eBay Giving Works - eBay Inc.

eBay Giving Works: Helping Causes & Communities

Because most people are not born with visual impairments but rather gradually lose their sight, many people come to the Blind Center of Nevada with some computer skills. Bob Waldorf, Vice President of Operations at Blind Center of Nevada, recognizes this deep pool of talent just waiting to be rediscovered. So he has made it his mission to develop employment opportunities that better serve the strengths of the visually impaired. Working with eBay Giving Works has become an integral part of his strategy.

Today, the Blind Center of Nevada has built an electronic recycling business, collecting pre-owned computers, monitors, and other parts for ultimate sale through eBay Giving Works. From handling the technical aspects of refurbishing computers to keying in eBay sales listings to staffing customer service centers, all positions are held by people with varying degrees of visual impairment.

The recycling business has raised more than $900,000 through eBay Giving Works and all funds are put back into the Center.

Not content with succeeding "only in Vegas," the Blind Center of Nevada is using eBay Giving Works to bring its accomplishments to the rest of the world. Bob Waldorf has taught more than 15 other Blind Centers how they can use computer recycling and eBay Giving Works to create meaningful employment opportunities for blind and visually impaired workers.

Through eBay Giving Works and eBay for Charity, we are connecting customers in the U.S. and U.K. with the causes they care about by offering convenient and trusted ways to give to favorite nonprofits.

Since 2003, these two programs have facilitated fundraising of more than $165 million. Here's how it works: Sellers can donate a percentage of their item's final sale price to a nonprofit organization certified for the program. Buyers can purchase these items, identified by the distinctive blue-and-yellow ribbon, or add a minimum $1 donation at checkout to any eBay purchase paid through PayPal.

Nonprofits can receive donations and sell their own goods for free to raise funds on eBay. And through PayPal, all eBay members can make a direct cash donation at the nonprofit's Donate Now page.

The power of these programs and the eBay community becomes most evident in times of crisis. When the South Asian tsunami hit in 2004, a disaster relief program was quickly established, and, together, eBay, the eBay Foundation and the eBay community contributed more than $6 million to aid the relief effort.