eBay UK announced "eBay for Charity," a program that allows individuals, charities and third parties to fundraise while buying and selling on eBay. Individual sellers or businesses may donate all or a percentage of their sales to certified charitable organizations through the program (http://pages.ebay.co.uk/community/charity). In the U.S., eBay.com launched a program called Giving Works in 2003.

During the launch phase of the new UK program, only the BBC Children in Need charity will be active. The BBC's corporate charity raises funds for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. "To reflect the generosity of our community eBay and PayPal will also be making donations to BBC Children in Need," eBay UK's announcement stated. Soon after the BBC Children in Need Appeal night on 18th November, the eBay for Charity program will be extended to a wider range of charities.

UK users clamored for a charity program after December's Tsunami, when there was a lot of confusion in the UK about how eBay sellers could or could not run charity auctions for tsunami relief. eBay UK will hold a workshop about the new program on October 12.

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/uk/200510031700352.html