One Cent Movement Blog

We turn everyday transactions into opportunities to give to charity. Go make a difference under 30 seconds at www.onecentmovement.org.

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Making a difference with small change

It's been comforting to see how users have responded to the launch of our Chrome Extension plug-in earlier this month, and we are really encouraged that so many of you out there share our vision of a collective effort to make a difference with our "loose change".

What we have come to realize is, you don't have to be someone like Bill Gates in order to make a difference through philanthropic giving. Through the idea of the One Cent Movement, plus the power of large numbers, we can collectively impact the world around us just by going about our everyday routines - buying a movie pass online, making a reservation for your next trip to Bali etc.

We're happy to share that our first user has hit the $10 donation mark this week, and she plans to make a difference in the lives of the special needs community by donating the money to the Association for Persons with Special Needs.  

While we continue to refine the technology behind the tool, we highly encourage you to share the word with your friends and join us in this movement to turn our everyday transactions into opportunities for us to give back.

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Plug-in to give back!

The wait is finally over and the Chrome Extension is officially launched! Are you ready to turn your small change into a big difference?

Here's how it works: 

Once you've registered for an account on our website, proceed to download the plug-in. At the checkout carts of major e-commerce retailers (as seen on our website), the pop-up will prompt you for an amount which rounds up your purchase to the nearest dollar. After you have put it on your tab, the amount will appear on your account dashboard. Simple as that!

Once you've accumulated $10 worth of change, we will notify you via email on exactly how you can make a difference! 

We've spent some time these past few months building this tool and all we need now is for YOU to join the movement by downloading it into your Chrome browser today! 

The friendly folks talking about us: Cnet Asia, Tech in Asia

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5 days to go! #betalaunch

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Spread the word!

We're reaching beta launch day soon... right on time as scheduled for 31st August 2013! *cue fireworks*

This is a soft launch though... an invite-only version for those who have already signed up on our mailing list. It's not too late, you can still sign up right now!

Our man Sung was also given a big page plaster on Today, check out the article here which gives a pretty good "story so far" version of where we are today.

We're pumped! Product is shaping up well in time for this Saturday. The countdown to turn your small change into a big difference begins...

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More Giving!

$1billion. one BILLION dollars. That's 30 truckloads full of 5cent coins according to satirical humor. Anyway, that's also the total tax-deductible donations to charities in 2012. Hooray Singapore!

We were especially heartened to see that individual donations increased by a whole 13%, and we hope you were part of it! 

At One Cent Movement, we're working hard to build a product that will harness the collective impact from individuals, and channel them towards charities in need. 

We're launching soon! Join our mailing list today to be the first to get your hands on it!

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We love Technology.

The team at One Cent Movement loves technology, especially when technology is used to do good. Looking at our super-interconnected online world today, It's hard to believe that prior to 2010, there just wasn't any platform available in Singapore for online donations to be made. 

An effective use of technology saw the creation of SG Gives, or Singapore gives in 2010, an online portal for donations to be made to Singapore-registered charities.

Since going "live" in early 2010, the platform has raised almost $20 million for charities across multiple sectors. 2012 in particular saw a record year of $8.5 million donations through SG Gives, a 37% increase compared to the previous year.

We're really excited to announce that we are working closely with the awesome folks at SG Gives to allow your donations to reach their pool of over 250 charities.

Technology.

We love technology, and we want to use technology to do even more good. We're building a product that will empower you to turn your everyday online transactions into opportunities to give to charity. This is the One Cent Movement, will you join us today to turn your small change into a big difference?

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The resiliency of individual giving

So we're sitting in our labs and dreaming out a future where everyone can give a little, each day, to someone else in need as part of their everyday transactions.

Let's do some math - assuming that a quarter of the world's population can afford to give just 1cent a day, that's $1.75M that can go do fund all sorts of good work globally. This is the power of the individual donors, and what we can do collectively when we pool our efforts together.

In a thought piece published by Salt.sg back in 2012, the study assessed and concluded that individual giving proves to be a lot more resilient than corporate giving. At One Cent Movement, we hope to harness the efforts from individuals like you and I, to encourage philanthropy and turn small change into a big difference in our society. Collective resilience, we say. 

While we continue to develop the plug-in, you can support us by telling your friends about us by sharing this page, liking us on Facebook and signing up on the invite-only mailing list to download the beta version plug-in once it's ready!

  Terence

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From perseverance to pivot - A new start.

Back in our labs and getting cracking again. 

We've had an amazing run with our team thus far, knocking on all doors and focusing our resources on implementing the movement with online retailers. While we've seen some success with folks from Catch22 and OurLadyWears, we figured that in order to build stronger momentum, we need a ground-up initiative.

Let our Pivot begin.

The new ground-up initiative involves you. Look out for updates on this page on how we plan to empower you do donate your small change to make a big difference.

Heading back to the lab now and reinvigorated with a lean 3-man team, including our very new Code-Ninja, YQ. We'll re-emerge soon with a very exciting product, we promise. 

One cent a time,

Terence

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A belated update - with your help and your small change, we managed to raise $1,877 for ARC Children's Centre from our 3 week wall takeover at Marina Bay Link Mall! And that's just from a couple of loose change, from a couple of people, at a corner in Singapore.

Till next time,

Steph

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OCM Update

Hello hello!

Just in case you were wondering what we've been up to...

We've got our eureka moment... and are building something that will allow anyone who loves online shopping round up their small change and donate that difference to charity. We can't tell you what it is yet, we'd have to kill you. WAIT FOR IT!! We're excited!

The donation angpao for ARC is still at MBFC! Keep 'em coming. Some of our handsome fellas from OCM will personally be coming down to tell you more about our cause and what we're championing, feel free to chat them up if you see them around :)

Our corporate site is now slightly leaner and meaner; but you can still let us know how it can be more perfect.

We are giving away a pair of movie tickets to Upside Down! (Contest closes at noon tomorrow, so yeah.)

We have moved! We're still at the hub but now we're in a red bus. Yes. A red bus. Not kidding.

We have new guys on board. Welcome David who is a coding extraordinaire, YSL, a sales extraordinaire, and Sean, an extraordinarily helpful person in general. P.S. We need more women on this team ;)

Keep on movin'- Steph

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Slingers!

Thanks to our corporate sponsor Jobstreet.com, the One Cent Movement team together with the kids from ARC Children had a chance to catch some Asean Basketball League action at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Sunday!

The San Miguel Beerman beat the Singapore Slingers 66-55 in a game filled with drama and intense rivalry. In the stands, we had a great afternoon spending quality time with family and friends. Our very own advisor Vhaibav even managed to grab a freebie launched from the court during the halftime show! His children were very impressed. 

Back to work for the week, as we strive on to help you turn your small change into a big difference!

Terence Yeo Operations Director One Cent Movement 

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Just another day at the office #hub #onecentmovement

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Give us your change @ Marina Bay Link Mall

The good folks at Raffles Quay Asset Management have kindly let us spread the word to other good folks at Marina Bay Link Mall.

Of course, we couldn't let up on such a great opportunity and got working! Christina (our lovely, beautiful and talented designer) drew up a really cute mural that tells everyone about the power of a cent, and how you could help some children at ARC Children's Centre. 

So if you're the type that carries an extra pouch for small change, or want to get rid of the annoying jingle-jangles in your pocket, donate them at our huge hongbao. (Or get someone working there to.)

Otherwise, spread the news to everyone you know working around the area! The wall's between Red Mango and Starbucks at Marina Bay Link Mall. Because everything good happens between frozen yoghurt and coffee.

PS. Wall's gonna come down by 8 March 2013 

PPS. There are $10 martinis, $5 Asahi, $5 sake, $5 salmon sashimi, yakitori, and other Japanese food at Standing Sushi Bar, Marina Bay Link Mall. Every weekday from 5 PM - 8:45 PM. ANOTHER REASON TO HEAD DOWN!

Loveeee, Steph The Marketing Person

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New Advisor: Philip Yen

  "I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it." - Oscar Wilde

...and at One Cent Movement, we are always looking to receive guidance to help us on our journey to change the world! Today, we are excited to announce that Philip Yen, Head of Emerging Payments at Mastercard, has jumped on board as an official One Cent Movement advisor. In his role at Mastercard, Philip helps to reinforce Mastercard's mission to advance global commerce by driving innovation in electronic payments. We are thrilled to have him on board to bring innovation to a different type of transaction - everyday-giving to make charity simple and sustainable. Philip brings a wealth of experience in the global payments industry and we're excited to have him on board the One Cent Movement!

  Terence Yeo Operations Director One Cent Movement 

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Uber is your on-demand private driver. Our friends at Uber have given everyone who signs up using the link above (code "onecentmovement") $30 credit (which means one nice cool ride and swag)! Enjoy.

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DBS Social Enterprise Christmas Flea Market 2012

The Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) held it's very first Social Enterprise Flea Market this year as it continues to push forth in supporting the development of enterprises with a cause in Singapore.

We met a bunch of businesses with a huge heart at the event - the likes of Stirring Hearts, Bettr Barista, Bakery Hearts, and many others. It felt great to be in the company of those who care! We were really encouraged by the Social Enterprise momentum in Singapore, which clearly has more room for growth despite Singapore being the 3rd richest country in the world. 

One Cent Movement was invited to the event to run an offline platform to collect change from transactions at the flea market, with proceeds going to the POSB Passion Kids fund. The fund goes towards programs which provides developmental opportunities for under privileged children in the Singapore society. In conjunction with the event organizers, we had a huge One Cent Movement wishing well where flea market patrons could drop their loose change in for a cause this holiday season. So with this successful offline platform and the recent launch of One Cent Movement at a few online shops, we are on track to reaching our 4-digit dollar impact target by the end of 2012!

It was a tiring but really fulfilling event! Sticking true to our belief: Small Change --> Big Difference. 

We'll be working hard to collaborate more with our friends over at DBS in the coming year, watch this space!

Oh, and Happy Holidays everyone!

Terence Yeo Operations Director One Cent Movement

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Web In Travel 2012 supports One Cent Movement

Web In Travel 2012 supports One Cent Movement with a free pass worth $1888 so that we can reach out to the high-transaction web travel companies attending this prestigious must-go conference for all in the travel industry.

Web In Travel is also no stranger to CSR (corporate social responsibility). Unlike most conferences, WIT actively chooses causes around the world and raises money in support of those causes. 

For example, at WIT Tokyo in May this year, WIT raised US$20,000.  The proceeds went towards Living Dreams, Japan - re-building school and cheering up the lives of kids affected by the 2011 tsunami.

They continue their journey of purpose come October 15 as Paralympian and artist, Gregory Burns, creates a work of "Transformation" which will be auctioned off at the end of the conference.  The funds will go towards the Island Foundation which strives to raise IT and English literacy among rural kids in Riau Province, Indonesia.

Web In Travel Conference 2012

Oct 15-17 2012 Marina Bay Sands Singapore

If you haven't yet signed up for it, don't hesitate to click here and immediately see the many amazing delegates and speakers involved. The value of WIT in today's travel industry is key to unlocking the success of your online travel initiatives. We are proud and extremely grateful to be sponsored for this event and hope to see you there!

Krystal Choo Marketing Director One Cent Movement