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Charitable
Program
This
program is part and parcel of our affiliate programs, so we presume that
you've looked at them (if not, click.HERE.to
do that now; opens in a new window), understand one or both of them and
appreciate the win-win-win philosophy behind the site as a whole.
The three "winners," as we see them, are:
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Our visitors,
who get free, one-click access to information that will be interesting,
beneficial and useful in making their travel and/or dining plans;
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Our advertisers,
who make that information available and get new customers;
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Our affiliates,
who can earn a small or large monthly payment.
Now we
can add a fourth set of winners to that mix: the charities or nonprofit
groups that will benefit from this part of the program.
How
It Works
Each
year, we set aside up to 10% of the total sales from both affiliate programs,
which we then distribute to charitable organizations and other nonprofit
groups whose supporters have worked with us during that year in either
of the affiliate programs.
When
affiliates who are Official Members register, they have the option of designating
one nonprofit organization to be a beneficiary, and a special code is assigned
to their Affiliate Number. Other affiliates, whether they're Official
Members or not, who choose that same organization get that same code.
(Affiliates who don't choose a beneficiary when they initially sign up
may do so later; once they've made their selection, it can be changed once
a year.)
ONLY
Official Members (those who have rated at least 25 previously unrated restaurants)
may make the initial designation of an organization. To
see the current list, click HERE
(opens in a new window).
At
the end of each calendar year, we separate and aggregate the sales generated
by all affiliates with the same code and pay each organization a percentage
of their total sales according to this schedule:
| % |
Total
Annual Sales |
% |
Total
Annual Sales |
| 1% |
$2,500
to $4,999.99 |
6% |
$35,000
to $49,999.99 |
| 2% |
$5,000
to $9,999.99 |
7% |
$50,000
to $69,999.99 |
| 3% |
$10,000
to $14,999.99 |
8% |
$70,000
to $89,999.99 |
| 4% |
$15,000
to $24,999.99 |
9% |
$90,000
to $99,999.99 |
| 5% |
$25,000
to $34,999.99 |
10% |
$100,000
and up |
(Because
we launched the affiliate program in June of 2005, we've reduced the levels
for 2005 to 40% of those numbers, so $1,000 in aggregate annual sales would
qualify for the 1% level, $40,000 for the 10% level.)
Qualified
beneficiares would include both recognized charitable organizations (e.g.,
the Red Cross, Cancer Society, Doctors Without Borders, churches, etc.)
and nonprofit service/social/membership groups (e.g., the Jaycees, the
Lions, Zonta, etc., etc.). NOTE: We only mention those as examples
that came quickly to mind, and that should not be taken as endorsements
by us of them or by them of us.
Overseas
affiliates are also welcome to participate; beneficiary groups don't need
to be in the United States. We will also consider organizations and
groups without official nonprofit status on a case-by-case basis.
We
reserve the right to limit what types of organizations will qualify for
this program from time to time, but for now, at least, even your local
Little League team would probably qualify. We also reserve the right
to reject certain types of groups, e.g., hate groups, illegal groups, fraudulent
groups or fraudulent submissions, in our sole discretion. We
also reserve the right to reject activist political groups, conservative,
liberal or middle of the road, again in our sole discretion.
There's
a space on the Affiliate Program application form to designate a beneficiary
and add more information about the group in case it's not well known. (The
"What's This" link there returns to this page.) We'll consider each
designated beneficiary on its own merits.
That's
it. If you decide to join us, welcome aboard, and if not, we trust
you'll find the site increasingly useful and interesting as you make your
travel and dining plans in the months and years ahead and that you'll enjoy
sharing your opinions, as well.
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