US woman launches charity fundraising website

Written by Matthew Carter

A US woman has set up a new online charity fundraising platform.

Filanthropists.com was launched by Filomena Laforgia last month with a view to selling products in an online shopping mall environment for the benefit of non-profit organisations, DM News reports.

Designed by web development firm Hudson Horizons, the idea for the website came to Ms Laforgia after her son Dean was diagnosed with autism in 2006.

She realised that creating a single product in aid of autism-related charities would not stimulate enough charity fundraising, and instead established the website with knowledge obtained while working for audio book retailer Audible.

The website states: "Filanthropists.com provides a way to engage in fundraising through e-commerce and as a way of finding like-minded partners with whom to explore and build business opportunities."

Promoted with the slogan Shoppers With A Cause, the site has already attracted interest from PETA, Autism Speaks and SAVE.

The charity fundraising website features a number of product categories, including fashion accessories, sports equipments, stationary, toys, books and edibles.