Patent Publication Number: US-2016247209-A1

Title: Promoting philanthropy

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/352,873, which was filed Jan. 18, 2012, and is entitled to the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application 61/433,759, filed on Jan. 18, 2011, and incorporated here by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This description relates to promoting philanthropy. 
     Philanthropy is an idea with a 2500-year history, and two cultures: one, which governed the long history, then was neglected and is now being revived, is humanistic; the other, which arose in the last century and is still dominant today, is social-scientific; it has tended to ignore the humanist tradition. Accordingly, philanthropy may be defined as “private initiatives, for public good . . . ” (the social-science side), “ . . . focusing on quality of life” (the humanistic side). 
     Over the course of the 20th century, large foundations have sought to professionalize philanthropy, to make it more sophisticated technically. By the end of the century professional staffs of foundations and charities were dominated by people trained in the social sciences. They tended to think in terms of group behavior and to focus on technical and procedural issues, using IRS and census data gathered by social scientists for governmental purposes. They saw society as composed of three sectors: government, business, and a third anomalous sector that is neither of those—it is tax-exempt, non-government, non-profit (meaning that it has no taxable profits). Their regulative ideal was not personal and educational or cultural, but institutional and societal: “civil society”. 
     With the advent of the World Wide Web, online interactive sites are available that promote philanthropy and provide information about philanthropic charities. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, in an aspect, a user can navigate a database of philanthropic charities systematically to select a set of charities of interest, by interactively specifying in any order a succession of one or more different criteria to narrow the selection from more general to more specific. A result of applying each of the criteria is displayed in real time to the user. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The database includes all charities of potential interest to the user. The set of charities selected by the user is a complete set of all charities that meet the criteria and are of potential interest to the user. The criteria include values or ranges of values of attributes of the charities maintained in the database. The criteria include fields and subfields in a systematic taxonomy of charities. The criteria include one or more of locale, revenue, age, people served, and field. The order of specifying the criteria can include repeating and retracing any of the criteria one or more times. The philanthropic charities exclude nonprofit organizations that are not engaging in private initiatives for public good that focus on quality of life and depend on charitable donations. The philanthropic charities include some but not all of the non-profit entities that are listed by the Internal Revenue Service as eligible for favorable tax treatment. 
     In general, in an aspect, a database of philanthropic charities is maintained in which each of the charities is represented by values for attributes. The attributes include fields and subfields in a systematic taxonomy for philanthropic charities, and other attributes. The database is exposed online to users to enable the users to select and alter the selection of sets of the charities of interest based on the attributes. The database includes all charities of potential interest to online users. The users select and alter the selection by specifying values or ranges of values of the attributes. The attributes include one or more of locale, revenue, age, people served, and field. The philanthropic charities exclude nonprofit organizations that are not engaging in private initiatives for public good that focus on quality of life and depend on charitable donations. The philanthropic charities include some but not all of the non-profit entities that are listed by the Internal Revenue Service as eligible for favorable tax treatment. 
     In general, in an aspect, a user can identify a set of philanthropic charities of interest, by navigating interactively through fields and subfields of a predefined, displayed taxonomy, each of the philanthropic charities being represented in a database by attributes that include the fields and subfields. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The user also can navigate interactively through at least one other attribute of the charities among the following set of attributes: revenue, population served, age, and locale. The fields of the taxonomy include missions of the philanthropic charities related respectively to nature, culture, and people. The user is enabled identify the subset of philanthropic charities by defining a search in the database using interactive controls on the displayed taxonomy. The interactive controls are based on open source code. The philanthropic charities that belong to the fields and subfields and that share a common geographic region include fewer than all of such philanthropic charities that are required to file form with the Internal Revenue Service. The locale includes a region of the United States that is larger than an individual municipality and smaller than the entire United States. The locale includes Massachusetts. The interactive online facility enables the user to navigate interactively through the fields and subfields is sponsored by an entity other than an entity that maintains the database. A sponsor of an interactive online facility that enables the user to navigate interactively through the fields and subfields is associated with a geographic region and shares use of the database with sponsors of other interactive online facilities that are associated with other geographic regions. 
     In general, in an aspect, a graphical device is displayed to a user of an online interactive facility that simultaneously represents fields and subfields of at least three different hierarchical levels of a systematic taxonomy of philanthropic charities. The user can navigate the taxonomy by invoking displayed controls on the graphical devices that represent the respective fields and subfields of the taxonomy. Information is displayed to the user about only the philanthropic charities represented by the displayed controls invoked by the user. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The graphical device includes an image of a natural tree and the fields and subfields of the taxonomy are represented by branches and leaves. Each of the displayed controls includes text that represents one of the fields or subfields. The fields include missions of the philanthropic charities related respectively to nature, culture, and people. 
     These and other aspects, features, advantages, and implementations, and combinations of them, can be expressed as methods, apparatus, systems, methods of doing business, program products, databases, means or steps for performing functions, and in other ways. 
     Other advantages and features become apparent from the following description and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION 
         FIGS. 1 through 11  are screen shots. 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram. 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  are screen shots. 
         FIG. 15  shows a site architecture. 
     
    
    
     Among the purposes of what we describe below are to educate users and encourage discussion about and study of philanthropy, provide a resource for comprehensive information about philanthropy, and promote philanthropy and charitable giving by: 
     1. Presenting philanthropy by itself distinct and apart from the much larger, amorphous crowd of “nonprofit” institutions, which include many entities that are not philanthropic charities.
 
2. Presenting philanthropy completely—all philanthropic charities of broad interest to donors, so that everyone can know everything that&#39;s “out there”, for greater control in philanthropic giving, investing, and volunteering, as well as in professional planning and management and in study and analysis.
 
3. Presenting philanthropy clearly and coherently—as an integrated whole of interdependent parts, systematically organized by fields, for more effective: (a) knowledge and teaching; (b) data recording, collection, and analyses; and (c) strategic development, by the profession and the public.
 
4. Focusing on distinct, actual, philanthropic markets—intense networks of people&#39;s interactions with charities, for example, as either donors of time or money, or recipients of services. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a whole is one such market, composed of many geographic region and parts—counties, municipalities, and community foundation service areas.
 
5. To illuminate and make accessible, as never before, the vast majority of charities that are relatively small and often overlooked by donors. Many of them represent the creative leading edge of philanthropy, responding to emerging needs and opportunities for public good.
 
     An example discussed below, the Massachusetts Philanthropic Directory (the Directory), is being implemented with respect to philanthropy in Massachusetts. The Directory is only one example. The same principles can be applied in a very wide variety of ways to a wide variety of different groupings of philanthropic charities, including, for example, for other geographic areas. 
     When implemented and maintained carefully, the kind of website and underlying database described below, in the example of the Directory, becomes a permanent beneficial resource for philanthropy: the identification, charting and mapping—for donors, grant makers, scholars, and strategists—of the entire sector that is of general philanthropic interest. Donors in the covered geographic region (Massachusetts, in the example) and beyond will be able to visit, survey, explore, and discover for themselves the Massachusetts sector (in this example) as a whole—and where they would like to get more involved, to make a difference. 
     In this example, the Massachusetts sector will be for the first time fully visible, transparent, and accessible to the entire Massachusetts philanthropic community and the public broadly. It will place Massachusetts in the lead nationwide in making our philanthropic community fully accessible and understandable to everyone, as an organized system. 
     The example described here (and the broad principles that underlie the example) is the first of its kind: a complete, analytical, and collaborative, directory to all Massachusetts philanthropic institutions of possible interest to the general public—“private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of life, and significantly dependent on charitable giving and volunteering.” 
     The Directory is not a directory to “nonprofits”. Philanthropies that raise funds from the general public are only about one-seventh of “non-profits”, which include such institutions of no interest to donors as exclusive private clubs, condo associations, professional and trade associations, ordinary cemeteries, and retirement funds. To prove that the term “nonprofits” is a misnomer in reference to philanthropy, we direct users to the IRS Master File Data for Massachusetts nonprofits, so that everyone who uses the term can discover what it actually means. Therefore, when we use the term philanthropic charities, we do not include all non-profits, but rather only those non-profits that are of interest to the general public. 
     This is the first attempt to design, for best effects, a systematic, comprehensive interface between institutional philanthropy and the donating public. Previously there have been many accidental, fragmentary, and partial interfaces, which have not been optimally productive for philanthropy as a whole. 
     As a system, this is intended to be useful to everyone in and around philanthropy—donors, grantmakers, philanthropic advisors, strategic planners, journalists, scholars, students, and communities. The Directory is a prototype; we plan to extend this system nationwide over the next several years. 
     This is necessarily a collaborative venture; in promoting philanthropy we are all on the same team. Our mutual aim here is to establish by consensus, a complete list of philanthropic charities, organized by a common taxonomy of fields (we sometimes call these fields and subfields of a hierarchical taxonomy) and of demographics served, for donor education, data collection and analysis. 
     As illustrated in greater detail later, the Directory is accessible using an intuitive powerful unique easy-to-use interface. The user can build a search request to be used by the search engine to select, from a database of information about a large number of philanthropic charities (for example, all of them) in Massachusetts, those of interest to the user. The search request is based on choices specified by the user about a variety of attributes (criteria) of the charities. Information about the charities that meet the user&#39;s choices with respect to the criteria are displayed in a variety of easy to understand ways. 
     Because the Directory is intuitive, easy to use, and built on a carefully created taxonomy and a comprehensive database, it enables users to investigate, analyze, and develop, and test hypotheses more freely, quickly, accurately, and effectively than ever before possible. Among other things, donors can apply their philanthropic largess more intelligently and with greater satisfaction. 
     An important feature of the Directory is the taxonomy used to organize and categorize information with respect to the philanthropic charities covered by the database. 
     A taxonomy is a logical, systematic, ordering of a complex subject. The taxonomy that we describe here is a hierarchical list of fields and subfields in philanthropy that is systematic—its basic fields and subfields are logically related to one another, and taken together, they describe their subject completely, as a complex whole. Because such subjects are complex and even change over time, and knowledge increases, taxonomies are almost always collaborative works-in-progress. 
     We use the word systematic to refer, for example, to an approach to information that is thoroughly logical and logically coherent with respect to precisely defined and developed elements. For example, the IRS-generated and adapted National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) is not a systematic taxonomy because—its ten basic fields have no logical relation to each other, or in reference to the real world they purport to describe. To those are added, with no consistent logic or reference, lists of sub-fields (including unknown). Because the top ten fields are non-distinct and basically random, the whole structure is not coherent or rational. 
     Because of the size, complexity, and subtlety of philanthropy, making philanthropy readily accessible and attractive to the public as potential donors and volunteers, to journalists and scholars for analytical and educational purposes, and to professional philanthropists for sound strategizing, is not easy. Yet, given the significance of philanthropy to society, it is important to do. The system described here (using the Directory as an example, and its rich and effective interface) achieves this in a new and important way, in large part because it is built on a consensus taxonomic interface for these constituencies. The use of such a system, especially in a time of universal data explosion, will be immensely beneficial—for philanthropy, for everyone, and for our quality of life together. 
     The Catalogue for Philanthropy (http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy.org/natl/) has been developing a systematic taxonomy of philanthropic fields for years. This work was driven partly by the need to present, in its annual publication, and in an organized way to help and encourage donors, a cumulatively-increasing number and variety of charities from all fields, all across Massachusetts. In working collaboratively with thousands of charities over the years, we found that they are all subsumable in three fundamental fields: Nature—our relations with the environment; Culture, our relations with what humans think, make, and do; and People, or our relations with each other. These fields are extremely stable over time (for data purposes)—they were classically proposed by Aristotle in his Physica, Meta-Physica, and Ethica. Together, they form a natural and comprehensive sequence, from the physical and material world, through humans&#39; interactions with it, to human interactions with each other. 
     As implemented in the Directory, for example, the three basic fields branch out into a hierarchy of over 200 progressively narrower and more specific subfields at multiple levels of the hierarchy—more than any unaided human brain can know—which at each taxonomic level include everything subordinate to them. Defining each field is a dialogue between the facts—actual activities of actual charities—and requirements of logical organization. In using the interface, as users make a series of decisions about their interests, many charities are excluded and fewer are included at each step, as users guide themselves toward finding niches in philanthropy. To date, only a small percentage of the 4000+ charities in the online database being developed for the Directory have been assigned taxonomic fields and subfields. 
     A main source of information for inclusion in the database is the IRS Master Data File, which is based on Form 990s—the annual reports for federal tax purposes, which are by law public documents. To this we add information from the charities&#39; websites, which are also public and entirely within their control. Furthermore, users are encouraged to contact charities directly. Our purpose is to use state-of-the-art technology to open all of philanthropy to the public, who provide 85% of all the private dollars. 
     The Directory as presented online through a web browser has a unique combination of features, some of which are individually unique. It focuses on philanthropy alone, apart from or as a selected subset of nonprofits, and on the subject of philanthropy it is meant to be complete, organized by the only systematic electronically accessible taxonomy of fields and subfields, and the only systematic demographics of people served (if that is a featured aspect of the charities&#39; programs). The Directory presents philanthropy as intellectually attractive, interesting, and fun to explore. 
     The Directory can include, in addition to philanthropic charities, grant making institutions. There are over 4,000 private foundations in Massachusetts, and almost all of them make grants to more than one, and usually many, different philanthropic fields. Taxonomizing their interests consistently with the charities, for a statewide integrated system, will be challenging. Local charities may also be included although there is less need for it because donors in those localities are far more likely to know about them without a Directory, and because they are not of broader interest to the donating public. 
     Community foundation service areas, municipalities, and counties, are included as significant philanthropic markets. The purpose of community foundations is to enhance the quality of life in their communities, by promoting philanthropy—capacity-building for the charities, and increasing philanthropic engagement among donors, measured by increasing charitable giving and volunteering. Functionally then, they are poised at the center of their communities&#39; philanthropy. 
       FIG. 1  shows an introductory webpage  10 . This webpage, and other webpages associated with the site are served from a server (or set of servers) that is operated and maintained by a common sponsor identified  12  in the upper right corner of the page. In this case, the common sponsor is the Catalogue for Philanthropy and we refer to them as a common sponsor because they can sponsor the website on behalf of multiple organizations (for whom it is, as one might say, private labeled). From the point of view of a user, the site appears to be a site sponsored by, for example, a community foundation. Sometimes we refer to the organization for whom the site is private labeled as the sub-sponsor. 
     We use the word sponsor and sub-sponsor to refer to entities that are concerned with the content of the database and the user interface features. We distinguish these entities from the host or hosts of the physical webservers that serve the website on behalf of the sponsor and sub-sponsors. 
     A goal of the system described here is to establish a common understanding and a common taxonomy and vocabulary to be used universally for the purpose of categorizing philanthropic charities. The result will be less costly and more effective ways to store information about such charities and make the information available to users. 
     In some implementations, the websites of all of the sub-sponsors of private labeled versions have exactly the same user interface and pages, and are served using exactly the same universal database. The only difference among the private labeled sites is the identification of the specific sub-sponsor on the front page. When a user uses a web browser to find and open the universal site, the user&#39;s IP address is analyzed and its geographic location determined by publicly available associative geo-data. Each sub-sponsor is associated with a list of zip-codes that relate to its activities. Based on a matching of the IP address of the user with the zip-codes associated with the sub-sponsors, the server will cause the user&#39;s browser to display  14  the logo of the sub-sponsor that is the closest. The sub-sponsor&#39;s name as displayed on the page is then linked to the sub-sponsor&#39;s official webpage. 
     In some examples, it will be possible for the private labeled sites to be different in ways other than only the inclusion of the private labeled name  14 . For example, although the schemas of the underlying databases may be similar, the portions of the data in the databases that are used for the respective privately labeled websites could be focused on the geographic regions associated with respective private label hosts. 
     The webpage  10  describes and makes accessible a key feature of the website. This feature is explained  16  as the ability to build and fine tune a search in an intuitive and interactive way using the navigation device  18 . The part of the webpage in the lower right  20  displays top-level results  22  and reminds the user of the selections for the criteria  24  that led to the results. The summarized criteria listed in  20  also allow the user to remove items directly by invoking links displayed under each of the criteria without the need to open the pop-up windows referred to below. 
     In general, the user is provided with a variety of tools with which to indicate values or ranges of values (selections) for the different criteria, and in that way to specify the parameters of a search to be applied to the database by a database engine that is invoked by the server. As the user specifies and changes the various values or ranges of for each of the criteria, the results are automatically and immediately updated for viewing by the user. The user can make selections and change the selections for each of the criteria in a sequence of steps and can make selections and change the selections multiple times for each of the criteria. This allows the user to explore the database in complex and sophisticated (or simple and quick) ways to select a set of charities of interest, or otherwise study how the charities are arrayed with respect to any of the criteria or combinations of them. This allows investigation and study at a level and with a degree of sophistication and accuracy that has not been possible. In addition, the user can be confident that all of the charities that could possibly be of interest are included in the database and therefore the results of the navigation and selection made by the user are complete. When the user is specifying criteria and ranges of them, if no values or ranges are specified or selected for a criterion, the system assumes, as a default, that any value will meet that criterion. For example, if no budget size is specified, then any budget size satisfies that criterion. 
     There are five main attributes of charities that the user employs to build her search by specifying criteria for one or more of the attributes. We use the term attributes, for example, to refer to characteristics of charities. The attributes have values (for example, an attribute “annual revenue” could have the attribute $2,495,000 for a given charity). We use the term “criteria” to refer, for example, to selections by a user of values or ranges of values of interest with respect to respective attributes. For example, the user may be interested in charities that have an annual revenue of $2,500,000 (though such a selection is unlikely to yield any result), or in charities whose annual revenues are in the range of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. In the examples discussed here, the five attributes have been carefully selected to permit the user to find public charities of interest to her, or to otherwise analyze and study public charities and groups of them with respect to one or more of the criteria. A wide variety of other attributes may also be useful. 
     In this example, the five attributes are: (1) revenue  25 , (2) years of service  26 ; (3) locale  26 ; (4) the people it serves  32 ; and (5) fields and subfields  38  within the systematic taxonomy. The user can reach other layers (implemented in some examples as pop-up windows) on the homepage  10  that enable her to define ranges or values for each criterion using either of two navigational devices  40 ,  42 . The device  40  is a slider. The device  42  is a set of panels  44  through which the user can flip by clicking on the panel displayed in the center of the device. A button  45  can be invoked to view the results by applying the criteria in a search to records of the database. 
     The left-most panel  11  enables the user to reach website pages (or pop-up windows) that permit selections for the first two criteria (revenue, years of service); the third panel  13  for people served, the fourth panel  15  for location, and the fifth panel  17  for taxonomy. The second panel  19  enables searching based on the charity&#39;s name and keywords, which are searching aids but not criteria in the sense that we intend here. 
     The name and keywords are attributes found in the database, which makes the searching based on them possible. 
     The criteria used to build searches can be based on information provided by the charities, or developed by the sponsor or sub-sponsor of the database, or provided by a third party, or combinations of those. Of the five attributes of the example discussed here, location, revenue, and year of IRS authorization are derived from tax reports on form 990 as filed by the charities, taxonomy is developed by the Catalogue for Philanthropy, and people served are derived directly from websites of the charities. 
     When the user invokes the revenue and years of service attributes (using one of the devices  40 ,  42 ), she is presented with a pop up window  50  shown in  FIG. 2 . We also sometimes refer to the pop-up window as a subpanel, and other similar pop-up windows or sub-panels for others of the five attributes, has a header bar  52  that includes the title  54  of the current attribute, and a set of four reporting panels  56  that represent the other four attributes not featured on the currently displayed pop-up window. Each of the panels includes an icon  58  that graphically represents one of the attributes. 
     A user only needs to make selections in one of the five panels, and within that panel, only needs to select one criterion. Even without doing so, clicking “View Results” without selecting any criteria will allow her to search through every charity in the database. 
     A displayed number  60  represents the number of philanthropic charities that both (a) fit the values or the range of values specified by the user for the attribute that is featured in the currently displayed pop-up window  54  and (b) also fit other values or ranges of values already supplied by the user for the criterion represented by that icon. For example, the number  131  in the left-hand panel indicates that, of the total number of charities represented in the database,  131  of them meet both the values or ranges set by the user in this pop-up window  54  and the values or ranges previously set by the user for the taxonomy attribute  58 . 
     As shown in the window  50 , there are two sliders  64  that include cursors  68  that the user can slide left and right to indicate values for revenue (in accordance with the scale  66  shown below the slider) and the established date of the charity (in accordance with the dates shown below that slider). By “established date” we mean the date when the IRS first authorized the charity to engage in fund-raising of grants and donations. By moving the sliders, the user sets ranges, the lower or upper values of which are at the far left (in the case of the revenue slide) or the far right (in the case of the established slider). The other value of each range is represented by the position of the slider. For example, the range represented by the position of slider  68  is from approximately $25 million to $100 million. As the user moves the slider left or right, a message (not shown in the figure) appears above the slider and indicates the current value associated with the slider. Numbers of charities that meet the criteria and other values that are computed by the engine based on the application of the search criteria to the database are continually updated and the updated values displayed in an all relevant places on the website. 
     At the lower left of the window  52 , two reporting bars  70 ,  72  report the results of the user&#39;s actions in positioning the cursor. The range of values  71 ,  75  currently selected by the user are reported next to the number  73 ,  77  of charities that fit the range. For example, there are 164 charities that fit within the revenue range between about $25 million and about $100 million. When both of the criteria (revenue range and date of establishment range) are applied to the database there are 131 charities that fit the criteria. This number is reported in a box  74  at the right. 
     The total number  62  words in the upper right of the pop-up window report the total number of charities that meet all of the values and ranges of values for all criteria, in this criterion window and all other similar windows for the other criteria. 
     To summarize: The number of philanthropic charities that satisfy each of the slider criteria is shown in the lower left. The number that meets the combination of the criteria set on the sliders of this window is shown in the lower right. (in some examples, the user could be given the choice between applying the criteria in a logical AND combination—matching both—or a logical OR combination—matching either) The number of charities that meet both the criteria of this window and each of the other four criteria, taken individually, are reported in the panels in the upper right corner. And the number  62  of charities that meet all criteria set by the user is shown in the extreme upper right corner of the window. (The value  62  may be zero even when other pop-up window tabs ( 56 ) show more than zero matches. This would be the case when each criterion&#39;s matched charities (for example, number  60 ) share values between each of the other criterion individually, yet do not share values among all five attributes together). 
     Each of the icons  58  can be invoked to take the user to the corresponding pop-up window. 
     The arrangement of the sliders and the variety of reporting windows, their simplicity, and the intuitive quality of their operation and display provide an extremely easy-to-use tool for the user to explore the contents of the database with reference to criteria that are of interest to the user. 
     The interactive pop-up window  100  shown in  FIG. 3  provides a similar opportunity for a user to select and indicate values or ranges of values for criteria associated with the top-level attribute: people served. In this case, rather than allowing the user to indicate ranges of numerical values, the user can select items that represent specific values of specific sub-attributes. This is done by drop-down boxes  102  and + buttons  104  used to confirm the user selection of values of attributes or sub-attributes. Criteria that have been specified by the user by invoking the + buttons are reported in reporting bars  106  at the lower left of the window. Each of the pop-up bars includes a number  108  representing the number of philanthropic charities that meet the criterion. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , a pop-up window  110 , for the search items charity and keywords, provides free-entry text boxes  112 ,  114  in which the user can type words or phrases that represent a charity&#39;s name and keywords that may be used to identify and search for the charity. Each time the user invokes one of the + button, a search is done based on the entered text. If charities are found that meet the entered text, the number of hits is shown in the bars at the lower left. 
     The database can include keywords that have been specified by the sponsor with respect to each of the charities. The keyword search capability is limited to the extent that such keyword searches are not 
       FIGS. 5, 6, and 7  represent three different versions of pop up windows for the location top-level attribute. The user can navigate from one to the other using the buttons  120  at the upper left. The three versions permit the user to specify values for three different sub-attributes related to location: Counties, Community Foundations, and Text Fields. In this example, the user would only use one of the three versions to specify a value for the location attribute. The user chooses which one to use and then makes selections. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the county version displays a map  122  divided into counties  124  each of which is labeled. Each time the user invokes one of the county names, that county becomes part of the search range. Thus, the user can specify an interest in three or four or more different counties by invoking each of them. 
     The version of the pop-up window shown in  FIG. 6  offers the map differently, in this case based on the areas associated with respective community foundations. The version shown in  FIG. 7  allows the user to discretely select values for the sub-attributes by typing text. 
     Features of the user interface for selecting fields and subfields for the top-level attribute, taxonomic fields and subfields, are shown in  FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 . When the taxonomic fields attribute is first invoked, the window of  FIG. 8  years showing a natural tree with leaves, branches, and roots. Superimposed on the natural tree  130  is a hierarchical text tree (sometimes called a schematic) in which lines represent the relationship between sub-fields at one level and sub-fields or fields at another level. Small bars contain text identifying the values of a higher or the fields and subfields at the various levels of the hierarchy. Without the user taking any action, shortly after the loading process for this pop-up window of  FIG. 8 , the natural tree fades and the hierarchical tree diagram appears more prominently. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9  and other figures, the fields and sub-fields of the hierarchy that are displayed to the user depend on the user&#39;s invocation of the various levels. In other words, the user navigates up the hierarchy and indicates selection of values for fields and subfields of the taxonomy by invoking portions of the schematic hierarchical tree that are superimposed on the natural tree. This provides for a very natural, intuitive, and easy-to-use interface. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the three vertical lines rising from the box at the bottom  140  represent the three possible values of fields at the top of the taxonomic hierarchy: nature, culture, and people. Each of the three top-level fields branches  142  into a relatively small number of sub-fields at the next level up in the hierarchy. In the upper right of the window are three zooming buttons  144  which allow the user to zoom in and zoom out or reset the zoom level of the display of the natural tree and the hierarchical tree.  FIG. 10  shows a zoomed-in version of  FIG. 9 . 
     Note that in  FIG. 10 , as well as in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , levels of the taxonomic hierarchy that are above a first sub-level or which have not been explored/selected yet have been shown faded to indicate that they have not been invoked in any way by the user. The user indicates which values are of interest to her by clicking the displayed text bars within the diagram. Each time a text bar is selected or invoked, all of the values above that item in the next level of the hierarchy become visible and the user can invoke one or more of them. The user can also temporarily reveal all descendants of a term by hovering her cursor over a potential text bar; this causes all descendants of the hovered term to be faded in for previewing purposes only. 
       FIG. 11  shows an example of the entire taxonomic hierarchy, for reference. Decisions about the structure and content of the taxonomic hierarchy can be made by careful analysis of information about philanthropic charities and the factors that characterize them. 
     For easy reference, the entire hierarchy of this example is reproduced in text below: 
     In some implementations, the data that is maintained in the database for each of the philanthropic charities include the following (with explanation where the attribute description is not apparent from the title):
         Title   Website (URL)   Full location (address)
           Address   Phone   Google maps link   
           Tax number (EIN)   Contact information
           Name   Title   Email   
           Established date (year of IRS designation)   Operating budget (revenue)   Charity logo (optional and moderated the sponsor)   Program information   Optional “executive summary”   People served (taxonomy of demographic information as tagged by the sponsor)   Philanthropic fields (both discretely and by lineage)   Keywords (tagged terms)       

     The taxonomy for the attribute, people served, is listed in the following table: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 TIME OF LIFE 
                 Infants 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Children 
               
               
                   
                 Adolescents 
               
               
                   
                 Young Adults 
               
               
                   
                 Adults 
               
               
                   
                 Seniors 
               
               
                 GENDER 
                 All 
               
               
                   
                 Male 
               
               
                   
                 Female 
               
               
                   
                 Trans- 
               
               
                 SEXUAL 
                 Heterosexual 
               
               
                 ORIENTATION 
                 Homosexual 
               
               
                   
                 Bisexual 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Nationality 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 RACE/ETHNICITY 
                 Caucasian 
                 (Please fill in) 
               
               
                   
                 Latino 
               
               
                   
                 African 
               
               
                   
                 Near/Middle Eastern 
               
               
                   
                 Asian 
               
               
                   
                 Pacific Islander 
               
               
                   
                 Native Indigenous 
               
               
                 STATUS: 
                 Economic 
                 Poor 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Lower Class 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Middle Class 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Wealthy 
               
               
                   
                 Medical 
                 Healthy 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Disabled 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Diseased 
               
               
                   
                 Civil 
                 Immigrants 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Military 
                 Veterans 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Active 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Prisoners 
                 Current 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Former 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Court-Involved 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Orphans 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In one example, the taxonomy for the fields and subfields in which charities are categorized is as follows: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
                 Nature 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Plants 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Wild 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Land 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Water 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Domestic 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Land 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Water 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Animals 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Wild 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Air 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Land 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Water 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     cienergy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Domestic 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Air 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Land 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Water 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Environment 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Wild 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Land 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Water 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Air 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Artificial 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Suburban 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Rural 
               
               
                   
                   
                     advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     animal welfare 
               
               
                   
                   
                     biodiversity 
               
               
                   
                   
                     climate change 
               
               
                   
                   
                     conservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     energy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     management 
               
               
                   
                   
                     pollution 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     recycling 
               
               
                   
                   
                     science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     toxics 
               
               
                   
                   
                     urban 
               
               
                   
                   
                     oil spill 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Culture 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Arts 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Material 
               
               
                   
                   
                    General 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Cinema 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Photography 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Painting 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Printing 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Sculpture 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Crafts 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Design 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Literary 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Architecture 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Mixed Media 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Performing 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Music 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Dance 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Theatre 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Multimedia 
               
               
                   
                   
                     community 
               
               
                   
                   
                     creation 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Education 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Formal 
               
               
                   
                   
                    School-related 
               
               
                   
                   
                     academic education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     support 
               
               
                   
                   
                     vocational training 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Schools 
               
               
                   
                   
                     academic education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     support 
               
               
                   
                   
                     vocational training 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Informal 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Museums 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Art 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Zoos 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Aquaria 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Parks 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Gardens 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Historic 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     preservation 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Libraries 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Community Centers 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Arts 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Science 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Technology 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Vocational 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Churches 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Programs 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Civic 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Culture 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Food, Agriculture 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Health 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    International 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Language 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Media 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Personal 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Culture/Language 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Philosophy 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                     ESL 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Research 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Technology 
               
               
                   
                   
                     education 
               
               
                   
                   
                 People 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Food 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Quantity 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Pantries 
               
               
                   
                   
                     hunger 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Food Banks 
               
               
                   
                   
                     hunger 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Quality 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Nutrition 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Clothing 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Job Related 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Shelter 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Housing 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Homeless 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Affordable 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Transitional 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Cooperative 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Emergency Shelter 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Victims 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Refugees 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Homeless 
               
               
                   
                   
                  Health 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Public 
               
               
                   
                   
                   Personal 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Disease/Illness 
               
               
                   
                   
                     Physical 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Cancer 
               
               
                   
                   
                       advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                       education 
               
               
                   
                   
                       prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                       research 
               
               
                   
                   
                       support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Diabetes 
               
               
                   
                   
                       advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                       education 
               
               
                   
                   
                       prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                       research 
               
               
                   
                   
                       support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Multiple Sclerosis 
               
               
                   
                   
                       advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                       education 
               
               
                   
                   
                       prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                       research 
               
               
                   
                   
                       support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      HIV/AIDS 
               
               
                   
                   
                       advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                       education 
               
               
                   
                   
                       prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                       research 
               
               
                   
                   
                       support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Psychosomatic 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Alzheimers 
               
               
                   
                   
                       advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                       education 
               
               
                   
                   
                       prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                       research 
               
               
                   
                   
                       support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Autism 
               
               
                   
                   
                       advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                       education 
               
               
                   
                   
                       prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                       research 
               
               
                   
                   
                       support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Substance Abuse 
               
               
                   
                   
                       advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                       education 
               
               
                   
                   
                       prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                       research 
               
               
                   
                   
                       support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Eating Disorders 
               
               
                   
                   
                       advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                       education 
               
               
                   
                   
                       prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                       research 
               
               
                   
                   
                       support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Disability 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Mental 
               
               
                   
                   
                       advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                       education 
               
               
                   
                   
                       prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                       research 
               
               
                   
                   
                       support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Physical 
               
               
                   
                   
                       advocacy 
               
               
                   
                   
                       education 
               
               
                   
                   
                       prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                       research 
               
               
                   
                   
                       support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       treatment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Trauma 
               
               
                   
                   
                    Safety 
               
               
                   
                   
                     Public 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Crime Prevention 
               
               
                   
                   
                     Personal 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Sexual Abuse 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Domestic Violence 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Rape 
               
               
                   
                   
                     Employment 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Career Development 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Jobs 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Microfinance 
               
               
                   
                   
                     Civil Status 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Legal Assistance 
               
               
                   
                   
                       Civil 
               
               
                   
                   
                       Criminal 
               
               
                   
                   
                       Mediation 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Support 
               
               
                   
                   
                       Adoption 
               
               
                   
                   
                       Foster Care 
               
               
                   
                   
                       Economic 
               
               
                   
                   
                        Personal Finance 
               
               
                   
                   
                       Service 
               
               
                   
                   
                       ESL 
               
               
                   
                   
                     Community 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Economic Development 
               
               
                   
                   
                     Recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Sports 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Arts 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Camps 
               
               
                   
                   
                     Promoting Philanthropy 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Charitable Giving 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Community Foundations 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Donor Education 
               
               
                   
                   
                      Technical Assistance 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , in some implementations, a system  150  for maintaining and using information about philanthropic charities includes one or more Web servers  152  that can be maintained by different hosts or by a common host  154 . In some examples, a single web server is used and maintained on behalf of a common sponsor (such as the Catalogue for Philanthropy). (In some examples, each of the Web servers  152  can be associated with one or more philanthropic charities  156 . In such examples, each of those philanthropic charities, or a host associated with it, can maintain one of the corresponding Web servers.) 
     In some examples, each of the Web servers represents an existing Web server associated with one or more of the philanthropic charities, and the system described here becomes an additional function to be provided by associated servers. Conversely, the functions described here may all be served from one or a group of servers maintained by the common sponsor and private labeled for each of the respective philanthropic charities. In some examples, the format and user interfaces of the private labeled websites will be essentially identical (except for the private labeling) or at least substantially similar. An example of such a format and user interface has been illustrated and discussed earlier. 
     The various philanthropic charities  156  may differentiate themselves based on the geographic regions  157  that they serve, based on their fields of interest, or based on any of a wide variety of other differentiating factors. 
     Each of the Web servers or the group of them taken together (or subgroups of them) are supported by one or more databases  158  that are managed by one or more database engines  160 . Information about philanthropic charities that are to be handled by a given Web server group of Web servers are stored in the corresponding databases and managed by the corresponding database engines. 
     Each database stores information about the corresponding philanthropic charities, including the taxonomic categorization and other kinds of information listed earlier. 
     In some examples, as discussed earlier, there is a single unified national or regional database that is used by multiple sponsors and their respective users. In such implementations, the common host  154  can maintain the single common database  158  that contains information about all of the philanthropic charities in all regions or fields and provides access to the common database for the one or more Web servers that use the information in order to serve its users. In some implementations, multiple databases can be maintained using identical or similar list of attributes for the respective groups of philanthropic charities needed for those databases. 
     Typically, the Web servers  152  operate through the Internet and World Wide Web  170  to serve information about the philanthropic charities through Web browsers operating on user platforms  172  based on interaction by users  174  through the Web browsers. 
     A wide variety of hardware and software platforms can be used ranging from desktop workstation to laptop computers, iPad, smart phones, and any other imaginable kind of fixed or portable device. The devices that serve as platforms may be publicly available kiosks or other similar devices. 
     In some implementations, the interaction between the user and the Web servers occurs by the user building searches  180 , for example. The Web server translates the built searches into more formal database queries  182  and delivers them to the database engine  160 . The database engine applies the search query to the database and returns a selection of philanthropic charities  184  to the Web server. The Web server translates the selection into features to be displayed to the user, forms corresponding provides webpages and serves them back through the user&#39;s Web browser. This process is conventional in Web serving technology as a basic request, search, and display protocol. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a summary of the built search and of the corresponding results is shown in the lower right panel  20 . The number of matched charities  22 , based on the criteria of the built search, is displayed above the view results button. Below the view results button, the five main search criteria are listed. Each time the user invokes one of the criteria and specifies ranges or values for the invoked criterion, those ranges or values are reported below the name of the criterion (not shown on  FIG. 1 ), which gives the user a view of the underlying built search that resulted in the number of matched charities that are indicated. 
     After building a search and having the results returned, the user may click the view results button  45  to explore details about the philanthropic charities included in the results. When button  45  is clicked, the user is presented with the page shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     The number of charities that match the criteria of the built search is again reported in the upper left  190 . The list of those charities is provided at the right  192 . For each charity, certain key information is provided  194  and a button  196  can be invoked by the user to see additional information. 
     A map  208  on the left of the list of charities displays markers for the location of the charities that satisfied the built search. When the user invokes any one of the markers, additional information pops up (not shown) about the charity, including its address. 
     The page also contains a one-dimensional scatter plot  198  that illustrates data values or certain attributes of the charities. For example, the upper scatter plot, which relates to annual revenue, contains bars  200  arranged at locations that represent the respective annual revenues of the fixed charity. The range represented by the scatter plot is indicated below it with the lowest value above and the highest value below. 
     In the lower scatter plot, a bar  202  represents the year of the IRS approval of the charity. 
     Near the bottom of the page are displayed  204  certain criteria related to the charities and the values entered by the user as part of the built search. For example in this case, one of the criterion is taxonomic fields  206 . Below that criterion is shown the user selected people and civil status values in two levels of the taxonomic hierarchy. 
     When the user invokes one of the buttons  196 , she is taken to the page shown in  FIG. 14 . On this page, additional information about the charity is displayed including a generally associated (determined by the charity&#39;s philanthropic field) photograph  210 , a map  212 , a section  214  showing the location of the charity, the name, website, address, and employer identification number of the charity, and a range of additional information  216 . 
     In the lower left, the scatter plots  218  are repeated, but the only bars that appear on the scatter plot are the ones that relate to this charity to show where it fits within the range of variables for the designated group. 
     An example of the site structure and flow is also shown in  FIG. 15 . As shown in the top line  300 , the server serves a main common website  302 . Based on the user&#39;s IP address and location information associated with the sub-sponsors, the main common site is converted to a rebranded website  304  for the closest matched one of the charities. A link  306  is also placed on the rebranded site which points to an external site of the sub-sponsor. 
     As shown in the bottom part of  FIG. 15 , during use of the rebranded site, a user working through a web browser  308  selects criteria for attributes of charities (and in that sense builds a search)  310 . The user selections  312  represented by the built search are converted at the web server  314  into formal search queries (e.g., in SQL format)  316 . A database engine  318  applies the SQL search to a database  320  to generate results in the form of numbers of charities and information about them. Those results  322  are provided at the web browser. The user can interact with the browser to fetch and view detailed information about an individual charity  324 . 
     Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.