Legal Question in Business Law in Illinois

Internet Donations for profit

I want to set up a website for folks to ask for donations for their particular causes. It is niche specific, meant for a certain segment of the public (nothing discriminatory at all).

I would charge minimal set up fees of the requestors. Monies would go straight to the requestor.

What, if any, ramifications should I anticipate?


Asked on 7/14/09, 4:12 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys
Lesley Hoenig Lesley A. Hoenig, Attorney at Law

Re: Internet Donations for profit

People are not going to be terribly excited to pay you a fee in order to give money to a cause they want to give to, why would they go through you instead of just paying the organization directly?

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Answered on 7/14/09, 5:54 pm

Re: Internet Donations for profit

Ramnifications concerning what? You need to provide more specificity. Is this one website where multiple causes are featured or a separate website for each cause?

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Answered on 7/15/09, 11:45 pm
Sarah Grosse Sarah Grosse, Esquire

Re: Internet Donations for profit

Are these 'particular causes' charitable organizations? Why would you filter the money through your website and then send it to a charitable organization? Do you collect a fee for the service? Hmmm... and why would a donor trust you to give the donation to their requested cause? I'm not saying there is anything wrong here, just food for thought. I think you just need to structure this so there is no appearance of impropriety (i.e. fraud).

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Answered on 7/19/09, 11:59 am


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