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Network for Good and Groundspring, two nonprofit providers of Internet-based fundraising and donor management tools, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. Under the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by both boards of directors, the combined organization will operate using the Network for Good name.

The merger of Network for Good and Groundspring will offer a resource for small- to medium-sized nonprofits seeking affordable, easy-to-use, web-based tools for raising funds, communicating online and managing donors.

"The complementary team of Network for Good and Groundspring will increase the efficiency of nonprofit organizations and the sector as a whole by ensuring charities fully capitalize on the advantages of the Internet," said Bill Strathmann, chief executive officer of Network for Good. "The power of our popular Web site, www.networkforgood.org, and our far-reaching media partnerships with AOL and Yahoo!, matched with Groundspring's nonprofit tools and training, put us in an excellent position to expand our services to a growing number of nonprofits."

Network for Good currently serves more than 4,000 nonprofits with its low-cost Donate Now service, an easy way for nonprofits to receive donations on their own Web sites. Network for Good also enables individuals to donate to more than one million nonprofits through its website and has delivered more than $60 million to more than 15,000 nonprofits since its inception in November, 2001. Groundspring, founded by Tides Foundation in 1999, serves more than 2,000 nonprofit organizations and has helped raise more than $15.4 million for nonprofits through its DonateNow service since its inception.

"Customers are looking to increase their funding and impact, and reduce the complexity and cost of managing their technology services," said Joseph Mouzon, executive director and chief operating officer of Groundspring.org. "With our first-hand understanding of the issues that nonprofits face, we are uniquely positioned to help customers balance their need for cost- effective Internet solutions and their desire to purchase services from an organization that is truly committed to the nonprofit sector. This union reflects the essence of social entrepreneurship -- delivering comprehensive yet affordable services that customers have requested."

"Today's marketplace requires nonprofits to compete for attention and resources at unprecedented levels. That is why the tools provided by Network for Good and Groundspring are so important. They enable even the smallest organizations to attain the technological and fundraising capacity they need to reach people and get results," said Vincent Stehle, program officer of the Surdna Foundation, which supports Network for Good.

The words "charity begins at home" have never meant more.

Two weeks after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, more than $1 billion has been donated for hurricane relief. The amount is significantly more than was raised in the two weeks after September 11th ($558 million) and the Asian tsunami ($406 million), according to the Sept. 20th issue of the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Of that amount, the American Red Cross received the most, at $762.5 million, nearly 50% is donated ONLINE.

"The American Red Cross has been entrusted with a great deal of the fuel that will burn the humanitarian engine," said Dean Dimke, executive director of the Palm Beach County chapter. "We won't let them down. We're using the money to rebuild lives affected by Hurricane Katrina."

The relief fund spearheaded by former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton grew into a philanthropic juggernaut, bringing in $100 million to date. The Salvation Army is third with $85.7 million.

The Chronicle called the flood of charitable dollars "unprecedented in American history."

Dimke pointed out that local Red Cross supporters have been particularly forthcoming. The local chapter is "well over the $5 million mark," he said.

Beth Walton, of the Palm Beach Community Chest/United Way, said she was "not surprised at all" by the outpouring. "Americans are the most generous people in the world.

Walton attributed the response to "a combination of things."

After Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, "all of a sudden those awful images from the tsunami weren't coming from the other side of the world. They were coming from our own backyards. It hit home."

Also a factor, Walton said, is the media. "Previously, with charities like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, we didn't see the televised appeals like we're seeing now. The relief agencies have made very efficient use of television."

Don't expect those televised appeals to end anytime soon, Dimke said.

"Right now, the American Red Cross believes that the effort will take $2 billion. We're still asking for donations. When we reach the amount it'll take we'll quit asking. But believe me, we're not there yet."

© 2005 Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc.