What if every time you paid for dinner at an Ethan Stowell Restaurant in the Seattle area, a percentage of your purchase went directly to United Way of King County? That is the purpose behind Network of Giving, a digital platform allowing people to patronize small businesses while supporting their favorite charity at no cost.

United Way is partnering with Network of Giving, whose platform will go live in Seattle on August 30. The platform will usher in a new funding ecosystem that connects financial institutions, merchants, and consumers using technology to strengthen communities while creating value for all stakeholders.

Here’s how it works:

• Download the Network of Giving app to your smartphone.
• Choose from a list of nonprofit organizations you wish to support. United Way of King County is proud to be one of four causes listed on the Network of Giving app, along with Special Olympics Washington, Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington, and Northwest Harvest. If patrons do not select an organization, their donations default to United Way.
• Patronize a local small business with a bank card already loaded onto your device. Locally, Network of Giving’s platform features more than a dozen Ethan Stowell Restaurants, one of our area’s most popular business venues, and a frequent supporter of United Way events.
• That means when you pay for a meal at Ethan Stowell Restaurants, the merchant will route a percentage of your purchase to the nonprofit organization of your choice at no cost.
• You will then be entered to win prizes and double your chances of winning by filling out an anonymous survey of the nonprofit of your choice.

“The Network of Giving is designed to empower people to foster giving through everyday actions and works as a low barrier means to support all cause-related initiatives,” said David Saalfrank, chief evangelist at Network of Giving. “The Network of Giving was envisioned, designed, and built with a paramount purpose: support local businesses and help strengthen communities. It inspires purpose-driven action, thereby supporting humankind around the world—one transaction at a time.”

Seattle and Chicago are the two markets that will launch Network of Giving. United Way sees this as one more way we help make giving effortless.

“Network Of Giving is a win-win-win,” said Jenn Seva, United Way corporate partnerships manager. “You get to enjoy the purchase that you’ve just made, the local business gets your patronage, and United Way gets a donation. Easy!”

The Network of Giving was envisioned, designed, and built with a paramount purpose: support local businesses and help strengthen communities.

David Saalfrank, chief evangelist at Network of Giving

To sign up, click here for the Network of Giving Membership Waiting List and provide your name and email address.  You will receive an email notification with a link to register, and the first 100 members will receive a $50 rebate after two purchases.

For more information about Network of Giving, click here.