History of ePhilanthropy (Foundation)

In the dynamic and often unpredictable landscape of the World Wide Web's early days, a crucial need emerged for ethical standards and best practices in online philanthropy. Recognizing this gap, a group of committed individuals, spearheaded by Ted Hart, rose to the challenge in 2000, creating the ePhilanthropy Foundation. Hart, a driving force alongside the founding President and CEO of Network for Good, Chris Sinton, recognized the potential for positive change the Internet held and the imperative for responsible practices to establish trust and ensure its success.

Among the influential figures shaping this movement included Mark Banbury, Matt Bauer, Vinay Bhagat, Jon Carson, Michael Cervino, Fred Fournier, Darian Rodriguez Heyman, Nancy Johnson, Mike Johnston, Philip King, Jay Love, Steve MacLaughlin, Bill McGinly, Andrew Mosawi,  Bob Ottenhoff, David Phillips, Jason Potts, Ric Pratte, AJ Robinson,  Bo Rice, Charles Riess, Michael Schreiber, Charles Schultz, Shirley Sexton, Steve Sterba, Mark Sutton, Ken Weber.

Additionally, key representatives from founding partners such as AOL Time Warner Foundation, Yahoo!, Cisco Foundation, and Network for Good brought their collective expertise and resources to the table.

Beyond these notable names, numerous dedicated professionals from diverse nonprofit and for-profit organizations joined forces, contributing their unique perspectives and experiences. This collaborative leadership, fueled by a shared passion for harnessing the Internet's potential for positive social impact, transformed the ePhilanthropy Foundation into a powerful force for good.

At the time, the organization's global perspective was unique. Few entities were focused on the intersection of the social impact sector and the Internet with a non-U.S.-centric approach.

The organization offered educational conferences, seminars, e-learning courses, and a variety of publications to nonprofits for their development. Examples of these publications include “Fundraising on the Internet” (Jossey-Bass, November 2001), “Nonprofit Internet Strategies” (Wiley, March 2005) and “Major Donors” (Wiley, August 2007), among others, alongside additional free resources. The ePhilanthropy Foundation actively promoted ethical online philanthropic practices, encouraging donors to use the Internet to support their favorite charities. Thanks to local partners, The eTour, one of the ePhilanthropy Foundation's initiatives, successfully brought together thousands of professionals around the world, with events organized in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, India, Italy, and South Africa. These events were led by certified “E-Philanthropy Master Trainers” aka ePMTs, and were credited with having played a major role in democratizing best practices in online philanthropy worldwide and contributing to widespread adoption of the web for charitable giving.

Concluding its activities in 2008, the ePhilanthropy Foundation forged a lasting legacy through collaboration with groups such as NTEN, the Direct Marketing Association of Washington, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and many others. It laid the groundwork for ethical online giving, ensuring the Internet's role as a secure and trustworthy platform for charitable contributions. Today, the exponential growth of online philanthropy worldwide serves as a testament to just how pioneering the ePhilanthropy Foundation and its contributors were. The collective dedication and vision of those involved continue to reverberate, shaping the landscape of online philanthropy with enduring impact.