Questions and answers about :

• Why is CaringBridge offering these shopping pages?
• How do I use the CaringBridge shopping pages?
• How does this help CaringBridge?
• Who should use the CaringBridge shopping pages? 
• Can my relatives, friends, co-workers or others also use this service to shop online and help support CaringBridge?
• What can I purchase thru the CaringBridge shopping pages?
• How much does CaringBridge make from my purchases?
• Do I need to register to use the CaringBridge shopping pages?
• Does it cost me more to use the CaringBridge shopping pages?
• Is my shopping private?  Will CaringBridge know where I shop and what I purchase?
• How are merchandise returns and exchanges handled?
• If I return a purchase, is the contribution to CaringBridge cancelled?
• Do I get a tax deduction for shopping online thru the CaringBridge shopping pages?
• Who is “Fill The Cup”, and what is their relationship with CaringBridge?
• Some of the online merchants I like to buy from aren’t available on the CaringBridge shopping pages.  Is there a way to get them added?
• I know other worthy organizations that also need help with their fund-raising.  Can they have their own shopping pages? 
• What else can I do to help increase the value of this service for CaringBridge?

• Why is CaringBridge offering these shopping pages?
  • CaringBridge needs additional funding and you can help.  These shopping pages provide a very easy, painless method for you to help support CaringBridge at absolutely no additional cost to you.  By shopping online and using the CaringBridge shopping pages to get to your favorite online merchants, each purchase results in a commission to CaringBridge.

• How do I use the CaringBridge shopping pages?

  • It’s easy.  Just a couple of additional clicks and you’re helping to support CaringBridge.  When you want to shop online, go to the CaringBridge shopping pages, and select the merchant you want to visit.  You will then be at that merchant’s Web site to do your shopping.  The merchant will know that you got there from the CaringBridge shopping pages, and when you make a purchase they will automatically send a commission to CaringBridge.  The amount of commission paid to CaringBridge varies by merchant and product.

  • The CaringBridge shopping pages can be reached directly at www.FillTheCup.org/caringbridge.html .

• How does this help CaringBridge?

  • Every purchase you make using the CaringBridge shopping pages results in additional funding for CaringBridge.

• Who should use the CaringBridge shopping pages? 

  • Everyone who wants to help CaringBridge should use the CaringBridge shopping pages.  If you shop on the Web, or if you are willing to start shopping on the Web for goods or services, you can be helping CaringBridge.

• Can my relatives, friends, co-workers or others also use this service to shop online and help support CaringBridge?

  • Absolutely!  The CaringBridge shopping pages are available to everyone who wants to help support CaringBridge.

• What can I purchase thru the CaringBridge shopping pages?

  • Clothing, toys, books, CDs, airline tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, sports equipment, gift certificates, computers and electronics, cameras, furniture, home furnishings, flowers, and much, much more.  You can make purchases from top quality merchants such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Macy’s, Sharper Image, Target, Office Depot, Apple, Avon, PETCO, Things Remembered, and Ritz Camera. 

• How much does CaringBridge make from my purchases?

  • The amount credited to CaringBridge for a specific purchase depends on several factors, which may include the type of item purchased, the amount of the purchase and the terms of the merchant’s commission program.  Some merchants pay a flat amount per purchase, for example travel services that may pay several dollars for a purchased ticket.  Other merchants pay a percentage of the purchase price, and the specific percentage can vary greatly from merchant to merchant and for different products.

• Do I need to register to use the CaringBridge shopping pages?

  • No.  There is no setup or registration necessary for you to start using the CaringBridge shopping pages.  You can start immediately.

• Does it cost me more to use the CaringBridge shopping pages?

  • No.  The cost of the items you purchase is not increased at all when you use the CaringBridge shopping pages.  It costs you nothing to support CaringBridge in this way, but it helps greatly.

• Is my shopping private?  Will CaringBridge know where I shop and what I purchase?

  • Your shopping is kept private between you and the merchants you purchase from.  CaringBridge does not receive any information about where you shop, or what you purchase.

• How are merchandise returns and exchanges handled?

  • Each merchant has their own policies and procedures for handling returns and exchanges.  The fact that you got to their Web site thru the CaringBridge shopping pages is not at all a factor.  Please see the specific merchant’s Web site for policies and procedures for returns or exchanges.

• If I return a purchase, is the contribution to CaringBridge cancelled?

  • Yes.  The commission that was credited to CaringBridge is debited from the CaringBridge account.

• Do I get a tax deduction for shopping online thru the CaringBridge shopping pages?

  • No.  The IRS does not allow a tax deduction for these purchases.

• Who is “Fill The Cup”, and what is their relationship with CaringBridge?

  • CaringBridge has partnered with Fill The Cup, LLC to offer these shopping pages.  Fill The Cup provides innovative fund-raising services to charities, schools and school teams, arts organizations, churches and synagogues, and other worthy organizations.  Fill The Cup developed the specific technology and administrative processes for this service, and operates the service on behalf of CaringBridge.  Fill The Cup also monitors and collects the commissions from the various merchants, crediting the appropriate amounts to the CaringBridge account.  Each month Fill The Cup forwards to CaringBridge the majority of the funds collected, retaining a portion to cover Fill The Cup’s operational costs and fees.

• Some of the online merchants I like to buy from aren’t available on the CaringBridge shopping pages.  Is there a way to get them added?

  • Please contact Fill The Cup at info@FillTheCup.org to let us know what merchants you would like to have added to the service.  Fill The Cup will research if the merchants have the ability to participate in the service, and if the merchant should be added to the pages.

• I know other worthy organizations that also need help with their fund-raising.  Can they have their own shopping pages? 

  • Yes.  And in addition to providing a valuable service to those organizations, their participation can actually help CaringBridge.  Increased total purchasing volume directed thru Fill The Cup participating organizations shopping pages helps raise the commission rates many merchants pay for all of the organizations.  Organizations interested in having their own shopping pages should contact Fill The Cup directly at info@FillTheCup.org.

• What else can I do to help increase the value of this service for CaringBridge?

  • Use the CaringBridge shopping pages whenever you shop online
  • Consider buying online for more of your purchases.  If you buy something in a regular store it doesn’t help CaringBridge at all.  If you buy the same item online thru the CaringBridge shopping pages, you are helping CaringBridge.
  • Tell everyone you know about the CaringBridge shopping pages and encourage them to always use the service for their online shopping
  • Encourage other organizations to have their own shopping pages.  Whenever you or anyone else uses the CaringBridge
  • shopping pages, CaringBridge receives the greatest benefit from those purchases.  However, CaringBridge can also benefit from purchases made thru other organizations’ shopping pages created by Fill The Cup.  Some merchants determine the percentage rate for commissions by looking at the total amount of purchases made by all the shopping pages created by Fill The Cup.  By telling other organizations about the Fill The Cup service and getting them to offer their own shopping pages, you can help increase the rates of commission paid to CaringBridge.