Search engine offers all profits to charity

A new search engine Rectifi.org.uk donates 90% of its profit to charity. The remaining 10% is used for running costs. The site gains its profits from sponsored links, where companies pay for a place in the search rankings, and from the commission generated by online sales. Over 400 shops have signed up to the new service, including Apple, Sony and eBay.

Rectifi’s founder, Jonny Platt, hopes that donating the money to charity will help redress the imbalance between rich and poor. He said: “Our aim is simple, to encourage web users to use their consumerist appetite to raise money for charity”.

Mr Platt formulated his ideas to use western consumerism to help the poor of the developing world while travelling in India, where he was shocked by the poverty he saw and its contrast with UK materialism.

On returning to the UK he established GiveAsYouGet, which has raised thousands of pounds for charities such as Greenpeace, the World Development Movement and VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) since its launch in August 2003.

The money raised by Rectifi will initially be donated to Tourism Concern, a charity working with communities in tourist destinations to reduce social and environment problems. The number of charities which receive money is expected to increase as the site grows.

As well as providing search facilities and the ability to compare prices, the site will also offer tips on ethical shopping and investment.