Innovation

Ronny Sage's vision for ShoppingGives came from a critical insight he gained during his observation in digital marketing: the immense potential to redirect advertising expenditures toward meaningful social impact. He said: “After years of experience working at a digital marketing agency, I kept seeing a common theme—how do brands connect with the right customers in a more meaningful way? With the U.S. market spending over $200B in advertising and $25B in digital advertising, I thought there has to be a better way for businesses to spend this money while still acquiring the right customer.” This innovative approach led to the foundation of ShoppingGives, a platform designed to make charitable giving a part of the shopping experience. By aligning marketing investments with philanthropy, ShoppingGives enables brands to build authentic relationships with their customers, drive their business objectives, and contribute positively to society all at once.

Inspiration

Ronny Sage said: ”The movement of conscious commerce has grown exponentially over the last ten years and we recognized the growing desire among consumers to align their purchases with their values. We wanted to bridge the gap between consumer spending and charitable giving, making it easier for individuals to support causes they believe in while shopping with their favorite brands.”

With further investigation, Sage and his team identified a gap in the market where cause marketing was often too costly for brands and disconnected from the consumer’s influence on charitable choices. ShoppingGives was born out of the need to democratize the process, allowing consumers to directly support their preferred causes through their purchases, thereby transforming everyday shopping into a vehicle for social change.

Overall impact

As ShoppingGives has grown and evolved, so too has its impact on the world of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. Initially launched in 2015 as an affiliate model, ShoppingGives has transformed into a comprehensive donation platform. This platform not only integrates seamlessly with major eCommerce systems like Shopify, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and BigCommerce but also significantly amplifies the scope of charitable giving. For instance, through its innovative Social Impact Stack, ShoppingGives has managed to route over $5 million to various charitable causes since its inception, directly benefiting sectors such as education, environmental conservation, and disaster relief.

Mr. Ronny Sage highlights the technological advancements, "As we evolved from an affiliate model to a full donation platform, we expanded our capability to support a fully customized donation strategy that aligns with a brand’s marketing strategy for both eCommerce and in-store experiences." This evolution is crucial in understanding the depth of ShoppingGives' commitment to making philanthropy accessible and impactful.

Further extending its influence, ShoppingGives has optimized its relationships with nonprofit organizations. "We have evolved to work more directly with nonprofit organizations, helping them streamline their existing corporate partnerships and discover new partnership opportunities based on shared audiences," explains Sage. This strategic shift has not only enhanced operational efficiencies for nonprofits but has also fostered new avenues for funding, thereby broadening their impact on communities.

Business benefit

Integrating with ShoppingGives offers businesses a unique opportunity to directly contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Through this innovative platform, companies can seamlessly incorporate philanthropy into their consumer interactions, enhancing brand loyalty and elevating their corporate social responsibility profile.

Support for SDG 2: Zero Hunger

ShoppingGives enables businesses to support initiatives aimed at eradicating hunger through partnerships with global and local charities focused on food security and sustainable agriculture. For example, by using ShoppingGives, a company can direct a portion of each transaction to organizations that provide meals to undernourished populations, support sustainable farming in developing countries, or aid in disaster relief efforts where food scarcity is acute. This direct alignment allows companies to contribute meaningfully to reducing hunger worldwide, while also engaging customers who value social responsibility.

Enhancing SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Furthermore, ShoppingGives exemplifies the essence of SDG 17, which promotes partnerships to achieve sustainable development. The platform facilitates collaborations between businesses and an array of nonprofits, creating a network of shared goals and resources. By enabling such partnerships, ShoppingGives helps to amplify the impact of collective efforts, fostering a global community united in tackling urgent human and environmental challenges.

The platform also offers analytics and insights into the effectiveness of these partnerships, allowing companies to make data-driven decisions that enhance their contributions to these global goals. Through these mechanisms, ShoppingGives not only provides businesses with a competitive edge but also contributes significantly to societal and environmental well-being. This innovative approach demonstrates how integrating business operations with global development goals can lead to substantial progress in addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues.

Social and environmental benefit

ShoppingGives, as a transformative platform that fosters a socially responsible shopping experience, connects merchants, nonprofits, and consumers in a circle of positive impact. By enabling charitable donations with every transaction, it amplifies the benefits to both society and the environment. By supporting various philanthropic organizations, ShoppingGives addresses issues ranging from education and health to environmental conservation. This approach elevates the quality of life and urges the need for social justice.

The platform empowers consumers to choose which charities to support, giving each purchase more meaning and purpose. This active participation encourages more thoughtful consideration of the brands consumers support, favoring those that mirror their values. ShoppingGives offers merchants a straightforward avenue to demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility, fostering consumer trust and loyalty. Through its innovation, ShoppingGives not only elevates brands in the eyes of its customers but also contributes significantly to environmental conservation efforts, supporting organizations dedicated to safeguarding wildlife, preserving forests, and promoting clean water initiatives. These actions collectively work towards reducing environmental degradation and encouraging sustainable development practices.

Moreover, by facilitating support for nonprofits, ShoppingGives indirectly stimulates economic growth, as many of these organizations play crucial roles in local community development through job creation. In essence, ShoppingGives redefines shopping donation, proving that commerce, philanthropy, and social responsibility can be intricately linked to create a world where every purchase is a step towards a more equitable and sustainable future.

Interview

Ronny Sage, CEO