Method and apparatus for assigning value to an item donated to an on-line charitable auction or fund raising event
First Claim
1. In a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, a method comprising:
- (A) hosting a charitable auction associated;
(B) maintaining data identifying each of a plurality of entities participating as beneficiaries of the auction; and
(C) providing at least one of the plurality of entities with credit for an item offered through the charitable auction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses methods, systems, and program code that enable a nonprofit organization to manage its fundraising activities online. Disclosed are methods and systems for providing online hosting of fundraising auctions, and auction services such as maintaining donor/bidder registries, bid tracking, processing credit cards, and auction closeout activities. Also disclosed are a plurality of on-line, web-based tools, including tools for: 1) building a customized homepage reflecting the look and feel of the nonprofit organization; 2) building a customized catalog that allows for easy addition of items and pictures; and 3) enhanced email messaging that lets a nonprofit organization reach its constituents. According to the invention, the system enables an auction administrator to enable, at the global event level or on a per item basis, the ability for donors and/or buyers in an auction to assign either the value of an item or the final selling price of an item to a specific chapter of an organization or to a specific organization when multiple organizations are participating in a common auction. Alternatively, a buyer or donor can specify a fraction or percentage of the value or selling price such that multiple causes, chapters, or organizations may receive partial credit on the donation or sale of an item.
89 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, a method comprising:
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(A) hosting a charitable auction associated;
(B) maintaining data identifying each of a plurality of entities participating as beneficiaries of the auction; and
(C) providing at least one of the plurality of entities with credit for an item offered through the charitable auction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program product for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having embodied therein program code comprising:
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(A) program code for maintaining an online accessible user-interface to a memory associated with a charitable auction;
(B) program code for receiving data describing an item to be donated to the auction through the online accessible user-interface; and
(C) program code for receiving data identifying an entity to which credit for the item donated will be given. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of communicating with one or more other processes operatively connectable to the network, apparatus comprising:
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(A) program logic for offering at least on item for auction;
(B) program logic for maintaining, in a memory associated with the auction, data identifying;
(i) the item, (ii) a current bid for the item, and (iii) at least one of a plurality of beneficiary entities associated with the auction to which credit for a winning bid price of the item will be given; and
(C) program logic for crediting one of the plurality of beneficiary entities with at least a portion of the winning bid price of the item. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. In a computer usable memory, a data structure for enabling an entity associated with a auction to be credited with at least a portion of the value of item auctioned as part of the charitable auction, the data structure comprising:
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(A) data identifying an item donated to the charitable auction;
(B) data associating the charitable auction; and
(C) data identifying at least one of a plurality of entities associated with the auction to which at least a portion of the value of the item donated may be credited. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification