ePlaza are handled directly by the merchants, not CT Nonprofits. No personal information is kept by CT Nonprofits or Fundlink LLC. No shopper's name or payment information, shipping address, items purchased or any other personal details of this sale are known by Fundlink LLC or by CT Nonprofits.

5. Each merchant is responsible for the transactions and delivery of the gifts and merchandise ordered.

6. There is NO cost to the member organizations to participate. It will only take a few minutes of staff time to set up the link to shopping mall on the member organization's Web site.

How can supporters of member organizations use CT Nonprofits ePlaza?

Member organizations should first include the link to CT Nonprofits ePlaza (http://ctnonprofits.fundlinkllc.com) on their Web site. Then they should promote, promote, promote! Let supporters know to go to the member organization's Web site first when shopping online and click on the CT Nonprofits ePlaza icon. If the supporters are entering from another site, tell them to select your organization when asked what agency shall be designated as the benefactor of any shopping session.

CT Nonprofits will provide members with the CT Nonprofits ePlaza icon, available here:

Member organizations should right click on the above image and save it for use on their Web site. Members should link the image to: http://ctnonprofits.fundlinkllc.com. and they should provide to CT Nonprofits the complete Web site address (URL) for the their organization's Web site.

To personalize the entrance to the CT Nonprofits ePlaza, member organizations can provide a JPEG image of their logo to Gladys Alcedo, who will upload the image onto the online shopping mall.

How can members participate?

CT Nonprofits ePlaza is a CT Nonprofits member benefit and all CT Nonprofits member organizations are automatically included in the designee listing. If members do not see their organization listed, contact Gladys Alcedo or Karen Maciorowski at CT Nonprofits. If members choose not to participate in this membership benefit, please contact CT Nonprofits.

How can member organizations help promote CT Nonprofits ePlaza?

To help launch the mall, CT Nonprofits provides these downloadable marketing materials and tips:

Template: A template for broadcast emails, broadcast faxes, newsletter articles or flyers.

News Release: A sample of a news release.

How to Use This Site: A sample "how to" document for supporters of member organizations.

How do member organizations receive its percentage of the proceeds?

Once a month, provided the member organization has accrued at least $50 in administrative/royalty fees, the organization will receive a check in the mail from Fundlink LLC, the administrator of the program. The fee amount is determined by the individual retailer and varies from merchant to merchant.