Abstract:
Method of raising capital for charities through a charity bidding platform comprising: receiving a charitable organization (CO) description; receiving from a fundraiser (FR) profile; generating a COs&#39; directory and a FRs&#39; catalog; receiving from a donor&#39;s dossier; storing the description, profile, and dossier in a service provider&#39;s database; receiving a FR request from to fund a fundraiser-specified amount (FSA) of a fundraiser-specified charitable organization (FSCO); determining a minimum monetary threshold amount (MMTA) to fund the FSA; receiving a donor&#39;s bid to fund the FSA; classifying the donor as a preferred donor (PD) if the bid meets the MMTA; generating a PDs&#39; list; receiving the FR&#39;s selection of a fundraiser-chosen preferred donor (FCPD); receiving the FCPD&#39;s funding corresponding to a PD bid of the FCPD; receiving a confirmation that the FR met the FCPD; and, transmitting to the FSCO, the amount of funding corresponding to the PD bid of the FCPD.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/344,994, filed Jun. 3, 2016 and entitled “An application which facilitates connections between participants of the dating/social network with the purpose of raising capital for charities,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is related to computer systems, methods and non-transitory computer readable medium that raises capital for charities through a charity bidding platform. The present invention is also related to an auction process whereby a donor can decide upon the level of capital he or she wants to commit to secure a meeting or a date with a fundraiser of the donor&#39;s choice. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An embodiment of the present invention is a computer system comprising: at least one processor unit; at least one memory unit coupled to the at least one processor unit; and, computer readable instructions embodied in the memory unit and executable by the processor unit, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor unit causes the computing system to perform a method of raising capital for charities through a charity bidding platform, the method comprising: receiving from at least one charitable organization, a description of the charitable organization; storing the descriptions of each of the at least one charitable organizations, in a database of a service provider; generating a directory of the charitable organizations; receiving from at least one fundraiser, a profile of the fundraiser; storing the profiles of each of the at least one fundraisers, in the database of the service provider; generating a catalog of the fundraisers; receiving from at least one donor, a dossier of the donor; storing the dossiers of each of the at least one donors, in the database of the service provider; receiving a request from the at least one fundraiser, to fund a fundraiser-specified amount of a fundraiser-specified charitable organization; determining a minimum monetary threshold amount to fund the fundraiser-specified amount of the fundraiser-specified charitable organization; receiving a bid from the at least one donor, in response to the request to fund the fundraiser-specified amount of the fundraiser-specified charitable organization; classifying the at least one donor as a preferred donor if the bid meets the minimum monetary threshold amount; generating a list of the preferred donors; receiving from the at least one fundraiser, a selection of a fundraiser-chosen preferred donor; receiving from the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor, an amount of funding corresponding to a preferred donor bid of the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor; receiving a confirmation that the at least one fundraiser met the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor; and, transmitting to the fundraiser-specified charitable organization, the amount of funding corresponding to the preferred donor bid of the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor. 
         [0006]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of managing a project of a client, the method comprising: receiving from at least one charitable organization, a description of the charitable organization; storing the descriptions of each of the at least one charitable organizations, in a database of a service provider; generating a directory of the charitable organizations; receiving from at least one fundraiser, a profile of the fundraiser; storing the profiles of each of the at least one fundraisers, in the database of the service provider; generating a catalog of the fundraisers; receiving from at least one donor, a dossier of the donor; storing the dossiers of each of the at least one donors, in the database of the service provider; receiving a request from the at least one fundraiser, to fund a fundraiser-specified amount of a fundraiser-specified charitable organization; determining a minimum monetary threshold amount to fund the fundraiser-specified amount of the fundraiser-specified charitable organization; receiving a bid from the at least one donor, in response to the request to fund the fundraiser-specified amount of the fundraiser-specified charitable organization; classifying the at least one donor as a preferred donor if the bid meets the minimum monetary threshold amount; generating a list of the preferred donors; receiving from the at least one fundraiser, a selection of a fundraiser-chosen preferred donor; receiving from the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor, an amount of funding corresponding to a preferred donor bid of the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor; receiving a confirmation that the at least one fundraiser met the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor; and, transmitting to the fundraiser-specified charitable organization, the amount of funding corresponding to the preferred donor bid of the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor. 
         [0007]    Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions embodied therein, the computer readable instructions being configured to implement a method of managing a project of a client when executed, the method comprising: receiving from at least one charitable organization, a description of the charitable organization; storing the descriptions of each of the at least one charitable organizations, in a database of a service provider; generating a directory of the charitable organizations; receiving from at least one fundraiser, a profile of the fundraiser; storing the profiles of each of the at least one fundraisers, in the database of the service provider; generating a catalog of the fundraisers; receiving from at least one donor, a dossier of the donor; storing the dossiers of each of the at least one donors, in the database of the service provider; receiving a request from the at least one fundraiser, to fund a fundraiser-specified amount of a fundraiser-specified charitable organization; determining a minimum monetary threshold amount to fund the fundraiser-specified amount of the fundraiser-specified charitable organization; receiving a bid from the at least one donor, in response to the request to fund the fundraiser-specified amount of the fundraiser-specified charitable organization; classifying the at least one donor as a preferred donor if the bid meets the minimum monetary threshold amount; generating a list of the preferred donors; receiving from the at least one fundraiser, a selection of a fundraiser-chosen preferred donor; receiving from the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor, an amount of funding corresponding to a preferred donor bid of the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor; receiving a confirmation that the at least one fundraiser met the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor; and, transmitting to the fundraiser-specified charitable organization, the amount of funding corresponding to the preferred donor bid of the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the selection is a plurality of fundraiser-chosen preferred donors. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one fundraiser determines the minimum monetary threshold amount. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the service provider determines the minimum monetary threshold amount. 
         [0011]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the method further comprising: receiving from the at least one fundraiser, a fundraiser-contributed amount of funding; and, transmitting to the fundraiser-specified charitable organization, the fundraiser-contributed amount of funding. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the method further comprising: receiving from the at least one donor, an indication of the at least one donor purchasing a premium. 
         [0013]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the method further comprising: receiving from the at least one fundraiser, a notification of the at least one fundraiser setting a fixed donation amount; and, receiving from the at least one donor, a donor-pledged amount corresponding to the fixed donation amount. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the method further comprising: receiving from a fundraiser computing device of the at least one fundraiser, a set of fundraiser-information; transmitting to the fundraiser computing device, a fundraiser-identifier; receiving from a fundraiser-chosen preferred donor computing device of the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor, a set of fundraiser-chosen preferred donor-information; and, transmitting to the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor computing device, a fundraiser-chosen preferred donor-identifier. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]    The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a swim-lane diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2A-B  illustrates a process of raising capital for charities through a charity bidding platform.  FIG. 2A  continues to  FIG. 2B . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a computerized system of raising capital for charities through a charity bidding platform. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an example of a computing environment that can be utilized by embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a computing system that can be configured to perform any of the processes of the present invention described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]      FIGS. 1 and 3  illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. Charities  130 , fundraisers  131  and donors  133  access the charity bidding platform application  301  with an enabled computing device  304 ,  305 ,  306 . The charities  130 , fundraisers  131  and donors  133  create accounts ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 ). The service provider  132  stores and maintains information of accounts ( 104 ), creates a list of fundraisers  131  ( 105 ) and charities  130  ( 107 ). 
         [0022]    A fundraiser  131  views and selects a charity  130  ( 108 ). A donor  133  views and selects a fundraiser  131  ( 106 ) and submit a bid and if the bid reaches a certain threshold, then the donor  133  becomes a preferred donor ( 109 ). The service provider  132  creates a preferred donor list ( 110 ) that the fundraiser  131  reviews ( 111 ). 
         [0023]    The fundraiser  131  then chooses preferred donors ( 113 ). Once this occurs, the amount of the chosen donor&#39;s  133  bid is debited and the funds are held by the service provider  132  ( 112 ). 
         [0024]    The fundraiser  131  and the chosen preferred donor then make their best efforts to meet. If they meet ( 114 ) and the meeting is confirmed ( 115 ), then the service provider  132  receives the confirmation ( 116 ). The service provider  132  then transmits the chosen donor&#39;s  133  bid (minus a service fee) to the charity  130  ( 117 ). The charity  130  then receives the funds ( 118 ). 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  depicts a computerized system  300  of raising capital for charities through a charity bidding platform, according to some embodiments. System  300  may include one or more enabled computing devices  304 ,  305 ,  306 . The enabled computing devices  304 ,  305 ,  306  may include such devices as tablet computers, smart phones, personal computers, laptop computers, scanners, game consoles and the like. The charity bidding platform application  301  may be software designed to help the charities  130  obtain funding by donors  133  bidding to win a meeting or date with fundraisers  131 . The charity bidding platform application  301  may also communicate with the charity bidding platform server  303  through the computer network  302 . The computer network  302  may be, for example, the internet. 
         [0026]    The charity bidding platform server  303  may contain various modules, including the charity module  307 , the fundraiser module  308  and the donor module  309 . Each module  307 ,  308 ,  309  may store data. For example, the charity module  307  may store the charity&#39;s  130  background information (name, location, account number, login name, passwords, federal/IRS-approved tax identification number, charitable cause, among other information), and other information. The fundraiser module  308  may store information, details, and descriptions of the fundraiser&#39;s  131  background (name, location, account number, login name, passwords, pictures, biographies, among other information), and other information. Also, the donor module  309  may store the donor&#39;s  133  background (name, location, account number, login name, passwords, pictures, biographies, payment information, among other information), and other information. The donor module  309  may also contain a hyperlink to a third-party payer (e.g., PayPal) that allows the donor  133  to fund his or her bid amount. The charity bidding platform server  303  may contain various other modules not shown, such as, a service provider module that allows the service provider  132  maintain and store account information of charities  130 , donors  133  and fundraisers  131 ; generate preferred donor lists; maintain escrow accounts; and, other information. 
         [0027]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-B , an embodiment of the present invention is a computer system comprising: at least one processor unit; at least one memory unit coupled to the at least one processor unit; and, computer readable instructions embodied in the memory unit and executable by the processor unit, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor unit causes the computing system to perform a method of raising capital for charities through a charity bidding platform. 
         [0028]    In an embodiment of the present invention, as further illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-B , a user (e.g., fundraiser  131 , donor  133  or charity  130 ) starts the charity bidding platform application ( 200 ). The user then responds to an account query to either create an account or log in to the application ( 201 ). The user then may create a new account ( 202 ). A charity  130  may create an account by providing information related to the charity  130  and references ( 203 ). The service provider  132  stores and maintains the charity  130  accounts ( 204 ). A donor  133  or fundraiser  131  may create an account by providing personal information ( 205 ). The service provider  132  stores and maintains the donor  133  and fundraiser  131  accounts ( 206 ). 
         [0029]    The user then may login into an existing account ( 207 ). The user is then responds to a query as to the type of user ( 208 ). If the user is a charity  130 , then the charity  130  is directed to its account&#39;s site maintenance that includes the charity&#39;s  130  mission statement and account information, such as, where donated funds will be credited ( 209 ). 
         [0030]    If the user is a fundraiser  131 , then the fundraiser  131  will select a charity  130  from the service provider  132  database. The fundraiser  131  will then initiate the bidding process, set the process parameters, such as initial bid, duration, and personal statement, and watches the bidding process ( 210 ). After the bidding has completed, the fundraiser  131  responds to a query as to whether the fundraiser  131  is ready to invest into the charity  130  ( 212 ). If the fundraiser  131  is not ready to invest into the charity  130 , for any reason, then the fundraiser  131  may select another charity  130  ( 210 ). If the fundraiser  131  is ready to invest into the charity  130 , then the fundraiser  131  is provided access to a list of preferred donors&#39; bids and their profiles ( 218 ). 
         [0031]    If the user is a donor  133 , then the donor  133  searches and chooses a fundraiser  131 , and places a bid ( 211 ). The donor  133  then watches the bidding ( 213 ) and may increase his or her bid ( 215 ). If the donor  133  has concluded the bidding process and if his or her bid meets or exceeds a minimum monetary threshold amount, then that donor  133  and the associated bid amount is recorded on the fundraiser&#39;s  131  preferred donor list ( 217 ). 
         [0032]    The fundraiser  131  then chooses donors  133  from the preferred donor list and those donors&#39;  133  pledged amounts are deposited in the service provider&#39;s  132  account on behalf of the fundraiser  131 , and the charity  130  is notified of the donation; the donor  133  and fundraiser  131  communicate and make a best efforts attempt to meet each other within mutually agreeable terms ( 220 ). 
         [0033]    Whether the meeting occurred is confirmed ( 222 ). If the meeting is confirmed, the donation funds, minus service fees, are transferred to the charity  130  ( 224 ). If the meeting is not confirmed, the donor  133  may elect to have the donation funds returned or given to the charity  130  ( 223 ). 
         [0034]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the fundraiser  131  may select a plurality of fundraiser-chosen preferred donors. The fundraiser  131  is not restricted to choosing the highest bidder, nor just one preferred donor. 
         [0035]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the fundraiser  131  may determine the minimum monetary threshold amount. Alternatively, the service provider  132  may determine the minimum monetary threshold amount. Similarly, the fundraiser  131  or the service provider  132  may set other parameters of the bidding process, such as the starting bid, duration of the bidding process, among other parameters. 
         [0036]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the method of raising capital for charities through a charity bidding platform further comprises receiving from the fundraiser  131 , a fundraiser-contributed amount of funding; and, transmitting to the fundraiser-specified charitable organization, the fundraiser-contributed amount of funding. 
         [0037]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the method of raising capital for charities through a charity bidding platform further comprises receiving from the donor  133 , an indication of the donor  133  purchasing a premium. The donor  133  has the option to purchase a premium, that ensures that the donor&#39;s  133  pledge is accepted by the fundraiser  131 . The purchased premium is not visible to or known by the fundraiser  131  during the bidding process. If the donor  133  purchased the premium, but is not chosen by the fundraiser  131 , at the end of the bidding process, the fundraiser  131  is notified of the premium and the fundraiser  131  and the donor  133  are put in communication, for instance, via chat. 
         [0038]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the method of raising capital for charities through a charity bidding platform further comprises receiving from the fundraiser  131 , a notification of the fundraiser  131  setting a fixed donation amount; and, receiving from the donor  133 , a donor-pledged amount corresponding to the fixed donation amount. The fundraising process may be expedited by the fundraiser  131  by setting a fixed donation amount and when a donor  133  pledges that fixed amount, the fundraiser  131  and donor  133  are put in communication, for instance, via chat, for the purposes of arranging a meeting or date. 
         [0039]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the method of raising capital for charities through a charity bidding platform further comprises receiving from a fundraiser computing device  305  of the fundraiser  131 , a set of fundraiser-information; transmitting to the fundraiser computing device  305 , a fundraiser-identifier; receiving from a fundraiser-chosen preferred donor computing device of the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor, a set of fundraiser-chosen preferred donor-information; and, transmitting to the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor computing device, a fundraiser-chosen preferred donor-identifier. Upon bid completion and the fundraiser&#39;s  131  selection of a winning bidder, a link created between the fundraiser  131  and the winning bidder (i.e., the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor). This enhances security and record verification. The charity bidding platform application  301  receives unique information from both the fundraiser computing device  305  and the winning bidder computing device. The information is received from the fundraiser&#39;s  131  and the winning bidder&#39;s hardware and software configurations and may include, but is not limited to, serial numbers, operating systems, and global positioning satellite locations. Based upon the received information, the charity bidding platform application  301  then transmits to the fundraiser computing device  305  a fundraiser-identifier and transmits to the winning bidder computing device a fundraiser-chosen preferred donor-identifier. The fundraiser-identifier is unique based upon the information received from that particular fundraiser; and, the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor-identifier is unique based upon the information received from that particular winning bidder. The fundraiser-identifier and the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor-identifier are complementary, meaning that when the fundraiser  131  with the possession of the fundraiser computing device (with the fundraiser-identifier) comes in close proximity to the winning bidder with the possession of the winning bidder computing device (with the fundraiser-chosen preferred donor-identifier), each of the fundraiser computing device  305  and the winning bidder computing device will transmit a confirmation to the service provider  132  through the charity bidding platform application  301  that the fundraiser  131  and the winning bidder are in close proximity, i.e., they are meeting. 
         [0040]    The charity bidding platform application  301  may further transmit a unique QR code to the fundraiser computing device  305  and when the fundraiser  131  meets the winning bidder, the winning bidder may scan the fundraiser&#39;s  131  unique QR code with the winning bidder computing device, thereby confirming that the fundraiser  131  and the winning bidder have met. The charity bidding platform application  301  may also transmit a unique QR code to the winning bidder computing device and when the winning bidder meets the fundraiser  131 , the fundraiser  131  may scan the winning bidder&#39;s unique QR code with the fundraiser computing device  305 , thereby confirming that the winning bidder and the fundraiser  131  have met. 
         [0041]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions embodied therein, the computer readable instructions being configured to implement a method of managing a project of a client when executed. “Non-transitory computer readable medium” may not include a transitory signal. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate exemplary computing environments, devices and architectures for the implementation of the various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  illustrates a sample computing environment  400  that can be utilized in some embodiments. The system  400  further illustrates a system that includes one or more client(s)  402 . The client(s)  402  can be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computing devices). The system  400  also includes one or more server(s)  404 , such as charity bidding platform server  303 . The server(s)  404  can also be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computing devices). One possible communication between a client  402  and a server  404  may be in the form of a data packet adapted to be transmitted between two or more computer processes. The system  400  includes a communication framework  410  that can be utilized to facilitate communications between the client(s)  402  and the server(s)  404 . The client(s)  402  are connected to one or more client data store(s)  406  that can be employed to store information local to the client(s)  402 . Similarly, the server(s)  404  are connected to one or more server data store(s)  408  that can be employed to store information local to the server(s)  404 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary computing system  500  that can be configured to perform any one of the above-described processes. In this context, computing system  500  may include, for example, a processor, memory, storage, and I/O devices (e.g., monitor, keyboard, disk drive, Internet connection, etc.). However, computing system  500  may include circuitry or other specialized hardware for carrying out some or all aspects of the processes. In some operational settings, computing system  500  may be configured as a system that includes one or more units, each of which is configured to carry out some aspects of the processes either in software, hardware, or some combination thereof. 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  depicts computing system  500  with a number of components that may be used to perform the above-described processes. The main system  502  includes a motherboard  504  having an I/O section  506 , one or more central processing units (CPU)  508 , and a memory section  510 , which may have a flash memory card  512  related to it. The I/O section  506  is connected to a display  524 , a keyboard  514 , a disk storage unit  516 , and a media drive unit  518 . The media drive unit  518  can read/write a computer-readable medium  520 , which can contain programs  522  and/or data. Although, not shown, in some embodiments, computing system  500  can include an eye-tracking system and/or be coupled with an eye-tracking system.