Student-created web site Giveteam.org generates money for charity

February 14, 2006

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.

During winter break, Scott Fortmann-Roe ’08 created Giveteam.org (http://giveteam.org), a non-profit website designed to generate money for charity. While pursuing a different web development project over break, Fortmann-Roe discovered that it was “relatively simple… to become an affiliate of online merchants. I realized how potentially beneficial to so many people a site such as Give Team would be, and so I rushed to implement it before I left.”

When someone uses Giveteam.org to access an online merchant such as eBay or Amazon.com, the merchant will return from two to twenty percent of the purchase price to Giveteam.org, money which is then donated to charity. Over fifty different online merchants are already represented. At no extra cost to the customer, they can not only receive their merchandise, but also improve the lives of others.

Sample advertisement

While there are other sites that work like Giveteam.org, Fortmann-Roe informed the Gazette, “they take a cut from the money generated, which I find repugnant.” All of the money raised through Giveteam.org goes to Direct Relief International or Cantare Children’s Choirs, two “unpolitical, nonreligious, and unlikely to offend charities… [that] can be supported by everyone.”

Fortmann-Roe also has personal reasons for wanting to support both charities. In the case of Direct Relief, “This summer I was severely sick. I had never known before what it was like to lose control of your body… to become an invalid completely dependent on others. I have become very interested in health care issues, especially for people less fortunate than me. Direct Relief is a charity that is designed to bring health care and supplies to such people, and I feel that the work they are doing is very important.”

The Cantare Children’s Choirs are based in Fortmann-Roe’s hometown of Oakland, California where “the schools are destitute and cannot afford to give their students anything else than mass produced, basic instruction in over crowded classrooms. Kids need more than that, they need to be able to dream… they also need something safe to do after school… the Cantare singing program gives them both of these things.”

Participation is crucial to the website’s success. “The Give Team relies on a critical mass; me by myself using it will generate maybe $15 a year. But if you use, you email it to your friends, their friends email it to their friends… then we would be doing some good. If we can get people to type giveteam.org/amazon instead of amazon.com, the results will be amazing.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous Story

How was the Parrish Lounge “Dedicated in May 2006”?

Next Story

Ben Folds selected for Large Scale Event

Latest from Sports

Athlete of the Week: Lilly Goldberg ’28

Lilly Goldberg ’28 is a first-year pitcher on the Swarthmore softball team. The Pittsford native had a strong performance on Tuesday against Franklin & Marshall College, when she made a season-high fourteen strikeouts in seven innings. Goldberg only allowed one hit against

Athlete of the Week: Danny Castle ’27

​Swarthmore sophomore Danny Castle ’27, hailing from Highland Park, IL, has rapidly emerged as a standout in the Garnet men’s swimming program. Specializing in freestyle and backstroke events, Castle has already etched his name in the college’s record books. At the 2024

The 2025 NWSL Season Kicks Off

Women’s soccer is back and better than ever! On Friday, March 14, the first whistle blew to kick off the opening weekend of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season. Orlando Pride, the returning league champions, made a bold statement at

Spring Training Stories

As a true sports fan might turn their attention to the craziness of March Madness, another sport is beginning to ramp up: baseball. The Major League Baseball’s (MLB) preseason, also known as Spring Training, has been in full swing for a few
Previous Story

How was the Parrish Lounge “Dedicated in May 2006”?

Next Story

Ben Folds selected for Large Scale Event

The Phoenix

Don't Miss