Baltimore-Based Charity Rewards Philanthropists For Donations

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—It's a new concept in charitable giving. It's called GiveCorps. It started here in Baltimore last year by two entrepreneurs who are taking the groupon concept to a whole new level.

Mary Bubala reports.

The motto at GiveCorps is "give local, get local."

When you donate small amounts of money to a charity you choose at givecorps.com, you get something in return: a deal or a discount from a local restaurant or merchant.

It "makes me feel better about giving to something and then going out and using the coupon that I get in return," said Sara Lauver.

Lauver donates on the GiveCorps website. Right now she's supporting a healthy lunch program at Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School in East Baltimore.

"I give when I can, and that's what I like about it," said Lauver. "I can choose from $10 to $50, or just be a part of the individual projects as much as I can."

The school is nearing its goal of raising $5,000.

The money will go to new kitchen equipment to help students make healthy lunches for the whole school.

"They get to learn about the entire food system, from how to grow it, how to harvest it, how to prepare it, how to preserve it," said Denzel Mitchell, Baltimore Montessori.

GiveCorps launched last summer and in that short amount of time it has already raised $70,000 for local charities.

Jamie McDonald founded GiveCorps with a partner. Most of the donations are small, and that's the beauty of it.

Give what you can, when you can, to what you want to support.

"Our belief is anyone can be a philanthropist, you don't have to be wealthy to make a big contribution to your community," said McDonald.

The average donation is about $35, and about 500 people give every day.

To learn more about the new giving concept, click here.