It makes money by selling items online and getting the sponsors to buy ads on the main greeting page. So popular has the site become that the company has set up similar sites to provide donations to save the rain forests and fight breast cancer. A partnership between the AOL Foundation, a philanthropic arm of America Online, and numerous nonprofits like the American Red Cross and the National Urban League, the site lets would-be donors search by category for charities, ranging from arts organizations to religious groups. Look for a privacy statement. The most reputable sites make it clear what they do with the personal information they collect from donors.
Some sites sell or give away donor lists to other organizations.
If you don't want to be besieged by pleas from other charities, you'll want to select a site that keeps your information confidential. Make sure the site uses encryption technology, meaning your credit card information is scrambled, making it all but impossible for a hacker to access. You can tell when a site is secure and encrypted by a small closed lock or key symbol that appears on the bottom of your Web browser. Be aware that a lot of Internet shopping sites that promise to donate a percentage of the money you spend to charity are really profit-making companies. There's nothing wrong with that, of course.