Sina Microblog Launches Charity Platform
DoNews, 2/23/12
Chinese internet firm Sina's (Nasdaq: SINA) Weibo microblogging platform has begun open beta testing of its charitable philanthropy platform (gongyi.weibo.com), which aims to bring together individuals in need with charitable individuals and organizations.
The platform's content is divided into five categories: charity education, child assistance, medical care, animal protection, and environmental protection. Project entries provide a project description, name of the proposer, project goal, fundraising target, and project timeline. Users requesting assistance must also submit personal account information for verification that will not be made publicly available. In the initial open beta stage, only official partner organizations can submit projects. Individuals can submit projects in partnership with these organizations or request permission to directly submit via Sina's official Weibo charity account.
Users can filter search results based on location and whether the project seeks money, goods donations, or volunteers as well as whether the project is awaiting approval, in progress, or completed.
Once users choose to contribute, the site requests they provide the size of their donation, real name credentials, mobile phone number, and a personal note. Users who donate will receive "compassion points," and in the right-hand column of the Weibo charity webpage will see their donation history, allowing them to review their own participation based on their project browsing history for the past month.
Payments on the platform are made via third-party payment processor Alipay, and funds are dispersed in partnership with China Youth Development Foundation. The platform is soliciting the participation of media, related organizations, philanthropists, and interested Weibo users.
Projects can last up to 60 days, and project heads must submit timely updates on their progress.
In the past year, Sina Weibo has seen users make an average of 100 daily requests for charitable assistance.
Keywords: Internet Sina microblogging
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