Search engines may seem interchangeable, but they are built in very different ways. Google dominates the landscape and relies on a mix of proprietary and open source algorithms.
Bing and Yahoo both operate on Microsoft’s search framework. Beyond these large platforms, there are smaller engines such as DuckDuckGo, which focuses on privacy, and Dogpile, which blends results from several sources.
As the internet has matured, people have begun to use everyday digital habits to create positive change. Many think of technology for good in terms of online petitions or new tools that reduce waste.
Few realize that something as simple as a web search can also make a difference.
Here are some charity focused search engines that allow you to support meaningful causes while you browse.
GoodSearch
GoodSearch combines online shopping with charitable giving. The platform allows users to find discounts on everything from personal care items to electronics, and it features well known retailers such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Barnes and Noble, Dell, and buybuyBaby.
Each time you make a purchase, a portion goes directly to charity. With more than one hundred ten thousand retail partners, GoodSearch offers an easy way to complete your shopping list while directing funds to important causes.
Search for a Cause
Search for a Cause turns everyday searches into support for nonprofits.
The process is simple.
- Download the browser extension and set it as your default search engine.
- Search the web as usual. The results page is powered through a partnership with Yahoo.
- The ads that appear at the top of the results generate revenue, which is then donated to nonprofits.
The average user raises enough each year to plant more than sixty trees, provide lifesaving antibiotics to fifty newborns, or fund thirty emergency nutrition treatments for children.
To date, users have raised more than fifteen thousand dollars for nonprofits, contributing to more than one and a half million dollars raised across the broader Gladly ecosystem.
Search for a Cause publishes its code and financials to maintain strong public trust.
Ecosia
Ecosia is known as the search engine that plants trees. It installs easily as a Chrome extension and functions just like a regular search tool. Ecosia uses its advertising revenue to fund global reforestation efforts, including places suffering from severe deforestation such as Madagascar.
Ecosia aims to plant more than one billion trees worldwide. The company is committed to transparency and releases its financial reports publicly, giving users confidence that their searches are contributing to legitimate environmental work.
Ekoru
Ekoru donates a portion of its revenue to partners involved in ocean cleanup efforts. The platform uses hydroelectric powered servers, which makes each search energy efficient.
Every query helps fund the removal of waste from the ocean.
Ekoru also selects a new environmental or social cause each month, giving users the opportunity to support a wide range of initiatives simply by browsing the internet.
EveryClick
EveryClick is a UK based search engine that donates half of its advertising profits to charity. Users can create an account and choose the specific charity they want to support. The more you search, the more your chosen organization receives.
The platform also allows users to raise funds by sharing links or making direct donations through a secure portal. Fundraisers can even set up their own giving pages for a small fee.
Rapusia
Rapusia operates like a standard search engine, but its profits support social and environmental projects. It is also an anonymous search engine that does not track users or share data with advertisers.
This makes Rapusia a good choice for those who value privacy along with impact driven results.
