Icon: the definitive list from Intelligent Giving

Stealth giving

POCKETS EMPTY? NOT TO WORRY: there are painless ways to give. Just don't fib yourself this is "giving to charity"; it's the icing on the cake. Click the links that interest you or just scroll down.

 Empty pocket
Help charities by:
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 Shopping online
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 Bidding online
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 Using my credit card
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 Shopping ethically
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 Using my computer
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 Downloading music

Searching the web

If you use the following search sites and click on an advertiser on the results page, you'll generate a penny or two for charities. Not sure it's worth the effort but anyway…
The bees knees
 Charity Safe
Easy-to-use site powered by Google, which donates 75 per cent of profits to the most popular charity nominated by users each month. Click to visit web site
Everyclick
Easy-to-use site with 50 per cent of profits going to your nominated charity.
Click to visit web site
Rectifi
Not just search; auction bidding, banking and shopping also generate profits, all of which go to one charity each quarter.
Click to visit web site
Blobs
Limited to science-oriented searches, but Google is behind it and apparently 100 per cent of proceeds go to charity.
Click to visit web site
Dooniz
Affiliated with hundreds of major websites, with commissions from referrals going to a variety of charities. Search, shop and more.
Click to visit web site
Click Now
Click the charity (or other non-profit organization) you like, and you'll be re-directed to a special search page, specifically for that charity. It's raised over £100k since 2005.
Click to visit web site
 

Shopping online

Shopping via these sites sends a snifter of goodwill to good causes.
The bees knees
 Shop for Charity
Click the links to your favourite shops, buy something from them, and up to 10 per cent of the sale value goes to the charity of your choice. Nice and easy...
Click to visit web site
Give or Take
Like Shop for Charity, except you can choose to keep the money instead of giving it away. It seems to work, and there's an impressive range of both shops and charities on offer.
Click to visit web site
U Shop U Care
A bigger setup than Shop for Charity, but you have to create an account. They give shoppers money back too.
Click to visit web site
The Giving Machine
Register, choose a charity from the list and start shopping. Every time you click through to one of the online shops and buy something, around five per cent of the sale value will be donated.
Click to visit web site
 
      Can't be bothered with all this online faffing around? Then why not try a real life charity shop? Find your nearest at Yell. The more discerning reader might also like to peruse Alain de B'Argain's charity shop reviews.

Bidding online

Though not normally associated with kindness and goodwill, even online auctions will let you give as you spend...sometimes.
The bees knees
 eBay
The ribbon symbol next to an item means that the eBay vendor will give something to charity on the auction's completion. The amount varies.
Click to visit web site
Rectifi
If you can work out how to use it, this site gives money to charity if you buy something from eBay.
Click to visit web site
CQ Out
Don't bother. Nobody knows how this site works.
Click to visit web site

Using my credit card

Trying to shed their reputation as purveyors of evil, credit card companies want you to know that there are lots of cards out there that make a small donation for every pound you spend, at no cost to you. Visit our credit card page for the latest deals.

Shopping ethically

We all know that buying ethically is a good idea. But be careful - lots of people pushing ethical shops online have some curious ideas. Are all companies that sponsor the Republican party really unethical?
The bees knees
 Gooshing
From the folk who brought you The Good Shopping Guide comes a search engine to find ethical companies. But be warned: some of the criteria are frankly strange.
Click to visit web site
Ethiscore
From Ethical Consumer magazine. Slightly obscure ratings on the ethical standing of companies. Can someone tell us why 'Banned from Michigan University' is a bad thing?
Click to visit web site
Ethical Junction
A pre-screened list of ethical companies in the UK. The criteria for choosing these are, again, unclear.
Click to visit web site
Get Ethical
A limited range of ethical products, but not if you're into jewellery. Sold direct.
Click to visit web site
Sure Fish
Run by Christian Aid's internet provider, this site has some excellent ethical shopping recommendations and links to lots of sites. It lets you make up your own mind on what is ethical, and what isn't.
Click to visit web site

Using my computer

Your humble computer can be used to solve the problems of the world. Well some of them. Look here...
The bees knees
 Climateprediction.net Trying to predict climate change is difficult - but you can help. By making use of your computer when it lies idle, a program (8Mb, Windows only)) downloadable from the BBC links your machine to thousands of others, making it part of a massive supercomputing effort.
World Community Grid
Using the same supercomputing network principle as the BBC project, this project does research into lots of different things, like trying to find a cure for cancer.
Click to visit web site
Fold@home
Behold! PCs and the PlayStation 3 will discover the intricacies of protein-folding while you're off nursing your thumbs.
Click to visit web site

Downloading music

Maybe music really can change the world....
The bees knees
 Big Noise Music Download music and give pennies as you do it. Oxfam were the first to offer this.
Click to visit web site
War Child Music
The same principle as Big Noise Music, except your downloads support War Child. War Child Music also organizes charity concerts.
Click to visit web site