Giving while You’re Getting – or Vice-Versa

Ottawa Valley-area high-school sweethearts Sydney and Matt Miller are newlyweds and entrepreneurs looking to make a difference. In December, the young couple is launching GettingGives.com – an online fundraising platform that uses the power of group buying to raise money for charities and causes. For every deal bought, a portion of the sale will go to a cause of the buyer’s choice.

“We wanted to find a way that would allow people to give back, despite their busy day-to-day lives… and without having to spend a lot of money,” said GettingGives’ president Matt Miller. “GettingGives lets people get out and try new things in their city, but also allows them to contribute to a cause that matters to them.”

GettingGives is a daily deal aggregator, meaning the site will combine all the daily deals from many other websites in one location – this will include sites like Living Social and Groupon.

Instead of having your e-mail inbox flooded with daily deals from various providers, you will receive them in one e-mail from GettingGives. With the website, you can also customize the e-mails you get by interest and region (such as Ottawa). If you’re only interested in receiving deals on spas or restaurants in the Ottawa area, you can do this too.

The Millers first met in their hometown of Renfrew, Ont., when they were eight years old. They started dating in their early teens and married last June in Niagara-on-the Lake.

GettingGives ties in with the institution of marriage, says Sydney Miller, GettingGives’ director of marketing. Like marriage, GettingGives is based on the concept of give-and-take. “You get a great price on an activity that lets you go out and enjoy your city, and you get to give back,” Sydney Miller explains. “With every deal bought, users will be able to choose from an extensive list of registered charities to make a donation to.”

This won’t cost anything extra. The Millers are donating 50% of their proceeds to the charities that users choose.

In uncertain economic times, the young couple is risking it all to get their “passion project” off the ground. “We believe in what we are doing,” Sydney Miller says. “We’ve always wanted to give back and now we’ve found a way for us and others to do that.”

The Millers say they were inspired to start GettingGives after watching an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show – the actress/comedienne/talk show host uses her platform to enrich people’s lives.

The Millers used their savings, and money they received from their wedding, to launch this business. Matt Miller quit a high-paying job to launch a business he believes in, and one he feels will make a difference to people all around the world through the business’ model of giving back. The newlyweds believe in GettingGives and think that others will like to get daily deals without spending additional money, while making a donation to a charity they’re passionate about.

For more information, e-mail Jennifer Stewart at jen@gettinggives.com, or call 613.401.1097.