Patent ID: 8589309
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: G06Q,G07B

Abstract:
1. A method for offering custom postage as part of a fundraising event, said method comprising: offering to sell custom postage having thereon an image of original artwork provided by a customer; receiving an image of original artwork from a customer, the image having a vertical orientation whereby the image will have a top edge; providing a customer with a personal promotional brochure showing at least one image of custom postage having said customer's original artwork thereon and at least one order form receiving an order for said custom postage product; processing payment for said order; producing a custom postage product by providing a substrate and placing an image of original artwork and a meter mark on the substrate, the image of original artwork defining an artwork region on the substrate and the meter mark defining a cancellation region on the substrate, the image having a top edge and being oriented such that the top edge is adjacent to the cancellation region; delivering said custom postage product to the customer; establishing a database for storing data therein, said database being associated with software-based programming for manipulating said data; receiving an inquiry from, or on behalf of, a beneficiary organization regarding offering custom postage as part of a fundraising event; collecting initial information from said beneficiary organization and storing said initial information in said database; causing said software based programming to generate a unique beneficiary organization identification code and to associate said unique beneficiary organization identification code with said initial information stored in said database; causing said software-based programming to extract relevant information from said database and to generate artforms upon which participants in said fundraising event can create artwork, said artforms having said unique beneficiary organization identification code associated therewith; providing a plurality of said artforms to said beneficiary organization to distribute to said participants; collecting said artforms, information relevant to said orders and information identifying each of said participants; collecting payment information relevant to purchasers of said custom postage and processing payments therefore; entering an image of each piece of artwork, said information relevant to said orders and said information identifying each of said participants into said database; said software-based programming causing said images of said artwork said information relevant to said orders and said information identifying each of said participants to be associated with one another and with the relevant beneficiary organization identification code; causing said software based programming to generate a unique participant identification code for each participant and to associate said participant identification code with, the information stored in said database relevant to said participant, and with the relevant beneficiary organization identification code; causing said software-based programming to manipulate said data stored in said database to generate printing information for said custom postage; using said printing information to print said custom postage; and shipping said printed custom postage to said purchasers thereof.