SmartyPig Introduces Custom Fundraising Site, PhilanthroPig

NEW YORK, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartyPig, the leader in the social money space, unveiled today at Finovate Fall 2010 its new product, PhilanthroPig, the safest, easiest and most effective way for non-profits of any size to turn donors into advocates and dramatically expand their fundraising reach and results. The University of Texas will be PhilanthroPig's first customer. The company will launch in closed BETA with UT's 1883 Council in November. A wide release is set for early 2011.

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At just 4% of each donation and no setup fees, monthly fees or custom build costs, PhilanthroPig will give non-profit organizations of any size:

• Proven and audited technology infrastructure to accept both credit card and bank-to-bank donations.
• The ability to brand the site exactly how they see fit, create multiple goals, and use the latest and greatest in Web 2.0 functionality.
• A safe and simple way for advocates to fundraise at the goal level for these organizations, creating a very personal and grassroots experience that operates inside their own social networks.
• Detailed real-time donor reporting and exportation of user data.

"Every goal at every organization has people from both inside and outside its community who believe in it, who want to support it, and who will advocate for it," said SmartyPig CEO Bob Weinschenk. "We are drawing from that sentiment and the power of social networking to go beyond the everyday fundraising thermometer. With PhilanthroPig, the advocate not only donates but helps gather donations from either those who believe in the advocate him or herself, or those who share in the belief of the cause."

Jack Nelson of the University of Texas' 1883 Council calls PhilanthroPig a "game changer" for charitable and non-profit organizations. "It drastically reduces the transaction costs associated with securing a donation," said Nelson. "More importantly, the social media platform increases overall philanthropy by converting one-time donations into a recurring, predictive revenue stream."

Weinschenk added that PhilanthroPig will launch internationally in 2011, and a political fundraising site using the same technology infrastructure is expected to be in place before the Iowa Caucuses.

ABOUT SMARTYPIG

SmartyPig is a consumer finance site where you can earn high interest on your savings goals and get cash back when making a purchase with premium retailers and top travel companies, all while never relying on credit cards. Family and friends can also help achieve financial goals by securely contributing to your account via social networks like Facebook. Launched in April 2008, SmartyPig has proven extremely popular with consumers throughout the U.S. and in Australia where it partnered with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) to launch www.smartypig.com.au. To date, SmartyPig customers have opened savings accounts with more than $500 million in U.S. deposits and have reached more than $300 million in savings goals. The system is based on proprietary, patent-pending technology and features the latest in security standards. SmartyPig's U.S. banking relationship is with BBVA Compass. All funds held on deposit are FDIC insured up to the applicable legal limits. SmartyPig is based in Des Moines, Iowa. For more information on how to get started, please visit http://www.smartypig.com and follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/smartypig.

BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank. Compass Bank, member FDIC.

SmartyPig website: http://www.SmartyPig.com -- SmartyPig blog: http://blog.SmartyPig.com -- 4300 Westown Pkwy, Suite 200 -- West Des Moines, IA 50266 -- Phone: 515-256-2086

Media Contact: Jon Gaskell, SmartyPig -- 515-326-5874 -- [email protected]

SOURCE SmartyPig