Internet rewards program encourages social activism

 According to the old adage, it’s better to give than receive. According to Tammy Allen, you can do both.

Allen is the creator of Do Good Get Rewards - a program that awards incentives to volunteers for community service. It’s a way, Allen said, to “express appreciation for the millions of Americans making a difference everyday in our society, but to also encourage others to get involved.”

Allen, a musician and public relations professional who worked with non-profit organizations and small businesses, said she developed the idea when she noticed how hard volunteers work.

"I wrote a song called 'Everyday People Do Good Everyday' after noticing the kindness of others and really noticing the hard-working people that work with  non-profit organizations," she said. "The idea of a rewards program came after really thinking about how I could show appreciation to these people."

To use the incentive program, volunteers must register for an account on the website. Once the account is active, volunteers must verify their service hours by submitting an online form to the non-profit they helped. Once the hours are verified, the volunteer accumulates "points" that can be redeemed for various prizes, such as aquarium tickets, hotel stays, all-inclusive resorts, spa sessions and gift certificates. For example, one Georgia Aquarium ticket is worth 29,000 points or 29 volunteer hours. The Spa in Brookhaven and nail spa, are offering a $10 gift certificate, which is worth 500 points.

Allen said research has shown that non-profits rely heavily on volunteers, but more than one third of those volunteers who donate their time never return. Providing incentives like these, she said, is the start to a long-term solution to help organizations attract and retain good volunteers.

The program is also a boost for organizations who sponsor rewards, she said. Businesses who sponsor rewards appear on the Do Good Get Rewards website, which contribute to unique page views in addition to driving more business to the company, she said. When a customer receives a coupon or a free item, they often supplement that item with a purchase.

More than 175 non-profit organizations have signed up for the two-year old service, Allen said. Hundreds of volunteers use the site to redeem points to receive goods.

The resource is free for everyone who uses the service, but in some cases, such as large items like trips, taxes are applied.

"I wanted this to be the opposite of what I hated," Allen said. "You don't have to pay a fee to join and there aren't any hidden fees. You just simply sign up and volunteer."

Right now, volunteers must commit their time to the non-profits already a part of the program in order to earn points. The only exception is the Martin Luther King Day of Service where a special page has been created.

For more information, visit the website or send an email.