Abstract:
A community commerce system and method is centered about a common website and electronically generated gift cards, or e-gift cards. The system and method encourages what is referred to herein as “community commerce” among several classes of participants, including: i) merchants/business owners; ii) shoppers; and iii) charities/nonprofits/fundraisers. A member may use the website to purchase electronic e-gift cards, redeemable at a merchant&#39;s place of business. Each e-gift card is associated with an individual merchant, has a face value, and further has an identified quantity of donation dollars. Each merchant establishes their own e-gift card, determining both the face value of each e-gift card and how many donation dollars are to be given to shoppers in exchange for each e-gift card purchase.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/931,340, filed Jan. 24, 2014, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates, in general, to charitable and nonprofit fundraising, and, in particular, to a community commerce system and method that is centered about a common website and electronically generated gift cards, or e-gift cards. 
         [0004]    2. General Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    Charitable fundraising that employs scrips, or gift cards, is well known. In a typical known use of gift cards by a charity or nonprofit organization, a relatively large quantity of physical gift cards are purchased in bulk by the fundraising organization. Each of the gift cards has a face value and is typically associated with an individual merchant or vendor, and is sold to the organization at a discount (i.e., an amount less than the face value at which the gift card is redeemable at the merchant for goods or services). Supporters of the fundraising organization purchase the gift card at face value, with the difference between the face value and initial purchase price being kept by the fundraising organization for its purposes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention presents a community commerce system and method that is centered about a common website and electronically generated gift cards, or e-gift cards. The system and method encourages what is referred to herein as “community commerce” among several classes of participants, including: i) merchants/business owners; ii) shoppers; and iii) charities/nonprofits/fundraisers. The central website functions as a community portal, linking these three classes of participants. 
         [0007]    A member shopper may use the website to purchase electronic e-gift cards, that are redeemable at a member merchant&#39;s place of business. The member shopper can use the website to search for a particular local or national merchant. Each e-gift card is associated with an individual merchant, has a face value (i.e., the amount redeemable with the merchant for goods or services), and further has an identified quantity of what is referred to herein as “donation dollars”—i.e., an amount of funds, that, in exchange for purchase of the e-gift card, will be supplied by the merchant to the shopper, to be kept on account by the operator of the website on behalf of the shopper for donation to one or more charities/nonprofits/fundraisers designated by the shopper, all facilitated by the present community commerce fundraising website. 
         [0008]    A search engine enables member shoppers to search for merchants&#39; businesses in a variety of manners, including local versus national businesses, or by category of products or services provided. Each merchant may join the website for a flat setup fee, and is then given a custom webpage to promote their e-gift card, and to provide user with store and brand information. Each merchant establishes their own e-gift card, determining both the face value of each e-gift card and how many donation dollars are to be given by the merchant to shoppers in exchange for each e-gift card purchase. 
         [0009]    Each e-gift card is accessible at a merchant&#39;s place of business via a printed document having a two-dimensional barcode displayed thereon, via a smartphone or tablet displaying the 2-D barcode, or via manual entry of a unique alphanumeric redemption code assigned to the e-gift card. The printed barcode, virtual barcode, or redemption code may be used when purchasing goods or services from the associated merchant. The unique alphanumeric redemption code may also be entered by a shopper owning the particular e-gift card when making purchases from member merchants&#39; online stores. As e-gift cards are used at associated merchants&#39; places of business or online, purchases result in commensurate debits being applied to the tracked value of the associated e-gift card. Each user is provided with a virtual wallet of purchased e-gift cards, enabling them to view their purchase history, redeem active cards, and make additional purchases of fully redeemed e-gift cards. 
         [0010]    Charities, nonprofits and other individuals/entities may start a fundraiser on the website by creating an account, describing themselves (using text, photos and videos), and identifying a personal or organizational goal, which is then posted to the website. The charities/nonprofits can then encourage their supporters to purchase e-gift cards of their choice, from any available merchant, and to direct their associated donation dollars received from the merchant in exchange for e-gift card purchases to their particular fundraiser. Fundraisers may, for an additional fee or otherwise, become featured fundraisers towards receiving more donation dollars from various shoppers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram showing the interconnectivity of the servers and terminals employed in the operation, access, and use of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a depiction of a home page of a community commerce fundraising website in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a depiction of an e-gift card shopping page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a depiction of an e-gift card detail page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a depiction of a donate/fundraiser search page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a depiction of a fundraiser detail page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a depiction of a new fundraiser project creation page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a depiction of the e-gift card page of a user&#39;s virtual wallet of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a depiction of an e-gift card redemption page of a user&#39;s virtual wallet of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a depiction of a user&#39;s funded fundraisers page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a depiction of a user&#39;s personal fundraisers page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a depiction of an edit fundraiser page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a depiction of a list of funders associated with an individual fundraiser page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a depiction of a user profile edit page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a depiction of a view shopping cart page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a depiction of a merchant portal transaction page of the community commerce fundraising website; 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a depiction of a first project funding popup dialog of the community commerce fundraising website; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a depiction of a second project funding popup dialog of the community commerce fundraising website. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    A simplified block diagram showing the interconnectivity of the servers and terminals employed in the operation, access, and use of the present community commerce fundraising website is shown in  FIG. 1  as comprising web server  10 , e-commerce server  20 , shopper terminal  30 , fundraiser terminal  40 , merchant terminal  50 , and point-of-sale terminal  60 . Web server  10  serves to generally operate the community commerce website, receiving hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests via a global network, such as internet  80 , and serving hypertext markup language (HTML) and other content in response, to/from terminals  30 ,  40 ,  50  and  60 . Servers  10  and  20  may comprise personal computers, minicomputers or mainframes. Terminals  30 ,  40  and  50  may comprise desktop and laptop personal computers, tablet and other handled computers, smartphones, or any combination of the foregoing. For brick-and-mortar stores, point-of-sale terminal  60  may comprise a personal computer-based cash register system or the like, including, for example, an associated barcode scanner, cash drawer, LED pole display and receipt printer. For online stores, point-of-sale terminal  60  may instead comprise an e-commerce server associated with an individual merchant. 
         [0030]    Web server  10  may include an associated database server for storing information relating to users, merchants, fundraisers, and e-gift cards or, alternatively, one or more external database servers may be coupled to web server  10 . Moreover, web server  10  may alternatively be a plurality of servers, rather than a single server, organized in what is known as a web farm. Local area network  12  couples web server  10  to one or more internal maintenance terminals  11  for support and maintenance operations. 
         [0031]    E-commerce server  20  facilitates transactions involving e-gift cards at individual member merchant stores, which may be either traditional brick-and-mortar stores or online stores. E-commerce server  20  also acts as a gateway for credit card transactions, and for payment processing via PayPal and other online payment and money transfer service providers. For example, when a shopper purchases an e-gift card, a payment is made from the associated merchant, to be kept on behalf of the purchaser in the form of donation dollars. As another example, when a shopper directs a quantity of donation dollars to a particular fundraiser, a corresponding monetary amount is transferred to the organization associated with the fundraiser. E-commerce server  20  may include an associated database server or, alternatively, one or more external database servers may be coupled to e-commerce server  20 . Moreover, e-commerce server  20  may alternatively be a plurality of servers, rather than a single server, organized in an e-commerce server farm. Local area network  22  couples e-commerce server  20  to one or more internal maintenance terminals  22  for support and maintenance operations. 
         [0032]    Web server  10  and e-commerce server  20  may optionally be coupled by a high speed dedicated data link or wide-area network  70 , rather than internet  80 , for enhanced speed and security of the back-and-forth communications between the servers. 
         [0033]    A web browser running on shopper terminal  30  may be used by an individual in conjunction with web server  10  to, among other things join, or become a member of the present community commerce fundraising website, to search for, purchase and print e-gift cards, to view a pool of funds accumulated from the purchase of various e-gift cards, referred to herein as “donation dollars”, and to donate all or a portion of the shopper&#39;s donation dollars to one or more established fundraisers. A web browser or a dedicated application running on fundraiser terminal  40  may be used by an individual in his/her individual capacity, but more typically on behalf of a nonprofit organization, a school, a youth sports team, community organizations, a church, a charity, or other entity in conjunction with web server  10  to, among other things join, or become a member of the present community commerce fundraising website, to create and establish a new fundraiser within the community commerce website, and to monitor the progress of their fundraisers. A web browser or a dedicated application running on merchant terminal  50  may be used by an individual in his/her individual capacity, but more typically on behalf of a for-profit business entity to, among other things join, or become a member of the present community commerce fundraising website, to promote their businesses, and to create prospective e-gift cards to be acquired by shoppers in exchange for the merchant user&#39;s provision of donation dollars to the shopper. 
         [0034]    While  FIGS. 2-18  depict individual web pages and popup dialog pages of a community commerce website embodiment of the present invention which may be rendered as web pages within a web browser running on a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone, a dedicated application, or “app”, may alternatively be employed, particularly on tablets and smartphones, to achieve similar functionality. Referring to  FIG. 2 , home page  100  of the community commerce and fundraising website is shown as comprising shop button  101 , donate button  102 , how it works button  103 , login button  104 , rotating banner region  105 , featured fundraisers region  106 , fundraisers ending soon region  107 , and most donation dollars button  108 . Although not shown in  FIG. 2 , home page  100  may further comprise an e-commerce shopping cart icon, and links to the website&#39;s associated privacy policy, terms and conditions of use, and Facebook, Twitter, and other social media pages and feeds. 
         [0035]    While certain specific text is shown in the various webpage buttons of the figures, it should be noted that alternative text may instead be used. For example, “fund” button  141  of  FIG. 5  may instead use the text “donate” to connote a similar function. Moreover, as is known in the art, text associated with the various controls and information paragraphs may be retrieved from a database as each web page is rendered to, for example, permit alternative language versions of the community commerce website, such as Spanish, to alternatively be presented to users. 
         [0036]    Clicking a mouse or other pointing device on, positioning a cursor over, or otherwise selecting login button  104  causes a drop-down menu to appear below login button  104 . The drop-down menu enables established users to enter their username and password, and to then sign into the system. The drop-down menu also includes a link facilitating the handling of a forgotten username or password, and another link enabling prospective users to establish an account and to thus become members of the system. Selecting shop button  101  enables an existing user, such as a shopper, to shop for fundraisers and their associated e-gift cards. Selecting donate button  102  enables an existing user, such as a shopper, to search established fundraisers, towards transferring some or all of their current balance of donation dollars to one or more established fundraisers. Selecting how it works button  103  enables an existing user, such as a shopper, to view an explanatory tutorial on the general operation of the website and the present community commerce system and method. 
         [0037]    Rotating banner region  105  enables the website operator to place a variety of promotional and informative images, text, and embedded videos on prominent display, automatically and/or manually scrolling horizontally through several separate displays. Featured fundraisers region  106  enables the website operator to place several featured fundraisers on prominent display, automatically and/or manually scrolling horizontally through several separate fundraisers. The website operator may, for example, charge an additional fee from a nonprofit or charitable institution in order to feature their fundraiser. Fundraisers ending soon region  107  enables the website operator to place several fundraisers that are due to expire shortly on prominent display, automatically and/or manually scrolling horizontally through several such fundraisers, to enable shoppers with donation dollars to potentially avail themselves of these “last chance” donating opportunities. A “see all fundraiser” button in region  107  enables the user to transition to another web page where all available fundraisers may be searched for and viewed. Most donation dollars region  108  enables the website operator to feature the e-gift cards of merchants offering the largest contributions of donation dollars per e-gift card purchase, automatically and/or manually scrolling horizontally through several separate merchant e-gift card opportunities. A “see all gift cards” button in region  108  enables the user to transition to another web page where all available gift cards may be searched for and viewed. 
         [0038]    Once an established user has logged in, selecting shop button  101  causes the e-gift card shopping page  110  of  FIG. 3  to appear. Referring to  FIG. 3 , e-gift card search region  111  enables the user to search for e-gift cards by keyword (such as business name), region, or product/service category. Within this region, a search text box enables the user to enter a merchant name or other keyword to be searched. Alternatively, or as a way of narrowing down the results of a keyword search, the buttons immediately below the search text box enable the user to select “All” (i.e., all e-gift cards), “local business”, as determined by proximity to a zip code entered by the user, or “national chains”. A “category” pull-down menu enables the user to limit the search results to specific categories of goods or services, such as “shoes” or “restaurants”. Once all of the criteria for a specific search have been entered by the user, the associated results are displayed in a grid-style view within search results region  112 . Each search result, in the form of e-gift card information  113 , includes a photograph or graphic  114  of the associated merchant, an indication  115  of the amount of donation dollars associated with the e-gift card, a textual description  116  of the merchant&#39;s store, the monetary initial face amount  117  of the e-gift card, a button  118  causing the e-gift card to be added to the user&#39;s virtual shopping cart, a button  119  enabling the user to share the selected e-gift card with a friend via email or by posting the e-gift card on social media. As shown in the top center e-gift card  113  of search result region  112 , clicking on a button  119  causes a secondary set of buttons to replace buttons  118  and  119 . Specifically, button  121 A enables a reference to the particular e-gift card to be posted to a twitter account, button  122 A enables a reference to the e-gift card to be posted to a Facebook account, button  123 A enables a reference to the e-gift card to be emailed to a desired recipient or recipients, and button  124 A cancels the e-gift card forwarding process and restores buttons  118  and  119  to visibility. In the event the number of e-gift cards in a particular search result set exceeds the available display space in search results region  112 , paging controls  120  are displayed to enable the user to page back and forth among multiple pages of search results. Merchants may additionally, for a fee, have their gift cards or other promotional materials be featured in any search results, as indicated by promotional advertisement  221 . 
         [0039]    Clicking on any portion of an e-gift card  113  in search results region  112  of  FIG. 3 , apart from buttons  118  or  119 , causes the e-gift card detail page of  FIG. 4  to appear in order to provide additional details on a selected e-gift card, as well as additional details on the associated merchant. Referring to  FIG. 4 , additional details of a merchant and its e-gift card  113  that are displayed include a plurality of graphic and/or video images relating to the merchant, including additional images  114 A,  114 B, and  114 C. Clicking on any specific image or video causes it to be displayed or played, as the case may be, in the largest region  114 . The e-gift card initial amount  117  is displayed as an initial value in drop-down selector  121 , where the user may instead elect to purchase a multiple of the original face value for the gift card (i.e., $200, $300, $400, etc. instead of $100). The associated displayed amount of donation dollars  115  will likewise be proportionately multiplied. Another drop-down selector  122  enables the user to designate a larger desired number (i.e.,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ) of the current e-gift card  113  to be purchased. A lower region  123  of the webpage of  FIG. 4  includes additional information about the merchant and its store, including its physical address, a map of its location, a link to the company website, and more textual or graphic information. 
         [0040]    Once an established user has logged in, selecting donate button  102  causes donate/fundraiser search page  130  of  FIG. 5  to appear. Referring to  FIG. 5 , as on home page  110 , Featured fundraisers region  106  enables the website operator to place several featured fundraisers on prominent display, automatically and/or manually scrolling horizontally through several separate fundraisers. Button/region  132  encourages member shoppers to start their own fundraisers. Clicking anywhere with button/region  132  causes the fundraiser project start page of  FIG. 7  to appear. With continuing reference to  FIG. 5 , fundraiser search region  133  enables the user to search for fundraisers by keyword (such as organization name), featured fundraisers, those ending soon, or by proximity. Within this region, a search text box enables the user to enter a nonprofit or charity name or other keyword to be searched. Alternatively, or as a way of narrowing down the results of a keyword search, the buttons immediately below the search text box enable the user to select “All” (i.e., all e-gift cards), “featured”, “ending soon”, or local fundraisers, as determined by proximity to the user&#39;s data entry within a zip code text box. A “category” pull-down menu enables the user to limit the search results to specific categories of fundraisers, such as, for example, schools, religious organizations, social welfare, and health-focused charities. Once all of the criteria for a specific search have been entered by the user, the associated results are displayed in a grid-style view within search results region  134 . Each search result, in the form of fundraiser information  135 , includes a photograph or graphic  136  of the associated fundraiser, an indication  137  of the remaining duration of the fundraiser, a textual description  138  of the associated project name and location, indications of the percentage  139 ,  139 A (in the form of a vertically positionable ribbon) and amounts  140  that the project has been funded, to date, a button  141  causing transition to another web page where a specific amount of the user&#39;s current pool of donation dollars may be transferred to fund the project, and a button  142  enabling the user to share the selected project with a friend via email or by posting the project on social media, similar to the manner in which e-gift cards may be shared from e-gift card shopping page  110  of  FIG. 3 . In the event the number of fundraisers in a particular search result set exceeds the available display space in search results region  134 , paging controls  143  are displayed to enable the user to page back and forth among multiple pages of search results. 
         [0041]    Clicking on any portion of a fundraiser  135  in search results region  134  of  FIG. 5 , apart from buttons  141  or  142 , causes the fundraiser detail page of  FIG. 6  to appear in order to provide additional details on a selected fundraiser. Referring to  FIG. 6 , additional details of the fundraiser that are displayed include a plurality of graphic and/or video images relating to the fundraiser, including images  136 A,  136 B, and  136 C. Clicking on any specific image or video causes it to be displayed or played, as the case may be, in the largest region  136 . As in  FIG. 5 , remaining fundraiser duration  137 , percentage funded  139 , current amount raised  140 , fund buttons  141 , and share buttons  142  are again displayed. In addition, fundraising goal  144 , additional fundraiser information region  145 , fundraiser creator information region  146 , and user comment region  147  are displayed. Additional fundraiser information region  145  may include additional textual information about the current fundraiser, a link to an external website associated with the fundraiser, and an embedded video relating to the fundraiser. Fundraiser creator information region  146  may include information taken from the profile created on the present website by the creator of the fundraiser, including their name, photograph, and biographical or other text. User comment region  147  provides an opportunity for shoppers and other members of the present website to comment upon the current fundraiser, by clicking on an associated add comment button. The commenter&#39;s name, or a portion thereof, as well as a photograph previously added by the commenter to his or her profile may also be displayed along with the associated comment text. 
         [0042]    Once an established user has logged in, selecting button  132  of the  FIG. 5  causes new fundraiser project creation page  150  of  FIG. 7  to appear, permitting the user to become a fundraiser creator. Referring to  FIG. 7 , banner region  151  permits graphics, images, or a rotating selection of graphic and images pertaining to fundraiser creation to be displayed. Button  151 A is provided to prompt and enable the fundraiser creator to send a message to a friend, coworker or relative, via email, text, social media etc., inviting and encouraging them to start their own fundraiser, on behalf of either themselves or an associated organization, via the present community commerce website. Button  151 B enables the fundraiser creator to share a link to the current fundraiser (once it is submitted for approval and approved by the website operator) to a friend, coworker or relative, via email, text, social media etc. A plurality of data entry text boxes permit the fundraiser creator to enter a title  152 , name of organization  153 , monetary fundraising goal  153 , duration of project  155 , a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”)  156  associated with a webpage or website relating to the organization or the specific fundraiser, a URL  157  associated with a map showing a physical location of the organizer, and a detailed description  158  of the fundraiser and the fundraising organization. Drop-down list  155 A enables the fundraiser creator to associate the fundraiser under creation one of a plurality of predetermined fundraiser categories, such as, for example, such as, for example, schools, religious organizations, social welfare, and health-focused charities. Button  159  and photo thumbnail display region  160  enable the fundraiser creator to upload a primary photograph and, optionally, additional photographs that may be employed in assisting to promote the fundraiser. Video URL text box  161  enables the fundraiser creator to specify an embedded explanatory or promotional video to be located for playback within additional fundraiser information region  145  of the fundraiser detail page of  FIG. 6 . connect PayPal account button  162 , when pressed, launches a dialog that enables a fundraiser creator to link a specific payments and money transfer account to the fundraiser, both for payments to be made by the fundraiser creator or the associated organization to the community commerce website operator for fundraiser setup fees (if any) and fundraiser featuring fees (if any); and for the fundraiser organization to receive money transfers resulting from shopper&#39;s designation of his or her donation dollars to be given to fund the organization&#39;s fundraiser. Other funding options button  162 A enables the fundraiser creator to select another method of funds transfer both to and from the community commerce website, such as, for example, identifying a personal or business checking account, by account number and bank routing number, for electronic withdrawals and deposits, respectively. Once all of the information on fundraiser creation page  150  has been entered by the fundraiser creator, button  163  is pressed to submit the fundraiser for review and approval by the community commerce website operator. 
         [0043]    A notable feature of the present community commerce website is the ability for a fundraiser creator to designate his or her fundraiser as being “private”, meaning that, rather than being searchable and visible to all users of the website, the private fundraiser will not be included in the fundraiser ending soon display  107  of  FIG. 2 ; the fundraiser having the most donation dollars display  108  of  FIG. 2 , or the fundraiser search results region  112  of  FIG. 3 . Private fundraisers may be particularly desirable with regard to education. For example, a student may establish a private fundraiser to establish a personal education fund, such as for college tuition, fees, and books, to cover the costs of a school trip or participation in a school sport or after-school activity, etc., in order to encourage the student&#39;s family and friends to contribute to the fund by purchasing e-gift cards and then directing their donation dollars to the student&#39;s private fundraiser. 
         [0044]    By checking checkbox  162 B of  FIG. 7  during fundraiser creation, the associated fundraiser is flagged as being private in its associated database record. This, in turn, causes a unique, private URL  162 , such as a short-form URL hosted by a third party service provider such as Bitly, Inc., to be generated and associated in the website&#39;s database with the private fundraiser. The fundraiser creator may then forward the private URL to the creator&#39;s friends, family, coworkers and associates, either manually, by typing the URL in an email or other communication, by using the cut-and-paste feature of the user&#39;s computer, tablet or smartphone, or via share button  151 B. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , once a user has logged in, login button  104  is replaced by my profile button  104 A. Selecting my profile button  104 A causes profile function selection bar  165 , comprising my wallet button  166 , funded fundraisers button  167 , my fundraisers button  168 , and my personal info button  169 , to all become visible. As further shown in  FIG. 8 , selecting my wallet button  166 , in turn, causes virtual wallet function selection bar  170 , comprising gift cards button  171 , donation dollars button  172 , grid/list view selectors  173 , and name/date ordering selectors  174 , to all become visible. Selecting gift cards button  171 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , causes a listing of all of the e-gift cards  113  previously purchased by the current user/shopper to be displayed within display region  175 , including both e-gift cards with remaining balances, and e-gift cards that have been fully redeemed. The gift card display may be in either grid or list-style view, as determined by grid/list view selectors  173 , and may displayed in either alphabetical order by store name, or in date order relative to respective dates of purchase by the user, as determined by name/date ordering selectors  174 . Each displayed gift  113  includes an indication  117  of the initial monetary balance, or remaining monetary balance, on the e-gift card. For those gift cards  113  that have yet to be redeemed by the shopper, or that otherwise contain a remaining balance, an associated redeem button  176  is displayed at the bottom of the gift card. For those gift cards  113  that have already been redeemed by the shopper, an associated buy again button  177  is instead displayed at the bottom of the gift card, enabling the shopper to quickly and easily purchase additional gift cards for the same merchant. 
         [0046]    Clicking on a redeem button  177  of a gift card  113  of  FIG. 8  causes e-gift card redemption page  180  of the present community commerce website to appear, as shown in  FIG. 9 . As in the e-gift card detail page of  FIG. 4 , a textual description  116  of the associated store, the monetary remaining balance on the gift card  117 , .and a lower region  123  including additional information about the merchant and its store, including its physical address, a map of its location, a link to the company website, and more textual or graphic information. In addition, a redemption code is displayed in both textual and barcoded formats, such as 5-character alphanumeric redemption code  181  is displayed, together with 2-D or Quick Response (QR) redemption barcode  181 . 5-digit alphanumeric redemption code  181  may be manually entered at a merchant&#39;s point-of-sale terminal in order to use the e-gift card to purchase goods or merchandise at an associated store. Moreover, 5-digit alphanumeric redemption code  181  may be manually entered by a shopper on a suitable online checkout or order placement webpage of a merchant in order to use the e-gift card to purchase goods or services at an online store of the merchant. Alternatively, 2-D QR redemption barcode  181  may be scanned by a merchant using a scanner coupled to a point-of-sale terminal as a part of the checkout process, either by scanning the barcode image directly from a tablet or smartphone of the shopper displaying e-gift card webpage  180 , or by the shopper employing print button  183  to print a hardcopy of e-gift card webpage  180  which may be presented at the merchant&#39;s store for redemption barcode scanning. Button  184  enables the shopper to email a copy of the current e-gift card to another system where printing may be more convenient. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , once a user has logged in, selecting my profile button  104 A causes profile function selection bar  165 , comprising my wallet button  166 , funded fundraisers button  167 , my fundraisers button  168 , and my personal info button  169 , to all become visible. As further shown in  FIG. 10 , selecting funded fundraisers button  167 , in turn, causes a listing of all of the fundraisers  135  previously funded by the current user/shopper to be displayed within display region  134 . Each funded fundraiser  135 , includes a photograph or graphic  136  of the associated fundraiser, an indication  137  of the remaining duration of the fundraiser, a textual description  138  of the associated project name and location, indications of the percentage  139 ,  139 A (in the form of a vertically positionable ribbon) and amounts  140  that the project has been funded, to date, a button  141  enabling the user/funder to transfer additional amounts of the user&#39;s current pool of donation dollars to further fund the project, and a button  142  enabling the user/funder to share the selected project with a friend via email or by posting the project on social media, similar to the manner in which e-gift cards may be shared from e-gift card shopping page  110  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , once a user has logged in, selecting my profile button  104 A causes profile function selection bar  165 , comprising my wallet button  166 , funded fundraisers button  167 , my fundraisers button  168 , and my personal info button  169 , to all become visible. As further shown in  FIG. 11 , selecting my fundraisers button  168 , in turn, causes a listing of all of the fundraisers previously created by the current user to be displayed within a display immediately below. Each created fundraiser is shown in  FIG. 11  as comprising a textual description  138  of the associated project name and location, indications of the percentage  139 ,  139 A (in the form of a vertically positionable ribbon) and amounts  140  that the project has been funded, to date, a detailed description  158  of the fundraiser and the fundraising organization, a button  148 , enabling the fundraiser creator to edit the settings of the current fundraiser, and another button  142  enabling the user to share the selected project with a friend via email or by posting the project on social media, similar to the manner in which e-gift cards may be shared from e-gift card shopping page  110  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0049]    Clicking on and edit button  148  of any of the user/creator&#39;s fundraisers of  FIG. 11  causes the edit fundraiser webpage of  FIG. 12  to be displayed. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the edit fundraiser webpage comprises include a plurality of photographic images relating to the fundraiser, including images  137 ,  136 A,  136 B, and  136 C. Clicking on any specific image causes a change photo dialog to be displayed, enabling the fundraiser creator to upload a different, replacement photograph. As in  FIG. 5 , remaining fundraiser duration  137  (in editable fashion), percentage funded  139 , and the current amount raised  140  are again displayed. In addition, fundraising goal  144  (in editable fashion), additional fundraiser information region  145  (in editable fashion), fundraiser creator information region  146 , and user comment region  147  are displayed. Button  145 A enables the fundraiser creator to save edited changes to the current fundraiser, and cancel fundraiser button  145 B enables the fundraiser creator to terminate the current fundraiser. User comment region  147  provides an opportunity for the fundraiser creator to reply to specific comments associated with the current fundraiser, left by other users of the present community commerce website, and to add their own comments in association with the current fundraiser. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , once a user has logged in, login button  104  is replaced by my profile button  104 A. Selecting my profile button  104 A causes profile function selection bar  165 , comprising my wallet button  166 , funded fundraisers button  167 , my fundraisers button  168 , and my personal info button  169 , to all become visible. As further shown in  FIG. 13 , selecting my fundraisers button  168 , in turn, causes my fundraisers function selection bar  185 , funders button  168 A, download receipts button  168 B, and edit fundraisers  168 C to all become visible. Selecting funders button  168 A, as shown in  FIG. 13 , causes a listing of all of the individual shoppers/members  191  of the present community commerce website that have previously funded any fundraiser created by the current user. The information displayed in association with each funder  191  includes the funder&#39;s name (or, if partial anonymity is desired, the funder&#39;s first name and first letter of the funder&#39;s surname), date(s) of contribution, and amount(s) of contribution. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , a logged-in user&#39;s selection of profile button  104 A causes profile function selection bar  165 , comprising my wallet button  166 , funded fundraisers button  167 , my fundraisers button  168 , and my personal info button  169 , to all become visible. As further shown in  FIG. 14 , selecting my personal info button  169 , in turn, causes elements of a profile view/edit webpage to become visible. In particular, the profile editing webpage includes password change button  192 , edit profile button  193 , profile photo  194  and profile photo change button  195 , name text box  196 , email address text box  197 , organization text box  198 , city and state text boxes  199 ,  200 , and description text box  201 , enabling the user to enter biographical or other relevant information about themselves. Clicking on edit profile  193  enables editing of what are otherwise display-only text boxes  196  through  201 , and likewise enables change photo change button  195 . With further reference to  FIG. 14 , credit card and money transfer account region  202  enables the user to specify one or more credit cards and/or money transfer accounts, for use, for example, in the payment of fees for establishing merchant accounts or becoming a featured fundraiser or merchant. Logout button  203  enables the current user to log out of the present community commerce website. 
         [0052]    Clicking on the e-commerce shopping cart icon on the home page or other webpage of the present community commerce website causes the shopping cart webpage of  FIG. 15  to be displayed. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the shopping card includes a listing of all e-gift cards  113  that the shopper has selected for purchase. Each e-gift card  113  includes a textual identification of the merchant and the nature of the e-gift card, the purchase price (and, typically, the initial value of the gift card), and icon that, when selected, enables the e-gift card to be deleted from the shopping cart, and the quantity of the specific e-gift card  113  selected for purchase. A total  204  of the amount to be paid to purchase all of the e-gift cards  113  is displayed, as is a region  202  enabling the shopper to select a previously identified credit card or money transfer account, or to add a new credit card at this time. Checkout button  205  enables the shopper to complete the purchase of all of the e-gift cards in the e-commerce shopping cart of  FIG. 15 . 
         [0053]    At a point of purchase, such as a brick-and-mortar store for which an associated e-gift card has been issued, a merchant may employ a point-of-sale terminal to log into the present community commerce website via an associated merchant portal function. As shown in  FIG. 16 , scanning the barcode or manually entering a redemption code for an e-gift card presented by a shopper causes the e-gift card transaction webpage of  FIG. 16  to be displayed. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the information displayed on this webpage includes the scanned or manually entered redemption code  181  serving to identify the e-gift card, a graphical image  114  associated with the e-gift card, the store name and description  116 , the initial amount of funds  117  when the gift card was initially issued, the current available balance  206  on the e-gift card, the amount  207  to be charged against the e-gift card for goods or services, the new remaining balance  208 , and a button  209  to complete the transaction and charge the purchase to the displayed e-gift card. The remaining balance of the e-gift card is also reflected on the community commerce website, within the user&#39;s virtual wallet, as discussed below. 
         [0054]    Clicking on a “fund” or “fund this project” button  141  associated with a displayed fundraiser on any of  FIGS. 2 ,  5 ,  6 , and  10  causes popup dialog  210  of  FIG. 17  to be displayed. Popup dialog  210  comprises text  211  identifying the function of the dialog, a display  212  of the logged-in user&#39;s current balance of available donation dollars, a text entry box  213  enabling the user to identify an amount of donation dollars to be transferred to the project, and a button  214  to be pressed by the user after entering a numerical amount in text box  213 . Clicking on button  214  causes popup dialog  210  to be replaced with another popup dialog  215  of  FIG. 18  to enable the user to confirm or cancel the donation. Popup dialog  215  comprises prompt message  216 , text  217  identifying the project to be funded, an identification  218  of the amount of the user&#39;s donation dollars to be transferred to the project, a button  219  enabling the user to cancel the transaction, and another button  220  enabling the user to confirm that the transaction should proceed. 
         [0055]    It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the present disclosure is intended as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated and described. The disclosure is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.