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Introduction

This page was originally started in 1999 when many charities and voluntary organisations were still struggling to set up functioning and effective web sites. While things have moved on, visiting other sites can allow you to compare and learn from how they work (or don't), and even get inspired.

This also a resource for those wanting to find particular products. We've dropped the listing of sites which have come and gone - the turnover of commission generating sites etc is less of an issue than it was a few years ago!

More suggestions of exemplar sites welcome, particularly those engaging with a particular target audience or client group.

For suggestions on how to get started on the web, podcasting etc, see main site Web Tips page.

Engaging people

• askTheSite from TheSite.org puts young people in direct contact with expert advisors from other charities across a range of topics.
• Defeating Depression has, at Oct 04, a very active discussion forum.
• MultiKulti is pioneering multi-lingual advice via the web.

Suggestions from VolResource visitors:

• RNID "discussion board [now Community Forum].. is great - much easier to use than most bulletin boards, and a very friendly supportive community".

Also see Campaigning on the web.

Next steps for the web

At summer 2007, please now see our CharityBlog for examples of blogs and podcasts produced by charities and a facility to create your own blog entries on charity issues. Also many of the sector sites listed on our CharityBlog Links page will provide RSS feeds for their (most recent) content.

Blogs

Or weblogs. Online journals or material written in that style, often with short entries, links to other blogs and 'favourite sites'.

RSS/News Feeds

'News feeds' are a way of distributing 'headlines' (linking through to a summary and/or full article) which can be picked up by email or web plug-ins, or via specialist aggregator facilities. It is potentially an easy way for websites to keep in touch with readers, as they can learn of updates without remembering to visit. Feed Burner's definition of RSS: "a standard for publishing regular updates to web-based content". See that link for more, and suggestions for news reader software and online services.

Techie note: there are a number of different versions of RSS, with version 1 being the odd one out! 0.9x or 2 would be better, and there is an alternative Atom format.

Podcasts

These are audio (and potentially video) 'broadcasts' in MP3 format which can be downloaded via iTunes and other facilities to portable MP3 players (of which the iPod is the most well-known), or played via a computer or other digital device. With the technology to make these becoming cheap and fairly easy to set up, expect more. While podcasts are often seen as a cheapo version of radio or TV series, they can be used as one-off educational/promotional resources too!

Podcast producers will be on the Media Services page; take a look at WebTips for starting points on doing it yourself.

Finding products and charities

Cards, Gifts

• CharityCards Some 19 charities are participating in this venture.

• CharityGifts Part of Webb Ivory, closely connected with Care4Free and the Goodwill catalogue. Various online shops for different charities.

• Combined Charities Christmas Shops Based in Cheshire. Seems genuine but lack of charity registration numbers or an explanation of how it passes on the funds generated makes it legally dubious.

Specific Charity 'Retail opportunities'

• Barnardos Catalogue may be online.

• Help the Aged Merchandise catalogue, as well as online donation facility (processing via WorldPay).

• Oxfam Online shop. Plus Big Noise Music for downloading music.

Wider Catalogues, Shopping Malls, Guides and Giving

NB Most of these charge charities/organisations to appear, and/or take a cut of each transaction generated. Also see general charity directories.

• ishop has a Charity section on its mall but this is more links to charity sites than shops.

• Oneworld.net has set up an 'online shop' - a guide to ethical goods and products helping 'one world' organisations. "We want to encourage ethical e-commerce, and give a higher visibility to those who are taking a lead in showing the sector what is possible." They are offering a limited number of free spaces to charities and NGOs who already promote goods and services on their websites, or plan to in the next six months. Call 01494 481629.

• Sharing the Caring "UK's leading promoter of payroll giving, working on behalf of over 60 national and local charities". Is connected with Help the Aged.

• Smartchange puts charities in front of potential donors and potential volunteers from employees at blue-chip companies via their intranets and call centres. Originally developed by a charity, now owned by Vivid Orange (technology providers to the sector).

• WillToCharity# 'The place to find the charity that touches your heart'. Seems to have no info on making wills in favour of charities! Email: willtocharity@btconnect.com

With UShopUGive having closed March 06, there has been a rash of sites filling the gap over summer 06. Expect some continuing turnover in these sites.

• UShopUCare.
• Cashback Rewards, where shoppers can share discounts and promo cashback with charities.
• Give or Take Similar to previous entry.
• Charity Checkout seems to be more connected to recognised charities than some.
• Easy Fundraising.
• Hungry Elephant.