Better The World is the world's first effortless fundraising platform that enables people to raise money for charity while surfing the Internet. The platform targets Internet users who have no money to give and charity supporters who want to do more. The company is a for-profit social enterprise

Social enterprise

A social enterprise is an organization that applies business strategies to achieving philanthropic goals. Social enterprises can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit....

 that gives 90% of net revenue to charity.

After joining and creating a personal profile, members choose a charity or cause to support. Money is raised by downloading a browser sidebar; which seamlessly integrates into Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...

. Money is raised when members view socially and environmentally conscious ads in the browser sidebar. Companies that advertise pay money according to the number of times people see the ads - the more members surf, the more money they raise for their charity.

Better The World has a global, English speaking, membership base. The company has a triple bottom line

Triple bottom line

The triple bottom line captures an expanded spectrum of values and criteria for measuring organizational success: economic, ecological, and social...

 focused on economic, social and environmental responsibility.

Origins

Better the World originated from research on innovative online fundraising techniques and was completed by its founders while attending the Executive MBA program at the Richard Ivey School of Business

Richard Ivey School of Business

The Richard Ivey School of Business is located on the University of Western Ontario campus in London, Ontario, Canada, and is consistently rated as the top business school in Canada. It is offered, along with a range of other programs, by the University of Western Ontario, but is managed separately...

 at the University of Western Ontario

University of Western Ontario

The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...

 in Canada. The company is privately held, based in Toronto and was officially founded in May 2008 in Toronto, Canada. The flagship site – www.bettertheworld.com - was publicly launched February 12, 2009.
On February 20, 2009 Better The World became the first internationally certified B corporation and the first certified B Corporation in Canada. With this designation, they join an exclusive group of 160 leading companies with a legally binding social purpose. The company is housed by incubator Idea Couture.

Charity Partners

There is no cost to Better The World’s charity partners and each partner sets specific fundraising goals, which are tracked and monitored by their supporters.

Current charity partners include:
Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research

Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research

The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research is a Canadian charitable foundation whose goal is to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS to increase funds for research. All of CANFAR’s fundraising efforts are geared towards raising money to fund Canadian HIV/AIDS research...

, Children's Miracle Network

Children's Miracle Network

The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals, medical research and community awareness of children's health issues. The organization, founded in 1982 by the Osmond family and John Schneider, is headquartered in...

, Habitat for Humanity Toronto

Habitat for Humanity Toronto

Habitat for Humanity Toronto, established in 1988, is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian housing organization that builds simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with low-income families. Habitat Toronto is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada.-History:Habitat for Humanity...

, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is located in northern Kenya. It was formed in 1995. It is a wildlife sanctuary incorporating the Ngare Ndare Forest and covering over . The Conservancy is home to a wide variety of wildlife including the rare and endangered black rhino, Grevy’s zebra and sitatunga...

, TakingITGlobal

TakingITGlobal

TakingITGlobal, which is also known as TIG, is a charitable non-governmental organization focusing on global issues by promoting awareness and engagement among global youth. It was founded in 1999 in Toronto, Canada by Jennifer Corriero and Michael Furdyk, who are the Executive Director and...

, United Way of Canada

United Way of Canada

United Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...

, 5 days for the homeless, Trickle Up

Trickle Up

Trickle Up is a nonprofit international development organization that empowers people living on less than $1.25 a day to take their first steps out of poverty by providing them with resources to build microenterprises for a better quality of life. Trickle Up is unique among microfinance agencies in...

, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is a charitable organization which raises money to advance research, education, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Established in 1986, it works to fund, support, and advocate for education and awareness programs, early diagnosis and treatment of breast...

, CARE

CARE (relief)

CARE is a broad-spectrum secular relief, humanitarian, and development non-governmental organization fighting global poverty. It is non-political, non-sectarian and operates annually in more than 70 countries across the globe.One of the organization’s primary focuses in its fight to eradicate...

, War Child

War Child (charity)

War Child is a non-governmental organisation founded in the UK 1993, which focuses on providing assistance to children in areas of conflict and post-conflict. They use their film and entertainment background to raise money for aid agencies operating in former Yugoslavia...

, KINSA and the World Wildlife Fund Canada.

Corporate Partners

Type of Ads:

• a. Corporate Social Responsibility Program Promotion – ads from corporations who have social responsibility programs. (e.g. Volunteering programs at ABC Corporation)
• b. Social Products & Services - ads from corporations who have social products and services. (e.g. Environmentally friendly cleaning solutions)
• c. Products and Services that fit with members interests - ads aligning with member’s interests (e.g. National Geographic Magazine).
• d. Not For Profit and Innovation – Organizations that are aligned with the values of members and are providing programs or services to support those values.

External links

• Better The World website: http://www.bettertheworld.com
• Idea Couture: http://www.ideacouture.com/
• B-Corporation: http://www.bcorporation.net/
• http://www.fundraisingsuccessmag.com/article/harsh-economic-conditions-drive-innovation-charity-fundraising-now-millions-can-financially-support-charity-while-surfing-web-403114_1.html
• http://www.thestar.com/article/588853
• http://www.odemagazine.com/doc/61/croth-bachman-interview/
• http://www.financialpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=1313260