INTERNET, NONPROFIT LEADERS LAUNCH "NETWORK FOR GOOD" TO SUPPORT LOCAL AND NATIONAL CHARITIES

San Francisco, CA - November 19, 2001 - A coalition of companies, nonprofit foundations and associations today unveiled a comprehensive ePhilanthropy portal called "Network for Good" to help charities strengthen their connections with people seeking to donate, volunteer or speak out. Network for Good will help nonprofits expand their reach, connect with more people, build stronger communities and improve their effectiveness at fulfilling their public interest missions.
The online portal can be found at NetworkforGood.org.

Network for Good, an independent, 501(c)(3) organization, was founded by the AOL Time Warner Foundation and AOL, Inc.; the Cisco Foundation and Cisco Systems, Inc.; and Yahoo! Inc., in partnership with over 20 nonprofit foundations and associations who share the desire to foster the informed use of the Internet for civic participation and philanthropy. The Website aggregates content and resources, organizes them and makes them available in one comprehensive, easy-to-use destination.

Network for Good is a coalition to help nonprofit organizations become more effective and efficient. Network for Good will help them further their mission by integrating the full power of the online medium into their own operations such as fundraising, recruitment and advocacy. This new ePhilanthropy portal also incorporates many of the tools and resources of Helping.org, which pioneered online giving and volunteering. In a new survey taken after September 11, a majority of Americans found online giving easier and more convenient than traditional means.

Network for Good builds on the phenomenal rise in online giving and volunteering that took place in response to the events of September 11th and is aimed at making donating, volunteering and other tools available to all charities, big and small, whether they have a Website or not.

Network for Good represents a breakthrough in ePhilanthropy for several reasons:

Citizens will be able to explore and give to the nearly 850,000 charities listed in the GuideStar database, knowing that if they choose to make a credit card contribution the charity they select will receive 100% of their donation. Network for Good will subsidize the transaction and credit card costs of all donations.

A database of tens of thousands of volunteer opportunities provided by VolunteerMatch helps community service organizations throughout the nation recruit volunteers. Interested volunteers can search for volunteer opportunities close to their homes or in areas where they may be traveling. Numerous topics from 27 different categories are available for searching, including advocacy and human rights, women's and children's issues, and community and crisis support. Volunteers can also locate 'virtual volunteer' opportunities and volunteer from their home or through the Internet.

Network for Good provides a number of ways for individuals to speak out online, including a search option to locate and communicate with an elected official or media contact, information on steps to becoming an online activist, and additional resources to contact to further pursue personal interests.

Network for Good will also help charities become more accountable and help donors make more informed giving decisions by providing critical information about each charity, such as descriptions of programs, financial information, ratios of administrative costs to programs and boards of directors.
Steve Case, Chairman of AOL Time Warner, said: "Network for Good represents an unprecedented alliance of industry and nonprofit leaders. By combining the passion, expertise and grass-roots affiliations of our nonprofit partners and the reach, resources and Internet capabilities of our corporate founders, we will be able to make giving, volunteering and speaking out on issues as central a part of the Internet as shopping or getting e-mail."

John Morgridge, Chairman of Cisco Systems, Inc., said: "We want the philanthropic sector to realize the full benefit of the Internet's multiplier effect. Network for Good will make more nonprofits more central to more people's lives while helping consumers easily and conveniently connect to the causes they care about the most."

Jerry Yang, Co-Founder and Chief Yahoo! of Yahoo! Inc., said: "The Internet played a powerful role in helping people access timely information, communicate with loved ones and find ways to participate in relief efforts following the events of September 11th. Network for Good extends this role by expanding online giving and reinforcing the wave of volunteerism that is sweeping our country."

Thomas K. Reis, Program Director of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which has provided funding for Network for Good, said: "The Internet and nonprofit coalition that makes up Network for Good will play a critical role in developing the information and infrastructure that is needed to support positive change in society. By making it easy for individuals and nonprofits to connect with their communities, their partners, and the knowledge they need to make a difference, Network for Good truly multiplies the opportunities for good works."

Network for Good includes a vast network of supporters and partner organizations from the philanthropic sector it will serve, including The Ad Council, The American Red Cross, America's Promise, Benton Foundation, The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, ePhilanthropyFoundation.org, GuideStar, INDEPENDENT SECTOR, Leadership Conference Education Fund, National Mentoring Partnership, National Urban League, NetAid, PipeVine, Points of Light Foundation, PowerUP, SHiNE, StargazerNET.net, TechSoup, The Urban Institute/National Center for Charitable Statistics, VolunteerMatch, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and YouthNOISE.

Sara E. Melendez, President and CEO, INEDPENDENT SECTOR, said: "NFG will make the Internet as valuable to community nonprofits as it has been for the big charities. This is a welcome next step to bringing every community organization online."