Meet the Founders | Advisory
Council | Frequently Asked Questions | In
the News
We all have a cause we care about - whether it's finding a cure for cancer,
saving the environment, finding homes for abandoned pets or so many other
worthwhile endeavors. But what we don't all have is the time or money to
support these efforts as much as we'd like. So, what if we could raise money
for our favorite charities and schools by doing something we do every day —
searching the Internet?
That's the question Ken Ramberg (the former founder of JOBTRAK, now a division
of Monster.com) and JJ Ramberg (an MSNBC anchor and the former Director of
Marketing at Cooking.com) asked themselves a few years ago. After realizing
what a fraction of the $8 billion generated annually by search engine
advertisers could do if it were directed towards organizations trying to make
the world a better place, they launched GoodSearch in 2005.
GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50-percent of its revenue to the
charities and schools designated by its users. It's a simple and compelling
concept. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine.
Because it's powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results. The money
GoodSearch donates to your cause comes from its advertisers — the users and the
organizations do not spend a dime!
In 2007, GoodSearch was expanded to include GoodShop, an online shopping mall
of world-class merchants dedicated to helping fund worthy causes across the
country. Each purchase made via the GoodShop mall results in a donation to the
user's designated charity or school – averaging approximately 3% of the sale,
but going up to 20% or even more.
Ken and JJ wanted to create a means to support charities so that people would
say, "Why wouldn't you do it?" That's what GoodSearch does. Since it doesn't
cost anything and you get proven search results, there's no reason not to use
it!
GoodSearch is dedicated to Ken and JJ's mother, who passed away from cancer and
who taught them both that by working together with dogged dedication, we can
really make this world a better place.
Spread the word!
Our goal is to help as many nonprofits and schools as possible. We want to help
fund the great works they are doing. And, as important as the money, GoodSearch
allows people to feel connected to organizations helping to make the world a
better place and support them every single day. We believe that "doing good"
should be a part of people's everyday lives.
Because we donate such a substantial part of our revenue to the organizations
that you designate, we're not spending a lot on advertising.
That's why we need your help in spreading the word!
We hope you'll not only use GoodSearch as your main search engine from now on,
but will also tell your friends, family and co-workers so they, too, can start
using GoodSearch to support their favorite cause!
So ...
-
Find a cure
-
Support your school
-
Provide disaster relief
-
Protect our environment
Start using GoodSearch today — there's no reason not to!
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions - GoodSearch
General Questions - GoodShop: The GoodSearch Shopping Mall
General Questions - Image Search
Nonprofits
Troubleshooting
Toolbar
General Questions - GoodSearch
How do I raise money for my favorite charity or school through GoodSearch?
Last year search engines generated close to $8 billion in revenue from
advertisers. We've developed a way to direct some of that money to the causes
you care about most. It's easy ... every time you search the Internet at
GoodSearch.com, your charity or school earns money and the more you search, the
more they make. Add up the money generated from all your searches and those
done by the millions of other people who we hope will use GoodSearch, and we
can make a real difference to the people and causes that need funds most.
How does it work?
-
On the GoodSearch homepage, choose from thousands of organizations or add your
favorite cause to our list.
-
Search the Internet just like you normally would — the site is powered by
Yahoo!, so you'll get high-quality search results.
-
Fifty percent of the revenue generated from advertisers is shared with the
charity, school or nonprofit organization of your choosing.
Are the search results going to be as good as the search engine I am using now?
GoodSearch.com is powered by Yahoo! so you'll get high-quality search results!
How much money could this generate for my charity or school?
We estimate that each Web search will generate approximately $0.01 for the
designated charity or school (image, video and site-specific searches are not included).
It quickly adds up! Here's an example of how much your organization can earn:
| Small |
100 |
2 |
$730 |
| Medium |
1,000 |
2 |
$7,300 |
| Large |
10,000 |
2 |
$73,000 |
The sky is the limit. The more people use GoodSearch, the more money will be
directed towards causes. There is no cap on how much money we will direct to
charities.
Where does the money come from?
Search engines make most of their money from companies that pay an advertising
fee when users click on links during a search. At GoodSearch, we've developed a
patent-pending way to track and direct these search-generated proceeds to
charities. In other words, a portion of advertiser dollars (and not your own!)
earned as a result of your search, are now passed along to the organization
you've chosen to support.
Do the users ever have to pay anything?
No. GoodSearch provides people a way to support their favorite cause at no cost.
The money comes from the GoodSearch advertisers.
What percentage of revenue goes to the charities and schools?
GoodSearch is a search engine with a unique social mission which involves
generously giving back to charity with every Web search. We direct a minimum of
50 percent of revenues (this currently equates to about a penny per search) to
the nonprofits designated by our audience. Please note that image, video and
site-specific searches are not included.
Other examples of socially-conscious companies which donate a percentage of
their revenues or profits to good causes include Newman's Own, Ethos Water,
Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's.
Do all of my searches count toward donations?
All of your searches will count toward donations except for the following:
1) image searches;
2) video searches;
3) "search this site" searches;
4) searches for URL's (i.e., search terms ending in .com, .org, .net, .edu);
5) searches to sites for which the URL is well known such as HotMail, ESPN,
MySpace, Facebook, GMail, AOL, etc.;
6) searches for stock quotes;
7) searches for word definitions, and
8) any searches generated from fraudulent use of the site.
What if I do not select a charity or school?
Revenue raised by users who do not designate a specific charity will be used to
fund operations.
How can I track the number of searches and revenue generated for my charity or
school?
After you have entered your charity in the "Who do your GoodSearch for?" box on
our homepage, just click on the "Amount Raised" button. Here you'll see in
real-time the number of searches and money raised.
How can I see a list of all the charities in the database?
Simply click on the participating nonprofits link
located at the bottom of our homepage. You can also search for your favorite
organization by entering their name into the "Who do you GoodSearch for?" box.
If the organization you would like to support is not yet in our system, please
feel free to submit an application on their behalf by clicking on the "Add a
new Charity or School" link on our homepage.
What stops people from clicking just to raise money for their charity? What is
meant by fraudulent searching?
We ask that you use this site honestly. As long as you use GoodSearch just as
you would any other search engine, it's never a problem.
Fraudulent searching includes, but is not limited to, repeated manual clicks,
the use of use of robots or other automated query tools, etc. This will result
in the user being blocked from the site and/or the charity being de-listed.
While not expressly prohibited, searches to URL's (i.e., search terms ending in
.com, .org, .net, .edu), searches to sites for which the URL is well known such
as HotMail, ESPN, MySpace, Facebook, GMail, AOL, etc., and searches for stock
quotes will not count toward a nonprofit's total searches and revenue.
How can I make it so my charity is already chosen each time I go to GoodSearch?
If your computer allows cookies, the last nonprofit you designated will remain chosen.
Please note, any time you or your anti-virus software clears your cookies or
temporary files, you will need to return to the GoodSearch homepage and re-select your charity.
Click here to find out how to enable cookies.
Another option is to link to GoodSearch with the following direct link, which
includes your Charity ID and bypasses the "cookie": http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=xxxx (replace "xxxx" with the Charity ID located on the Amount Raised page).
Can users donate to more than one cause?
Yes, of course. Users can support as many causes as they'd like, but only one at
a time. You can change the designated organization by clicking on the yellow
"clear selection" box and then typing in the name of the new organization.
Why is GoodSearch especially relevant to charities today?
GoodSearch can not only help fund organizations focused on recent major
disasters including 9/11, the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, but
it is invaluable to the hundreds of thousands of smaller causes that have a
hard time raising funds to begin with and often see further shortages in
contributions due to the overwhelming support for disaster relief.
GoodSearch is also a great way for people to stay connected with a cause. Every
day through GoodSearch, users are able do something to help a specific cause
and show their loyalty to an organization. In addition to this added cash,
smaller charities and schools benefit from the increased awareness and
visibility they can get by being listed with GoodSearch or featured as the
site's "Charity of the Day" on its home page.
How can I spread the word about GoodSearch to my friends?
Click here for ideas on how to Spread the
Word.
How can I list my site on GoodSearch?
Because Yahoo provides the GoodSearch search results, please submit your site to Yahoo directly at http://search.yahoo.com/info/submit.html
General Questions - GoodShop: The GoodSearch
Shopping Mall
How do I raise money for my favorite charity or school with GoodShop?
Every time you click over to one of our partner merchants from the GoodShop site
and then make a purchase, your charity or school earns money. The more you
shop, the more they make! Add up the money generated from all of your shopping
and the shopping done by all of the other people who use GoodShop, and we can
make a real difference for many worthy causes.
How does it work?
Simply go to www.goodsearch.com and
click on the GoodShop link or go to www.goodshop.com.
In the "Who do you GoodSearch for" box, choose from one of the thousands of
charities and schools already listed in our database or add your favorite cause
to our list.
Next, click through to our partner retailers and start shopping! A percentage of
your purchase will go to your favorite charity or school.
Where does the money come from?
When you shop through GoodShop at one of our retail partners, GoodSearch is paid
a commission. At GoodSearch, we've developed a way to track these
shopping-generated proceeds and direct them to charities.
How much can I generate for my charity or school by shopping through GoodShop?
The amount donated is different for each retailer but it averages approximately
3% of the total sale and can go up to 20% and beyond (the percentage donated is
indicated below the merchants logo). The total amount raised can quickly add up
and the sky is the limit. The more people shop through GoodSearch, the more
money will be directed towards good causes. There is no cap on how much money
we will direct to charities and schools!
Here's an estimate of how much your organization can earn:
| Small |
100 |
$500 |
3% |
$1,500 |
| Medium |
1,000 |
$500 |
3% |
$15,000 |
| Large |
10,000 |
$500 |
3% |
$150,000 |
Am I paying more to shop through GoodShop? Is this any different than buying
directly from the retailer?
Absolutely not! The experience of shopping through GoodShop is exactly the same
as going to the retailer directly – you receive the same prices and level of
service. The retailers are responsible for collecting payment, shipping and
returns.
Is shopping through GoodShop secure?
Absolutely! GoodSearch does not collect any credit card or personal information
such as your name or address. The entire transaction is done directly through
the merchants just as if you had gone to their store directly.
Why is there a delay between when I make a purchase and when it shows up on the
Amount Raised page?
We post the data that we receive from our retailers weekly on our Amount Raised
page. Please note however that our retailers may take up to eight weeks to
report their sales back to us from the time of your purchase. Also, you may
notice a change in the totals due to returned merchandise or cancelled orders.
What if my purchase still doesn't show up after eight weeks?
If you don't see your donation appearing on the Amount Raised page after eight
weeks, please email the following information to us at
information[at]goodsearch.com:
Name:
Email Address:
Phone Number:
Store:
Date of Purchase:
Order Number:
Total Amount Per Store (not including shipping or tax):
Designated Charity or School
We'll do our best to contact the merchant and try to resolve the issue.
Do all purchases qualify for a donation?
While the majority of all purchases will generate a donation for your organization, each retailer has its own rules and some purchases may not qualify. For example, many merchants do not contribute donations for gift cards or gift certificates. You can read about restrictions by clicking on the percentage generated link under each retailer's logo on the GoodShop shopping homepage.
How can my store participate?
If you would like to advertise with GoodSearch or GoodShop or and be added to our list of partner stores,
please contact us at information[at]goodsearch.com
General Questions - Image Search
Where do I report offensive images?
The GoodSearch image search provided by Yahoo is defaulted to "Safe Search"
mode. However, the system does not catch offensive images 100% of the time.
Please report offensive images directly to Yahoo at
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/search/spam_abuse.html
Do Image Searches count toward donation totals?
No, neither image nor video searches count toward donations.
FAQ for Nonprofits
What types of organizations are eligible to participate?
To participate in our program, your organization must be a registered nonprofit.
This can include schools, charities, hospitals and clinics, volunteer services,
political organizations, fraternal organizations, professional associations,
religious organizations, governmental agencies, etc. Each organization
submitted will go through an approval process to confirm their legitimacy. Upon
approval they will be notified with a welcome e-mail.
Does GoodSearch work with charities or schools outside of the United States?
No. We currently only work with U.S. nonprofits but we hope to expand
internationally in the future.
How can I add a charity to your list?
With tens of thousands of organizations currently listed on our site, it's
likely that yours may already be active. Please check to see if the
organization you wish to support is already on the site by entering the
organization's name in the "Who do you GoodSearch for" box on the
homepage. If your organization is not listed, simply click on the
Add a New Charity link and follow the instructions onscreen. We
will verify its nonprofit status and will add it to our database ASAP.
How long will it take for my organization to be verified and posted in the
database?
It usually takes a couple of days for us to verify the information submitted and
add your charity or school into our database. We'll send you our welcome email
as soon as it has been approved. With so many new organizations applying daily,
we thank you for your patience!
When will my organization receive a check?
GoodSearch will send each organization a check once a year in December for
the funds earned during our fiscal year of Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
The minimum check sent is $20. If the organization has earned less than $20, the funds
will be allocated on a pro rata basis to those organizations which have met the
minimum payment requirement.
The more often an organization's supporters use GoodSearch, the more money that
organization will receive. In no event will GoodSearch make payments for any earned
balance less than $20.
How do I change my organization's contact information?
Please go to the "Amount Raised" page and submit a change to the contact
information for your organization. While anyone can submit a change, before we
update an organization's listing in our database one of our staff members first
reviews and verifies the request.
If I run a nonprofit organization or a school, how can I promote GoodSearch to
my supporters?
Please click here for some ideas on how to spread
the word.
How can we "pre-populate" our nonprofit's name in the system when linking to
GoodSearch from our site?
Here's the format for a link that will pre-select your nonprofit on our
homepage:
GoodSearch:
http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=xxx (For example:
http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=12345)
GoodShop:
http://www.goodshop.com/?charityid=xxx (For example:
http://www.goodshop.com/?charityid=12345)
To find your organization's Charity ID please click on the Amount Raised page.
Troubleshooting
The charity I had selected does not appear when I return to the GoodSearch home
page
In order for your computer to remember which charity you previously selected, you'll need to set your browser to accept "cookies" from GoodSearch. Click here to find out how to enable cookies. Please note, any time you or your anti-virus software clears your cookies or temporary files, you will need to return to the GoodSearch homepage and re-select your charity.
Another option is to link to GoodSearch with the following direct link, which includes your Charity ID and bypasses the "cookie": http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=xxxx (replace "xxxx" with the Charity ID located on the Amount Raised page)
I am unable to change the charity that I selected.
Try clearing the "cookies" and the "temporary internet files" (also known as
"cache") from your browser. You can usually do this clicking on "Tools" link at
the top of your browser and then on "Options."
I do not see the "Verify" button after entering my charity.
Try clearing the "cookies" and the "temporary internet files" (also known as
"cache") from your browser. You can usually do this clicking on "Tools" link at
the top of your browser and then on "Options."
The link to add GoodSearch to the Firefox toolbar doesn't seem to work.
Another way to get GoodSearch into your Firefox toolbar is as follows:
-
Click on the "down arrow" on the top right of your Firefox toolbar.
-
Click "add engines"
-
Click "Browse more search engines..."
-
Enter "GoodSearch" in the box.
I cannot link to any of the pages on from the GoodSearch search results. A blank page appears when clicking on any of the links.
Please have your Network Administrator unblock and grant access to "overture.com" from your firewall. Overture is the domain that Yahoo uses to serve out its search results to its partner sites such as GoodSearch.
I am unable to view or link to some of the GoodShop merchants.
There are a few reasons that this might happen and here are some possible solutions:
-
Browser security an cookie settings
Please set your browser to accept cookies. You may also have to verify that the following domains have not been unknowingly blocked by your browser:
ad.doubleclick.net
anrdoezrs.net
cc-dt.com
cj.com
clickserve.cc-dt.com
commission-junction.com
connectcommerce.com
dpbolvw.net
goodshop.com
jdoqocy.com
kqzyfj.com
linkshare.com
linksynergy.com
performics.com
qksrv.net
tkqlhce.com
For Internet Explorer, follow this path:
Tools > Options > Privacy > Sites
After clicking the Sites button a window will pop up titled Per Site Privacy Actions. Scroll through the list of sites listed under Managed Web Sites to see if any of the above domains are already listed.
- If yes, double-click the name and click the Allow button. Repeat for each of the above domains.
- If no, enter each of the domains listed above and click the Allow button.
For Firefox, follow this path:
Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies
If the box next to "Allow sites to set cookies" is unchecked, click Exceptions and add the domains listed above
-
SpyWare Tools
Some anti-spyware applications such as SpySweeper, SpyBot, AdAware or security suites such as Norton or McAfee have been reported to occasionally block access to our merchants. In order to ensure that all of your purchases are recorded properly it would be best to add the sites listed above to you application's "White-list" or temporarily disable the application while shopping through GoodShop. Please refer to your program's Help feature and search under terms like:
- Cookies
- Privacy
- Approved sites
- Exceptions
The intent is to find out whether any of the domains listed above are being blocked by one of these programs. Disabling this setting should use similar language — 'Always Allow', 'Allow Site', 'Exceptions', etc.
Please be aware that some programs may overwrite these settings even after you have set them. If the difficulties suddenly return, your troubleshooting should begin by checking these programs’ settings.
-
Pop-Up Blockers
Some pop-up blockers may also block your ability to link from GoodShop to the merchant's site. Try turning off your pop-up blocker temporarily.
-
Firewalls
If you use any firewalls such as Zone Alarm, Norton Internet Security or some other such Firewall, then you need to keep the "Ad Blocking" turned off. You may also need to allow access to the URLs listed above through your firewall.
Why doesn't the Custom Search Box work?
The Custom Search Box requires the included Javascript functions to work properly.
In addition the form elements must retain the names and IDs set for them.
Please ensure that the browser in question has Javascript turned on.
Then, check the source code on your browser and make sure that the Javascript
was rendered properly on your pages and that the form elements have the same
names as the code sent to you. If the Search Box code was entered using a
content management or authoring system, that system may have stripped out
the Javascript code or changed or erased form element names.
Why doesn't the Custom Search Box "Search the Site" feature work?
If these searches are not returning results, it's possible that the Yahoo! search engine that powers GoodSearch did not index your site's content properly. Reasons for this may include the lack of search engine optimization, including but not limited to unfriendly URLs and lack of accurate meta description or keyword tags.
Toolbar
Is the toolbar available for browsers other than Microsoft Internet Explorer
and Firefox?
The toolbar is currently available only for Microsoft Internet Explorer and
Firefox. We're working on additional toolbars and hope to have them available
shortly. In the meantime please search from our homepage to support your cause.
Does the toolbar contain spyware or adware?
No. The GoodSearch Toolbar does not contain any spyware or adware and never
collects any personally identifiable information. There is no registration for
end-users to install and use the toolbar.
When I search from the Firefox or Internet Explorer 7 toolbar will my charity
get credit?
Yes. Whatever charity you have designated on the GoodSearch homepage will be
credited when you search our site from the Firefox or IE7 toolbar. As long as
your computer accepts cookies, you only need to visit the GoodSearch homepage
to select your favorite organization once and then all future searches from the
toolbar will benefit that organization. Please note, any time you or your
anti-virus software clears your cookies or temporary files you will need to
return to the GoodSearch homepage and re-select your charity again.
The link on the GoodSearch homepage to add GoodSearch to the Firefox toolbar
doesn't seem to work.
Another way to get GoodSearch into your Firefox toolbar is as follows:
-
Click on the "down arrow" on the top right of your Firefox toolbar.
-
Click "add engines"
-
Click "Browse more search engines..."
-
Enter "GoodSearch" in the box.
I installed the GoodSearch Toolbar for Internet Explorer, but I still don't see
it.
There are many reasons your toolbar might not be visible. Here are some of the
most common problems and resolutions.
Toolbar Hidden
In your IE menu bar, open the View menu, and select "Toolbars."
Make sure there is a checkmark next to "GoodSearch Toolbar" — if there is no
checkmark, the toolbar will not appear. If it is already checked, IE may have
become confused—try unchecking it and rechecking it. If you do not see the
GoodSearch Toolbar mentioned there, you do not have the GoodSearch Toolbar
installed. You should go to the GoodSearch Toolbar page and install it.
Toolbar Dragged Off Window
If you see the GoodSearch "G" anywhere in the top of your Web browser, then
GoodSearch Toolbar has been installed, but is showing up in an unusual place.
-
Directly to the left of the "G," you'll see a thin vertical bar or a vertical
bar of dots next to a vertical line
-
If you do not see this bar, your IE toolbars are locked: select View >
Toolbars > Lock the Toolbars to unlock your IE toolbars.
-
Click this bar with the left mouse button and hold the mouse button down.
-
Now, move the mouse to where you want the toolbar to go and release the button.
If you do not see the "G" or the toolbar, try closing all Web browser windows,
and restart your Web browser.
Toolbar Dragged Off Visible Area
Sometimes either by installing new software or accidentally dragging the
toolbar somewhere, the GoodSearch Toolbar can be dragged off the visible area
of Internet Explorer.
-
Examine your IE toolbars for any chevrons like this, ">>". These indicate
hidden controls.
-
Click each set of chevrons in turn, looking for the GoodSearch Toolbar.
-
When you find the toolbar, click the thin vertical bar or vertical series of
dots in front of the "G" and drag it down and to the left so that it is visible
again.
-
If you do not see this bar, your IE toolbars are locked: select View >
Toolbars > Lock the Toolbars to unlock your IE toolbars.
Conflicting Toolbars
Some forms of adware and spyware install toolbars in Internet Explorer that
will hide or disable other toolbars, including the GoodSearch Toolbar. To
remove other toolbars in IE do the following:
-
Click View > Toolbars.
-
Ignore "Standard Bar," "Address Bar," and "Links," but make sure every other
item listed above the separator has a checkmark next to it. If it does not have
a checkmark, select it, so that it will appear in your browser.
-
Uninstall any additional toolbars in your browser that you do not use.
Due to the wide variety of toolbars, it is impossible to provide instructions
for removing them all. However the two most common methods are to use a menu
item in the toolbar titled "Uninstall" or "Remove," or to use Add/Remove
Programs from the Control Panel to remove the toolbar by finding the toolbar
name listed in View > Toolbars menu.
Corrupt Toolbar Installation
If you are still having problems, your GoodSearch Toolbar installation might
have been corrupted. To ensure you have a clean install, do the following:
-
Remove the GoodSearch Toolbar via Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel.
-
Reboot your computer.
-
Visit the GoodSearch Toolbar site and reinstall GoodSearch Toolbar. You might
want to write that Web address down so you don't lose it when you reboot your
computer.
Toolbar appears under "View Toolbars" but still not on screen
- Go to tools and "Manage Add-Ons"
- Click Show – Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer
- Highlight GoodSearch toolbar, and on the bottom of the screen click Settings I Enable
- Click OK at the bottom of the screen
- Close out of all Internet Explorer screens and re-launch your browser.
How do I remove the GoodSearch Toolbar for Internet Explorer?
There are two ways to uninstall the GoodSearch Toolbar for Internet Explorer.
Option 1: Via the toolbar
-
Click on the "down arrow" next to the GoodSearch logo in the toolbar
-
Click "Uninstall" on the uninstall page.
-
Close any open IE windows.
When you restart Internet Explorer, the GoodSearch Toolbar will no longer be
present.
Option 2: Via the Control Panel
-
Click the Windows "Start" button.
-
Select "Control Panel" from the "Settings" menu.
-
Double-click on "Add/Remove Programs."
-
Scroll down and click on the "GoodSearch Toolbar" entry.
-
Click on "Change/Remove."
-
Close any open IE windows.
The GoodSearch Toolbar is now uninstalled. Start IE again after closing all
your open IE browser windows and it will no longer be present.
If you follow these steps and GoodSearch Toolbar is still present, make sure
you have closed all your open IE browser windows. Due to Internet Explorer
being integrated with Windows, you might need to restart your computer to fully
uninstall GoodSearch Toolbar.