Abstract:
The mention relates to a new method and system for enabling three-party charitable gift giving. A host operates a central server, such as a web site, and potentially other support services, such as telephonic support. A gift giver visits the host web site and selects a donation amount and a gift recipient. The host then transmits the charitable gift to the gift recipient, along with a unique code which enables the gift recipient to redeem the charitable gift. The gift recipient then visits the host web site, selects a charity from a list of available options, and the gift is sent to the selected donee charity by the host.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to the field of charitable giving, and more particularly to a method and system for a party to enable charitable giving by another. 
     RELATED ART 
     Charitable giving has long been lauded as a desirable social objective. Prior art charitable giving systems have typically included two parties—the donor, and the donee charity. This approach remains the primary model in which charitable giving occurs, but new methods of facilitating charitable giving are desirable. 
     The ability to convey the resources to make a charitable donation to another party has heretofore been nonexistent, or at the least cumbersome. A common prior art system enables an individual or organization to make a charitable donation to a specific donee charity in the name of another person or organization. This prior art system suffers, however, from the inability of the person in whose name the charity donation is being made from actually selecting the charitable donation. 
     It has therefore become desirable to develop a new method and system for enabling charitable donations by a gift recipient, as accomplished by the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a base computer system and network for carrying out a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a preferred embodiment of the methodology of multi-party charitable gift giving of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion is intended to provide a detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention and should not be taken to be limiting of the invention itself. Rather, any number of variations may fall within the scope of the invention which is properly defined in the claims following this description. 
     The system and method of the present invention contemplates the involvement of four parties, including the system provider. It provides a mechanism and infrastructure for a third party (the gift recipient) to designate a charity which will benefit from a transaction between parties one (the host) and two (the gift giver). As used herein, the following terms will be ascribed the following meanings: 
     (1) “Host” shall mean the system, company or individual, or combination thereof, which hosts the base web site and/or telephone system as described in greater detail herein. 
     (2) “Gift giver” shall mean the person, company or organization, or combination thereof, which purchases the charity gift from the host and selects a gift recipient, who is able to designate a donee charity for receipt of the charitable gift funds. 
     (3) “Gift recipient” shall mean the person, company or organization, or combination thereof, which receives the charity gift from the Gift giver, and who is able to designate a donee charity for receipt of the charitable gift funds. 
     (4) “Donee charity” shall mean the company or organization, or combinations thereof, which finally receives the charitable gift funds. A donee charity will typically be a non-profit organization and enjoy tax-exempt status. 
     Generally, a preferred embodiment of system incorporating the present invention is comprised of the following four integrated systems, which are explained in greater detail below: 
     1. a Public Web Site; 
     2. the Gift Fulfillment Application; 
     3. a Customer Service System (e.g., Call Center Operations); and 
     4. the Charity Payment Process 
     These are described in greater detail below, though they are not necessarily required for the system and method of the present invention. 
     Public Web Site 
     The public web site is the primary interface between the host and its respective groups. Referring to FIG. 1, the public web site resides on server  30 , which is in communication with storage device  35  for storing charity gift information and database  36  for storing information regarding charitable organizations. 
     The public web site (not shown) allows the gift giver  10  and other customers to search for and learn about charities, place orders, obtain tracking information and account donation information and redeem gifts. The public web site also serves as the mechanism for charities to update their information in charitable organization database  36 , track charitable gift information  35 , and serve as a payment processing mechanism for donations made to their organization. The public web site also serves as a tracking tool and reporting system for affinity partners [explain]. Visitors may also search the charitable organization database  36  and view detailed information about charities which have created accounts with host. 
     Gift Fulfillment Application 
     The Gift Fulfillment Application serves as the backend tool for creating, tracking and ensuring charity gifts and gift cards are delivered to their desired destination, such as the designated gift recipient  45 . The application includes payment authorization, creation of a gift card  40  (print, e-mail or other format), and tracking and quality control of an order and ability to reprocess orders if required. 
     Customer Service System 
     The Customer Service System, including call center operations, allows host representatives to handle customer service issues and perform maintenance Items for the public web site. The Customer Service System is used primarily by customer service representatives handling phone and email correspondence with customers (including gift givers and gift recipients), charities and the general public. The Customer Service System is also used to manually update content on the public site, expire unredeemed gifts, deliver tax receipts for year end tax reporting, and other database functionality. 
     Charity Payment Process 
     The Charity Payment Process involves the distribution of funds to donee charities selected by gift recipients (e.g.,  45 ). The charity is selected, either by the gift recipient or by default from the gift giver. The process concludes when the funds are received and accounted for by the donee charity. 
     Other details of a core system for implementing the present invention are shown in FIG.  1 . As can be seen, gift giver  10  accesses server  30  via a personal computer having a modem  11  or other communication means, such as through a network, wireless communication means, or the like. Server responds to gift giver queries for information. If gift giver  10  purchases a gift, server  30  requests information (as with the Gift Fulfillment Application) for storage in charity gift information storage device  35 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, server  30  then automatically generates a gift card  40 , which may be electronic or print, and gift card  40  is sent to gift recipient:  40 . In an alternative embodiment, server  30  may alert representatives of the host, and those representatives may manually generate and send gift card  40 . Upon receipt of gift card  40 , gift recipient  45  may access server  30  to redeem the gift represented by gift card  40 , typically by using a unique code associated with the particular gift. 
     A preferred embodiment of the methodology of the present invention is further illustrated in FIG.  2 . As shown in step  50 , the gift giver  10  may create a gift card  40  for conveying the gift to gift recipient  45 . The gift giver  10  can choose from a printed card, an e-card, a card they can print on his or her own printer, or no card at all. Moreover, the gift giver  10  may select the gift card  40  from a group of preexisting types, or may be custom-generated by gift giver  10 . In addition, the gift giver  10  may add a personal message. 
     Next, gift giver  10  provides gift-related information ( 60 ). For instance, gift giver  10  selects an amount for the donation. In addition, the gift giver  10  specifies the gift recipient  45 , address and delivery information. The gift giver  10  may also provide other information to host, such as specific charities or categories of charities that must or may not be selected as the donee charity. The gift giver chooses whether or not the amount of the donation is displayed on the gift card  40 . To ensure all charitable donations go to charity, the gift giver  10  is asked to select a charity to benefit from the contribution should the gift recipient  45  not choose one. 
     In this way, the gift giver  10  purchases a prepaid charitable donation that is represented by a unique identifying code associated with that charitable gift. The host provides this unique charitable gift identifier, referred to herein as a “Gift Tag Number.” The host typically will sell gift cards  40  upon which Gift Tag Numbers are identified, and may also sell Gift Tag Numbers without cards, so that they may be attached or applied to any item the gift giver wishes, such as flowers or a box of chocolates. 
     A Gift Tag Number appears on each gift and is the code the recipient uses to designate the gift. The gift giver  10  may also select the gift recipient  45 . In alternative embodiments, the gift giver  10  may provide additional information. For example, the gift giver  10  may designate a group or predefined category of donee charities from which the gift recipient may choose, or designate specific charities or categories thereof which may not be selected by the gift recipient (e.g., if the gift giver is opposed to abortion rights, he or she may select the Planned Parenthood organization as a charity that the gift recipient may not select). 
     Still referring to step  60 , payment is then made by gift giver  10 . Orders will normally be paid for via credit card or transfer payment. Alternative payment methods, such as purchase order or check, may also be accommodated. Card prices may be selectively adjusted based upon the number of cards ordered, or the size of the charitable donation. 
     The order is then submitted ( 70 ), usually by push-button confirmation, and is shipped to the gift recipient  45 . After gift giver  10  submits the order, host ships ( 80 ) the; gift card  40  to gift recipient  45 . In a preferred embodiment, the card is accompanied by a tax receipt so that the gift recipient may potentially obtain a tax benefit. 
     The gift recipient  45  then receives the card  40  containing the identifier ( 90 ). The gift recipient  45  may redeem the gift as follows. The gift recipient enters the Gift Tag Number at the web site on server  30  (or via other communication means, such as telephonically, via email, modem, or the like), and searches among available options to find a charity for the gift. The options, which reside in charitable organizations database  36 , may be centrally updated from time to time by the host. The gift recipient chooses which charity will benefit from the donation (i.e., the donee charity), and confirms the selection. The Gift Tag Number acts as a redemption code so gift recipient  45  may select the donee charity of his or her choice, potentially subject to constraints imposed by the gift giver  10 . 
     Finally, the donee charity is transmitted the charity donation. As shown in steps  110  and  120 , the host then sends and the donee charity receives the funds donated, preferably on a periodic basis, and multiple charity gifts are collected for disbursement. In a preferred embodiment, the host allocates funds to all or most donee charities chosen by various gift givers and their gift recipients on a monthly basis. The host may further provide a report listing each funding allocation. The host keeps confidential the names of gift recipients and donors associated with each donation, unless provided express permission to release such information to the chosen charities. 
     The foregoing discussion is included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.