WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 - eBay offers charities and churches a way to raise funds

By Elaine Zimmermann

Rachel: My charitable organization has had disappointing results from a recent garage sale. We have found the cost of driving around and collecting items is almost cost-prohibitive. Is there better way we can sell items to raise more money for our charity?

Elaine: Most experts agree that people obtain 50 to 200 percent more for the same items sold on eBay.com compared with items sold in garage sales. eBay established MissionFish.org to let charities benefit from the generosity of others by allowing all of the proceeds from eBay sales to go to the charity.

MissionFish.org describes their mission as "to use technology to help nonprofits find new sources of unrestricted funding." The "Fish" in their name is borrowed from the analogy from Share Our Strength founder Bill Shore who referred to rather than "giving fish" to keep a non-profit running, we're trying to "build fisheries" that will sustain good causes over the long-term.

There are three ways to fundraise with eBay Giving Works and MissionFish. First, eBay sellers can donate part or all of their sale to your organization. You must register your organization with MissionFish to begin the process.

Once your organization is registered, sellers list an item for sale, chooses a percentage to donate and select your organization as the beneficiary. The listing appears on eBay with special eBay Giving Works features. When the item sells, MissionFish collects the donation from the seller and distributes the proceeds to your organization.

The second way your organization can use eBay and MissionFish for fundraising is to turn your donated items into more cash than you might receive from a garage sale. Again, this requires you list your organization with MissionFish. Then your nonprofit lists items for sale. The listings appear on eBay with the special "Giving Works" feature. When the items sell, the buyer pays your nonprofit directly.

The final way your nonprofit can use eBay to raise funds is the "Donate Now" feature. Once your organization has a PayPal account, your organization will be able to accept cash from contributors all over the world. Contributions can be as little as one dollar.

One example of how MissionFish has helped a nonprofit make the most of its donations is the success story of Goodwill San Francisco. Since 2003, they have received more than $1 million from the sale of items on eBay through MissionFish.

According to Johnny Cochran, Goodwill eCommerce Manager, "We wanted to take revenue generation into our own hands. We became a direct eBay seller and opened our own eBay store... we became proactive rather than relative… we've taken control a step further by refining our inventory so each item sold has the highest possible margin. This includes specializing in selling those items that will receive higher prices online such as designer clothes, and monitoring marketing trends to make sure we remain competitive with other sellers."

MissionFish can also assist a nonprofit put on one-time eBay fundraising event. To learn more go to MissionFish.org.

Elaine Zimmermann is a personal finance expert who was written about everyday ways to save money on cars, homes, vacations and more. For information on investing in foreclosed real estate you can visit her website at www.AskElaineZ.com.