by A. South

Created on: November 20, 2008

In today's tough business climate, Americans are holding on to their dollars. The same families that were signing mortgages without a second thought five years ago are now rationing latte purchases. The effect of the economy's unpredictability is far-reaching, and is steadily trickling down to charitable donations.

A philanthropy survey by Giving USA revealed Americans donated 306.4 billion in 2007. That's a big number, but after inflation it's just a one percent gain since the previous year.

There's no way to know for sure what lies ahead, but the 366 charities surveyed by Giving USA said they had concerns about how the 2008 economy would impact giving.

A recession is a time to be resourceful and look for new and creative ways to save - and make - a buck.

BidfromtheHeart.com is an innovative way for charities to raise money and awareness about their cause. BidfromtheHeart.com is an online auction site where people can find a good deal and help out a good cause with the click of a mouse.

It works like eBay and Amazon except sales don't just benefit the seller. With every purchase, at least 25 percent of the bid fee goes to one of their charity partners.

BidfromtheHeart.com charity partners include Big Brothers Big Sisters, Autism Society of America and the ASPCA and any valid charity can be added to their list of national and local non-profit organizations.

Since there is no fee for a charity to be added to the site, BFTH is a risk-free way for an organization to raise money. And a risk-free opportunity is exactly what we want the most these days.

It's unclear what long-term impact of the mortgage crisis will have on the economy, but that uncertainty is causing everyone to tighten the grip on their wallets. What is clear is that America is in the midst of tough economic times. Private and corporate donors are spending money more cautiously, including the money they spend helping out non-profit organizations. Many organizations are cutting events, suspending fundraising or shrinking their reach.

Instead of scaling back, look farther! Find new and innovative ways to raise money. BidfromtheHeart.com is a fresh approach to fundraising. It helps customers find a good deal and help others.

BidfromtheHeart.com is a great solution for charities to build their resources, especially in an economy when dollars are hard to come by, no matter how good your cause.

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