With the amount of technology we have at our fingertips, it should be a lot easier to be a charitable person. The internet can often times bring out the worst in people, but here are five LA tech companies that are creating new ways to make a positive impact:
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For the lazy philanthropist, CharityPush makes giving back to the world as easy as pushing a single button. Literally. The company has partnered with a variety of apps to help you donate without spending a cent. For each app download, the app's developers pay CharityPush a fee that goes towards a donation. Currently the platform will plant three trees for impoverished African farmers with every download.
"We want to be a part of the new wave of startups who are using their skills to make a difference in the world," said founder Arthur Chaparyan.
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Sometimes being philanthropic can simply slip your mind. With KarmaPoints you can automatically donate $1 every day to a different charity each week. You can effectively help 52 unique charities a year ranging from meals for the homeless on Thanksgiving to dispensing iodine tabs in Africa.
"We’re re-engineering charitable impact with the 'progress updates' feature," founder David Teitelbaum said. "Our charitable partners will update you on the progress post-campaign, so you know exactly where your money went and how it was used. Then, you can share the amazing impact you made with you friends and inspire millions."
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Dealing with insurance companies can be a soul-sucking —and wallet-emptying— experience. So why not take some of your money back and give it to charity? With Givesurance, donors can receive up to 5 percent cash back on the their auto, home, or commercial insurance payment in the form of a donation credit that can be given to any non-profit organization. You'll be the Robin Hood of the insurance world, taking from the rich and giving to the poor.
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The fast growing LA startup has been everywhere in the past couple months. By creating a raffle-style philanthropic site offering celebrity experiences, Omaze has found a way to encourage people to donate to important causes while injecting some risk and excitement. The current promotions include winning VIP tickets to Colbert's first Late Show and being cast as a zombie in the next Call of Duty video game.
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What's the point of being a good person if the internet doesn't know you're a good person? With Karma, you can link up Airbnb, Craigslist, Facebook, and other sites to create a personalized Karma score based on prior reviews and interactions. Upon downloading the Google Chrome add-on, you can see other users Karma scores directly on the aforementioned sites so you can avoid any sketchy online encounters.
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