The company splits commissions fifty-fifty with the organizations. Organizations may sign up on the Web site, and they do not need to be recognized by the I.R.S. as a tax-exempt charity. Commissions at the site range from 2 to 15 percent of the purchase price, although the average commission is about 10 percent. The company contacts organizations that have been recommended to make sure that they want to participate, and asks them to sign a partner agreement. Partner charities may create their own malls, which they work with the company to promote.
Partners can also track the amount of money they have raised online.
Checks are sent to all charities on the site quarterly. The list has been compiled from the Internal Revenue Service database and shoppers' requests. Each organization has its own page that lists the amount that the organization has received between checks. Shoppers can select their beneficiary from the more than 75 charities that have registered and signed agreements with the site. Checks are sent quarterly.