Spend For Good

What is Spend For Good?

Spend For Good is a charitable, web-based service that enables consumers to make a difference every time they shop online—at no additional cost to them. The site provides an easy way for consumers to support their favorite 501(c)(3) charities through their everyday purchases, while generating greatly needed funds for nonprofit organizations nationwide.

Spend For Good provides consumers with easy access to their favorite retailers and special online deals, as well as information about a wide range of charities they can support through their everyday purchases. When users start their shopping at SpendForGood.com and click through to their favorite online store, a percentage of their sale is automatically contributed to the charity of their choice. This charitable contribution is made possible by participating retailers, who pay a commission for each purchase made through the site. Spend For Good then directs these contributions to the user-designated charities. Contribution amounts are pre-determined by each individual retailer and are listed on the Spend For Good site.

Headquartered in Chicago, Spend For Good was launched in December 2009 by online marketing experts and twin sisters Jill and Jessica Balis, along with former marketer and Chicago Public Schools’ teacher Cristal Mendlen. With more than 45 years combined online and offline marketing experience between them, the three wanted to use their knowledge and expertise to do good. Originally envisioned as a way to help the charities they were personally involved in, they saw an opportunity to expand the idea to help thousands of charities. They were inspired by the fundraising challenges nonprofits face, particularly during a down economy when consumers tend to curb their charitable donations. They founded Spend For Good in hopes of generating greatly needed funds for 501(c)(3) organizations nationwide.