Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General Questions

What is Helpfreely.org?

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Helpfreely.org is a charitable not-for-profit project of the Help Freely Foundation, created with the goal of supporting worthy causes all over the world. With Helpfreely.org, giving back is simple and free. To learn how it works, click here.

Who came up with this great project?

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Helpfreely.org is a project of the Help Freely Foundation, with its headquarters located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, and is in the process of growing worldwide! The Help Freely Foundation and Helpfreely.org were started by entrepreneur and philanthropist Guillaume Renault and supported by a dedicated, international team. Helpfreely.org enables people all around the world to help out the causes that matter most to them without having to take anything from their own pocket.

Is the Help Freely Foundation not-for-profit?

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Absolutely! The Help Freely Foundation is an established nonprofit, and the main goal of this charitable project is to lend a free helping hand to thousands of nonprofits worldwide.

It's completely free and secure to use, right?

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Absolutely! Helpfreely.org is committed to making it as easy as possible to give back, so you'll never pay anything extra to participate. Our charitable shops give up part of their marketing funds from each qualifying purchase our users make. The contributions you generate are already included in the normal price of whatever you purchase, which means you'll pay exactly the same whether you contribute to a cause or not. And your online safety is a top priority for us, so we ensure that your personal information is secure while you visit Helpfreely.org. 

If you don't charge anyone, how does the Foundation pay its bills?

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Our Charitable Shops appreciate your business and pay marketing funds for each qualifying purchase our users make. From the percentage or amount displayed on our site, the HF Foundation will then redistribute up to 95% of the funds to your chosen Causes and use the remaining to develop our project. 

Should I sign up?

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We encourage users to sign up (even though it isn't required to participate) as it gives you an enhanced user experience. As a registered user you will have access to your personal Account with advanced features such as detailed information about the funds you raise, increased fundraising power through friend referrals, access to our regular newsletter with news about what's happening at Helpfreely.org, and much more!

Who are the Helpfreely "Heroes"?

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By '"Heroes"' we mean you, the everyday users who make Helpfreely.org possible. Yes, we know we could call you simply "users", but we believe you are much more than that. By taking the step to add a couple extra clicks to your online shopping process, you are making a huge difference to thousands of great causes out there. Isn't that enough of a reason to call you a Hero? We thought so too! :)

How do I create my account?

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Creating an account at Helpfreely.org is super easy! Simply click here and register either through one of your social media accounts or via email. Verify your email account and voilà! You are ready to start shopping and donating to your favorite cause. Don't forget, you can also download the Helpfreely Reminder App so you'll never miss a chance to help while you shop online!

By raising funds when shopping online through Helpfreely.org am I elegible for tax deductions?

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Unfortunately not. Please take into account that users raise funds through their online shopping with our Charitable Shops, but it is Help Freely that converts these funds into donations to give to your chosen causes.

How do I get started?

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To start supporting your favorite charities, you can begin to Shop & Help® or download the HelpfreelyApp™ here, so you'll never miss a chance to help out the causes that matter to you! If you decide to register, you can do so for free and get your Helpfreely.org account here. Sign up quickly using your social media accounts or register normally via email. Registered users will have an enhanced experience and access to advanced features such as detailed information about the funds you raise and the possibility of saving up to 3 nonprofits of your choice to automatically raise funds for them every time you shop online with our Charitable Shops.

I've forgotten my password. What do I do?

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No worries! You can restore your password by simply clicking here!

How can I edit my email notifications?

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Login to your Helpfreely account, go to "Your Data" then click on Change Email Settings link.

Why I can´t register with my e-mail account?

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Some email domains are incompatible with Helpfreely account system. Do not worry! You can also easily register with your social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Google+). Helpfreely is fully compatible with the main e-mail domains such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.

Users

1. General Questions

Should I register for a free account?

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We encourage users to sign up (even though its not required to participate) as it gives you an enhanced user experience. As a registered user you will have access to your Account with great advanced features such as detailed information about the funds you raise, increased fundraising power through friend referrals, access to our regular newsletter with news about what's happening at Helpfreely.org, and much more!

How do I create my account?

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Creating an account at Helpfreely.org is super easy! Simply click here and register either through one of your social media accounts or via email. Verify your email account and voilà! You are ready to start shopping and donating to your favorite cause. Don't forget, you can also download the HelpfreelyApp™ so you'll never miss a chance to help while you shop online!

I work for a charity. How do I access our account?

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To use Helpfreely.org as a charity, you can log in here. If you haven't registered yet, you can easily do so here.

I've forgotten my password. What do I do?

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No worries! You can restore your password by simply clicking here!

Do I have to go through Helpfreely.org every time I make a purchase?

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You don't necessarily have to visit our site to purchase and make a donation through Helpfreely.org. If you decide to use our HelpfreelyApp™, you will be able to visit your favorite online store directly. Simply activate our App to complete a qualifying purchase, and a donation will be made on your behalf. To choose your favorite cause, simply register online and you will be able to pre-select up to 3 causes, track the funds you've raised, and have access to many other advanced features.

How can I increase my funding power?

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Increasing your funding power is easy on Helpfreely.org! On the main page of your Account, you will find a referral link that you can copy and share on your Social Media accounts. Use it to tell your friends about Helpfreely.org, and if they register with us via your link, your main cause will receive an additional donation of 2% of the funds raised by each new user!

I prefer to no longer participate with Helpfreely.org. How can I delete/cancel my Heroe account?

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We're very sad to see you go and hope to see you on board again soon, but we're happy to let you know that deleting your Helpfreely.org account is very straight forward. Just click here and follow the instuctions. If you want to delete a Nonprofit account, please contact directly our support team.

2. Account

Twitter tool

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To make spreading the word quick and easy, we've developed a special tool that allows you to reach out via a Tweet and/or personalized direct message that you can send to all of your Twitter followers with just one click. It's simple and easy to use:

-Log in to your account on Helpfreely.org
https://www.helpfreely.org/admin
-Click on the Twitter logo in the section called Account
-The first message that you see is a public Tweet for your timeline
-If you click "Send a private direct message (DM) to ALL your followers" (selected by default), you can use the tool
-Edit the message as desired. Then click "Tweet and send direct message to ALL FOLLOWERS" to send the message via DM to your ENTIRE list of followers.

If you have any questions, please contact our technical support team: info@helpfreely.org.

How do I edit my account information?

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To edit your account details, simply go to your Account. From there, you can also check the funds you've raised, change your favorite causes, or spread the word about Helpfreely.org anytime you want! Your Account is super simple, user friendly, and completely hassle free to use.

3. Causes

What causes can I support?

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Helpfreely.org works with thousands of registered nonprofits all across the world, and you can support up to three of these great organizations at once! Click here for the full list of nonprofits. If you can't find your charity, let us know. We'll happily look into getting them on board.

I want to change my main cause. How can I do it? 

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Simply log in to your Account and access the Nonprofits section. From there, you will be able to change your causes at any given time. If you wish to, you can also check the funds you've raised and spread the word!

Can I pick a favorite charity to always donate to?

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Absolutely! In your Account, access the Nonprofits tab. From there, you can easily choose up to three (3) different charities and establish the percentage you want to donate to each. You can change this at any given time. If you have no specific favorites, you can also select them randomly by clicking on the "Choose for me" button.

4. Funds

The status of my purchase is pending approval by shop. What does this mean?

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Great! We have successfully tracked your order. Every shop establishes a post-purchase time period for processing. This means that there is a delay between the period you make your purchase and the period we gain access to the funds you raised with that purchase. Your purchase will appear as "Pending" until this processing period has passed and until after we have gained access to the funds you raised. This process can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months, taking into account the period set to allow for possible cancellations, exchanges, and returns. If you'd like us to review your account, feel free to submit a ticket. We´ll be happy to look into it!

The status of my purchase is approved by shops. What does this mean?

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Good! Your purchase has been approved by the shop and the charity of your choice will receive a donation on your behalf very soon. This process could take between 1 to 3 months. If you would like us to review your account, feel free to submit a ticket. We'll be happy to look into it!

The status of my purchase is canceled by shop. What does this mean?

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A cancelled status can happen for a wide variety of reasons. The cancellation of the purchase can be requested by any of the involved parties. In any case, it means it was not an adequate purchase and unfortunately a donation could not be made. For more information, please submit a ticket. We´ll gladly look into answering any questions you may have about your account.

I think I've completed a qualifying purchase, but I can't see my transaction in the Funds section of my Account. What's happening?

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The funds raised doesn't appear in real-time in your Helpfreely admin, it can take a couple of minutes up to 72 hours before being reflected. In case you have made a purchase through Helpfreely and do not see it in your account after a period of 72 hours, you can start a claim for the unrealized donation by filling out the form available here. We recommend that you carefully read the explanatory text before proceeding, in order to verify that you meet all the requirements.

How can I track my funds?

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Registered users can track the funds they've raised by viewing the "Funds" section of their personal Account. You'll have access to detailed information including the date, amount, and status of each contribution you generate through your purchases. If you don't have a Helpfreely.org account, you can still generate funds using the HelpfreelyApp™ and Shop & Help® options but you won't be able to track your funds.

What happens to anonymous donations?

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We are not able to track where anonymous donations come from nor which Nonprofits/Associations receive them. As such, these anonymous funds are redistributed at the discretion of the Help Freely Foundation to the numerous associations registered on Helpfreely.org.

5. Your Data

What does Helpfreely.org do with my data?

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At Helpfreely.org we are committed to protecting your data and making your online safety a top priority. Your data will not be used for commercial purposes nor sold in any way. You can learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

6. Helpfreely App™

What is the HelpfreelyApp™?

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It's the best way to never miss a chance to help your causes! Available for Chrome and Firefox on PC and Mac, the HelpfreelyApp™ is a simple-to-use browser extension that gently reminds you each time you enter one of our Charitable Shops that your purchases can make a real difference for your favorite charities. 

It's completely free, secure, and ad-free, right?

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Of course! The HelpfreelyApp™ is free to use and totally secure, so you won't have to worry about the safety of your personal data. It's also ad-free and unobtrusive, and you'll only notice it when you visit one of our Charitable Shops in order to start raising funds for your favorite causes!

How can I get it?

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To download the HelpFreelyApp™ simply click here to be redirected to the Chrome Store or the Firefox Marketplace. Select our App and click "Add to Chrome" or "Install" accordingly. Now, our icon should be displayed on your toolbar. Make sure you remember to turn it on when you're ready to shop so you never miss a chance to donate to your favorite cause.

I forgot to turn my HelpfreelyApp™ on and already made my purchase. Is there anything I can do now?

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Unfortunately, any purchases completed without using the HelpfreelyApp™ or Shop & Help® won't be elegible for raising funds. Be sure to always have your App turned on when you are ready to shop or click the Shop & Help® option on our site to never miss the chance to make your money go further!

Can I track my funds?

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Sure! Registered users can track the funds they've raised by viewing the Funds section of their personal Control Panel. You'll have access to detailed information including the date, amount, and status of each contribution you generate through your purchases. If you don't have a Helpfreely.org account, you can still generate funds using the HelpfreelyApp™ and Shop & Help® options. However, you won't be able to track your funds.

How can I uninstall the HelpfreelyApp™?

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Uninstalling the HelpfreelyApp™ is super simple! Just go to the drop down menu on the right hand side of your Chrome or Firefox browser toolbar, click on "Tools" and select your "Extensions". Search for the HelpfreelyApp™ extension and click on the trash bin icon if you'd like to remove it completely. When the confirmation notice appears, click "Remove" and the App will be uninstalled.

Nonprofits

1. General Questions

I can't find my charity on your website. Am I eligible to participate?

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All nonprofit organisations are welcome! To raise funds with Helpfreely, your organisation must be officially registered in your country with a Charity Legal Code. Then just register on Helpfreely.org and complete the Public profile, and your organisation will be available for all Helpfreely.org users.

Do you charge nonprofits or their supporters?

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Not at all! Helpfreely.org is committed to making it as easy as possible to give back, so nonprofits and supporters will never pay anything extra to participate. To be an eligible nonprofit, simply register online and provide us with scanned copies of the requested documents. Regarding supporters, the contributions they generate are automatically included in the normal price of whatever they purchase, which will be exactly the same whether they contribute to a cause or not. 

If you don't charge anyone, how do you pay your bills?

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Our Charitable Shops give Helpfreely.org marketing funds for each qualifying purchase our users make. As indicated in our Terms and Conditions, from the amount displayed on our website, we redistribute up to 95% of these funds to your Cause when chosen by our users and use the remaining to keep our project going.

How can I get started?

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It's super simple! If you are an eligible nonprofit organisation, simply register online by clicking here. Fill the sign-in form with basic information and you'll receive a confirmation mail to verify your account. Once your account is verified, complete the public profile of your organisation and share your personalised link to invite all your supporters to join Helpfreely and raise funds for your cause for free. More people joins Helpfreely through your personalised link, more people will raise funds with their shopping online!

I think I've completed a qualifying purchase, but I can't see my transaction in the Funds section of my Account. What's happening?

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If you have made a purchase through Helpfreely and do not see it in your account after a period of 72 hours, you can start a claim for the unrealized donation by filling out the form available here. We recommend that you carefully read the explanatory text before proceeding, in order to verify that you meet all the requirements.

2. Public Profile

How we can activate the Public Profile of our nonprofit?

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To activate the Public Profile of your nonprofit just insert the logo of your organisation, a cover image and a brief description of your activities and projects. You can also add the links to your website and social pages, and embed a video from Youtube or Vimeo. Save the changes and when it's done, go back on top of the page and click on "Profile Status: Put Profile Online". Now your profile is active and you can share your personalised link to invite your supporters to register on Helpfreely and support automatically your nonprofit. If for any reason you want to deactivate your Public Profile, please submit a ticket or Contact Us. We'll be happy to help you!

We prefer to no longer participate with Helpfreely.org. How can we delete our Nonprofit Account?

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We're very sad to see you go and hope to see you on board again soon, but we're happy to let you know that deleting your Helpfreely.org account is very straight forward. Please get in touch with us and we'll be happy to help you through the process!

3. Promo Kit

Twitter Tool

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To make spreading the word quick and easy, we've developed a special tool that allows you to reach out to supporters via a Tweet and/or personalized direct message that you can send to all of your Twitter followers with just one click. It's simple and easy to use:

  1. Log in to your Helpfreely nonprofit account and go to the Promo Kit section: https://www.helpfreely.org/admin/tools
  2. Click Send via Twitter 
  3. Edit the message as you like and send it to all of your followers

  If you need to stop sending DMs to your followers, please follow the steps below:

  1. Log in to the Twitter account you have linked to your Helpfreely nonprofit account
  2. Click on your profile photo icon in the top righthand corner and select Settings
  3. On the Settings page, select Apps from the lefthand menu
  4. Scroll down to find the app called Global Share Messages (look for the Helpfreely logo)
  5. Click on Revoke Access to stop sending DMs from your Helpfreely account

If you have any questions, please contact our technical support team at info@helpfreely.org.

Facebook Tab and Personalised Link

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If you have at least 2.000 followers on your Facebook page, make it simple for your followers to join Helpfreely.org to support your cause through a special tab on your Facebook page:

- Log in to your organisation's account on Helpfreely.org and go to the Promo Kit section https://www.helpfreely.org/admin/tools
- Scroll down to the section called Add the Helpfreely.org Page Tab to your Facebook
- Click on the dark blue "Add Page Tab" button.

Personalised Link

Another simple way to invite your followers is the Personalised link: share it everywhere: Social networks, emails, sms and Whatsapp, also at offline events! Every time a follower registers through your personalised link, he will automatically support your nonprofit with his online shopping. You can find your Personalised Link in the home page of your Control Panel or below the Facebook Tab tool.

QR Code

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Use this QR-Code to direct your audience to your nonprofit's public Helpfreely.org profile. Display it anywhere you want to invite people to support your nonprofit on Helpfreely.org.

E-mail templates and Post text

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With these email templates, you can easily invite your supporters and organization members to support your cause via Helpfreely.org. For each user that registers because of your referral your organization will receive a fundraising bonus of +3% based the funds that user raises, no matter which worthy causes they choose to support.

4. Donation list

Donation list

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In this section, you can see all the funds that have been raised for your nonprofit. They are organized into the following 5 categories:

-Pending approval
-Approved by shops
-Available for payment
-Donations paid
-Canceled funds

-Pending approval:
These funds have been detected by our services and submitted for approval to the shop(s).

-Approved by shops:
The shop(s) have approved these funds for future payment.

-Available for payment:
Helpfreely has received payment of these funds from the shop(s), making them now available for your nonprofit to receive.

-Donations paid:
Your nonprofit has already received payment of these funds from Helpfreely.

-Canceled funds:
These are funds for which Helpfreely never received payment because they were never approved by the shop(s). For more information about these funds, please write us at info@helpfreely.org and get in touch with support for that shop.

The status of my donation is pending aproval. What does this mean?

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Great! We have successfully tracked an order. Every shop establishes a post-purchase time period for processing. This means that there is a delay between the period when you make your purchase and the period when we gain access to the funds you raised with that purchase. Your purchase will appear as "Pending" until this processing period has passed and we have gained access to the funds you raised. This process can take anywhere between 3 to 6 months, taking into account the period set to allow for possible cancelations, exchanges, and returns. If you'd like us to review your account, feel free to submit a ticket. We´ll be happy to look into it!

The status of my donation is approved by shops. What does this mean?

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Very good! The related purchase has been accepted by the store and we should have access to the funds very soon. This process can last up to 6 months. If you want us to review your case specifically, do not hesitate to send us a ticket. We´ll be happy to help you!

The status of my donation is available for payment. What does this mean?

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Congratulations! The donation has been fully processed by our system and your payment has been approved. Remember that you have to reach a minimum of $/€25 (or another currency) on your account in order for us to request your funds to be valid and for the funds to be "available to collect".

The status of my donation is canceled by the shop. What does this mean?

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The cancelled status can occur by request of any of the parties involved. Unfortunately, it means that the related purchase will not be processed and the donation will not be made. For more information, please write us a ticket. We´ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

5. Finances

Payments requirements

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In the "Finances" section of your admin, you will see all of the funds for which you can request payment, as well as any previous payment requests you have already made.

To request payment of funds:
-You must have a minimum balance in raised funds per currency as detailed in the following table.
-Your payment details must be provided and up-to-date in the "Your Data" section of your nonprofit account.
Transfers in Euros to SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) countries will be made via bank transfer.
For all other currencies and accounts located outside of the SEPA area, payments will be made via Paypal.
If your payment details are incomplete, we will not be able to make any payments.

All payment requests are processed at the beginning of the following month.

Once you receive your payment, you can request a receipt/proof of payment in this same section of your account. 

What are the Help Freely Foundation's fees?

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Help Freely Foundation retains a Fee of all funds to be paid to each Cause in order to cover administrative and running costs for the Foundation. Said Fee is calculated based on the Cause's HelpRank at the time of the payment requests, resulting in a Fee of 5% for a HelpRank greater than or equal to 6 points, a Fee of 8% for a HelpRank between 4 and 5.99 points, a Fee of 15% for a HelpRank between 2 and 3.99 points, and a Fee of 25% for a HelpRank of less than 2 points.

6. HelpRank

What is HelpRank?

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Indicator of your current fundraising strength at Helpfreely - The higher it is, the more funds you will raise.

HelpRank is updated every 24 hours and calculated according to an algorithm based on many factors related to your involvement on the Helpfreely platform, such as the frequency with which you share you personal link, your use of our social tools, your ability to get your Heroes to add the HelpfreelyApp™ and much more.

 

In other words, the more active and involved you are with Helpfreely, the greater your HelpRank will be. Your fund raising with us will increase exponentially and permanently.

What can you do to increase it?

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Here are some tips to increase your HelpRank:

 

  • Add the HelpfreelyApp™ to the Chrome or Firefox navigator of all the computers you use in your association and at home.

  • Your first Heroes are within your reach: volunteers, collaborators, employees, relatives and close friends of your association. Invite all of them via your personal link.

  • With just 2 clicks, use the social tools that you find in the section “Promo Kit” It is advisable to make use of our Twitter Tool 2 or 3 times a year.

  • Share your personal link frequently on all the communication channels you can think of: social networks, dedicated newsletter, personalized video on YouTube, email signatures, web page, blog, etc.

  • Always, always, always encourage your Heroes to add the HelpfreelyApp™ to Chrome or Firefox on all their computers. Without it, they will not be able to raise funds for your Cause.

  • Pay attention to our newsletters, add our email address (info@helpfreely.org) to your contacts list and actively participate in the events that are proposed in them.

  • Disseminate information about your activity on Helpfreely, indicating the number of Heroes you get and the total raised so far. Give thanks on social media to your Heroes and to the Charitable Shops that raised great funds to your Cause, etc.

7. Help Freely Foundation's Bonuses

What is the Referral Bonus?

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Nonprofits can also receive Help Freely Foundations' donations based on their referred Heroes. To qualify for this bonus, they must maintain a minimum of 4 new referenced heroes per month. The more they refer new Heroes, the more Referral Bonuses they will get!

What is the HelpRank Bonus?

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Nonprofits can also receive Help Freely Foundations' donations, based on their HelpRank. To qualify for this kind of bonus, the Nonprofits require a HelpRank of at least 5 points.

What is the Welcome Bonus?

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When a Nonprofit creates an account at Helpfreely.org and ends up publishing its profile, it will receive a welcome bonus of $1,€1 or £1 directly from the Help Freely Foundation.

Legends

1. General Questions

What is a Helpfreely.org legend?

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Our "Legends" are amazing people who are just as committed as we are to making Helpfreely.org a true success. These motivated influencers help us spread the word to recruit supporters for all our causes and help our project have a strong impact. They are concerned world citizens who share the Helpfreely belief that every little bit counts and together we can make a real difference in our communities and the world. To learn more about our "Legends", please click here. 

Do Helpfreely.org "Legends" participate for free?

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Absolutely! All our Helfreely.org "Legends" share our mission of making a difference by supporting different nonprofits. They want to help us spread the word about Helpfreely.org to empower everyone to support worthy causes across the world.

I want to take part. Who is eligible to be a Legend?

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Do you strive to make a difference and feel you have the power to influence your peers to do the same? If you're committed to the cause and are ready to encourage meaningful change then get in touch! We'd love to have a chat with you!

2. Public Profile

I want to deactivate my Legend Public Profile temporarily. How can I do so?

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Please know that you will be able to deactivate your Public Profile temporarily for up to 1 month. Past this time, it will be automatically canceled. To proceed to the deactivation of your Public Profile, please submit a ticket or Contact Us. We'll be happy to help you! 

I prefer to no longer participate with Helpfreely.org. How can I delete my Legend Account?

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We're very sad to see you go and hope to see you on board again soon, but we're happy to let you know that deleting your Helpfreely.org account is very straight forward. Please get in touch with us and we'll be happy to help you through the process!

3. Recruit Heroes

Twitter Tool

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To make spreading the word quick and easy, we've developed a special tool that allows you to reach out via a Tweet and/or personalized direct message that you can send to all of your Twitter followers with just one click. It's simple and easy to use:

-Log in to your Legend account on Helpfreely.org and go to the section called Recruit Heroes
https://www.helpfreely.org/admin/tools/
-Click on the blue "Send via Twitter" button at the bottom
-The first message that you see is a public Tweet for your timeline
-If you click "Send a private direct message (DM) to ALL your followers" (Not selected by default), you can use the tool
-Edit the message as desired. Then click "Tweet and send direct message to ALL FOLLOWERS" to send the message via DM to your ENTIRE list of followers.

If you have any questions, please contact our technical support team: info@helpfreely.org.

QR Code

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Use this QR-Code to direct your audience to your public profile. Display it anywhere you want to invite people to check out Helpfreely.org.

E-mail templates and Post text

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With these email templates, you can easily invite your friends, family, and followers to join Helpfreely.org--and the more, the merrier! If any of your referrals become registered users, your Main Cause will receive an extra +4% based on the funds that person raises, no matter who they're supporting.

Still have questions?

If you can't find what you're looking for, please contact us.