Dawn Center Donation Requires A GoodSearch

BROOKSVILLE - The harshness of the current economy has led to fewer donations and slower cash flow for all charities, particularly the Dawn Center.

State funding has not increased in the last three years while purchases have only gone up in the midst of escalating gas prices.

The domestic abuse shelter is turning to the Web to boost its donation coffers.

GoodSearch is a Yahoo-like search engine that donates one penny per search to a charity of the user's choice. Count the Dawn Center among the more than 62,000 national nonprofit groups.

"The cost of providing services has increased because the cost of everything these days has increased," said Dawn Center spokeswoman Morgan Moeller. "This can be a huge benefit to our organization."

GoodSearch was founded in 2005 by Ken and JJ Ramberg. The latter hosts "Your Business," a small business show that airs on MSNBC.

The siblings have a background in both Web-based business and philanthropy. JJ Ramberg wanted to make sure there was an array of charitable choices available for users. Some like the large-scale organizations, while others focus on their own communities.

"We were very deliberate about that," she said. "We wanted a way for people to choose the charities that are closest to their heart. For some, it's the American Red Cross and others it's their local animal rescue."

The Dawn Center was added to the site's queue in the last two weeks.

In addition to GoodSearch, Internet users also can donate using GoodShop.

The latter was founded late last year. Web-based retailers - such as Wal-Mart, Overstock.com and Amazon - donate a portion of their sales to the user's charity of choice if he or she accesses their sites through GoodShop.

Executive Director Debbie Andrews said she has not laid out a monetary goal because the idea is so new to her, but all of the extra funding - no matter how little the sum - will be put to use.

"To me, it's sound money," she said. "Even if we get $100, that's money we can use for a bus ticket or for a tank of gas. It can add up quickly."

Fifty percent of GoodSearch's advertising revenue goes toward donations, which basically equals one penny per search, said Ramberg.

No user registration is required. To select a charity, type in the name and click on "verify."

The organizations range from Greenpeace to the National Rifle Association.

The employees at the Dawn Center have begun using GoodSearch as their homepage, Andrews said.

Moeller was researching ways for the group to earn additional funds at a time when state funding had leveled. She came across GoodSearch in a newsletter.

After researching further, she was relieved to learn there were no strings. She made her recommendation to Andrews.

"I thought, 'Where was the catch?'" she said. "I searched and I couldn't find a catch."

To learn more, visit www.GoodSearch.com.