Our mission is clear: to transform the relationship between cause and commerce. Each step we take is guided by a shared vision of creating meaningful impact, together as a community. Our journey is a continuous evolution to create a New Material World, a win-win-win for consumers, brands and charities - with all of us as the beneficiaries.
Our mission is clear: to transform the relationship between cause and commerce. Each step we take is guided by a shared vision of creating meaningful impact, together as a community. Our journey is a continuous evolution to create a New Material World, a win-win-win for consumers, brands and charities - with all of us as the beneficiaries.
Our mission is clear: to transform the relationship between cause and commerce. Each step we take is guided by a shared vision of creating meaningful impact, together as a community. Our journey is a continuous evolution to create a New Material World, a win-win-win for consumers, brands and charities - with all of us as the beneficiaries.
Josh Hemsley
Head of Strategic Experiences
Stephen Ready
Co-Founder, CEO
Josh Hemsley
Head of Strategic Experiences
Stephen Ready
Co-Founder, CEO
The Journey to a New Material World
The Journey to a New Material World
The Journey to a New Material World
Built on the Backbone of an Amazing Community
Built on the Backbone of an Amazing Community
Built on the Backbone of an Amazing Community
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2016
The Backstory
The Backstory
It took a question about a rubbery chicken dinner…
For years, Stephen Ready had been thinking about new ways to merge charity into everyday life. He wanted to pick up and build upon where U.S.A for Africa, Project (RED) and TOM’s left off. Meanwhile, Dick Hillenbrand was looking to back and build a venture that not only promised financial returns, but also had the potential to make significant societal impacts – with a bigger bottom line than fundraisers and annual galas. Stephen’s idea was simple - by integrating commerce with philanthropy, as a platform vs. a one-off campaign, the potential was there to completely transform the landscape of charitable giving.
It took a question about a rubbery chicken dinner…
For years, Stephen Ready had been thinking about new ways to merge charity into everyday life. He wanted to pick up and build upon where U.S.A for Africa, Project (RED) and TOM’s left off. Meanwhile, Dick Hillenbrand was looking to back and build a venture that not only promised financial returns, but also had the potential to make significant societal impacts – with a bigger bottom line than fundraisers and annual galas. Stephen’s idea was simple - by integrating commerce with philanthropy, as a platform vs. a one-off campaign, the potential was there to completely transform the landscape of charitable giving.
2017
The Groundwork
The Groundwork
It started with a simple white Inspired Card that celebrities were low-key flashing. Why a card? Well, Inspired didn’t build “just any other card” - that wouldn’t have gotten such notable people so excited. But as it turned out, if that card could make everyday giving simple, fun, frictionless and free, people noticed! And lucky for us this new “must-have” card attracted the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Adam DeVine, Chris Martin and lots of other celebrities as members. The Inspired Card launched, and put simply, allowed anyone to spark free donations for charitable causes through their everyday spending.
It started with a simple white Inspired Card that celebrities were low-key flashing. Why a card? Well, Inspired didn’t build “just any other card” - that wouldn’t have gotten such notable people so excited. But as it turned out, if that card could make everyday giving simple, fun, frictionless and free, people noticed! And lucky for us this new “must-have” card attracted the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Adam DeVine, Chris Martin and lots of other celebrities as members. The Inspired Card launched, and put simply, allowed anyone to spark free donations for charitable causes through their everyday spending.
2018
Activating an Inspired Community
Activating an Inspired Community
Turns out Inspired was a gateway drug to philanthropy. As soon as you linked up your card, you were a philanthropist! - a term which most young people unfortunately haven’t had the privilege of identifying with. Philanthropy, for the most part, has only been accessible to the wealthy and those with a surplus of money or time. With Inspired, however, philanthropy started undergoing a revolution. Inspired was democratizing philanthropy and empowering everyone, with or without wealth, to participate.
Turns out Inspired was a gateway drug to philanthropy. As soon as you linked up your card, you were a philanthropist! - a term which most young people unfortunately haven’t had the privilege of identifying with. Philanthropy, for the most part, has only been accessible to the wealthy and those with a surplus of money or time. With Inspired, however, philanthropy started undergoing a revolution. Inspired was democratizing philanthropy and empowering everyone, with or without wealth, to participate.
2019
Transforming Charity + Community Relationships
Transforming Charity + Community Relationships
From the beginning, Inspired was thinking beyond “free donations” and was focused on breaking down all of the barriers that keep young people from supporting charities. Besides lack of funds and solicitation fatigue, there was a huge lack of understanding regarding what a charity does. On top of that, it’s often difficult for any individual to truly grasp the personal impact they can have. Inspired began focusing effort on helping to dismantle skepticism, in part by making the entire giving experience completely free, and then by helping individuals understand the impact they’ve had - all through the eyes of the people they’ve helped, with photos, thank you notes, and other personalized content.
From the beginning, Inspired was thinking beyond “free donations” and was focused on breaking down all of the barriers that keep young people from supporting charities. Besides lack of funds and solicitation fatigue, there was a huge lack of understanding regarding what a charity does. On top of that, it’s often difficult for any individual to truly grasp the personal impact they can have. Inspired began focusing effort on helping to dismantle skepticism, in part by making the entire giving experience completely free, and then by helping individuals understand the impact they’ve had - all through the eyes of the people they’ve helped, with photos, thank you notes, and other personalized content.
2020
Expanding Beyond the Swipe
Expanding Beyond the Swipe
Soon Inspired’s model expanded beyond the consumer and charity value proposition to one that also now encompassed brands - with a solution that is both elegantly simple yet profoundly effective. Inspired starts facilitating partnerships between brands and charities, giving consumers the opportunity to unlock donations through their everyday purchases with the brands they love. This not only empowers individuals to make a difference with minimal effort but also enables companies to deepen their social impact and connect with customers on a more meaningful level.
Soon Inspired’s model expanded beyond the consumer and charity value proposition to one that also now encompassed brands - with a solution that is both elegantly simple yet profoundly effective. Inspired starts facilitating partnerships between brands and charities, giving consumers the opportunity to unlock donations through their everyday purchases with the brands they love. This not only empowers individuals to make a difference with minimal effort but also enables companies to deepen their social impact and connect with customers on a more meaningful level.
2023
Transforming Charity & Brand Relationships
Transforming Charity & Brand Relationships
Rather than requiring new funding sources or radical business model changes, Inspired cleverly matches major donors with brands looking to make a difference. Brands simply bring the marketing muscle to reach and inspire millions of consumers, daily. Charities continue to do the incredible work on-the-ground to change lives, while simultaneously developing powerful stories that can be harnessed to inspire and continuously engage consumers and future donors. And Inspired brings it all together in one simple, seamless solution, making these collaborations free & beneficial for everyone — a win-win-win-win.
Rather than requiring new funding sources or radical business model changes, Inspired cleverly matches major donors with brands looking to make a difference. Brands simply bring the marketing muscle to reach and inspire millions of consumers, daily. Charities continue to do the incredible work on-the-ground to change lives, while simultaneously developing powerful stories that can be harnessed to inspire and continuously engage consumers and future donors. And Inspired brings it all together in one simple, seamless solution, making these collaborations free & beneficial for everyone — a win-win-win-win.
An Inspired Community Event
An Inspired Community Event
A CELEBRATION OF HEALTH, FITNESS & RECOVERY WITH NEXTSTEP
A CELEBRATION OF HEALTH, FITNESS & RECOVERY WITH NEXTSTEP
MANHATTAN BEACH, CA • Invite Only
MANHATTAN BEACH, CA • Invite Only
INSPIRED FOR BRANDS
Unlock donations with every purchase, at no cost to you or your customers
Inspired is available for brands on Shopify! Just choose a cause and go live!
★★★★★ 5-Star Rating
30 Seconds to Install & Go Live!
INSPIRED FOR BRANDS
Unlock donations with every purchase, at no cost to you or your customers
Inspired is available for brands on Shopify! Just choose a cause and go live!
★★★★★ 5-Star Rating
30 Seconds to Install & Go Live!
INSPIRED FOR BRANDS
Unlock donations with every purchase, at no cost to you or your customers
Inspired is available for brands on Shopify! Just choose a cause and go live!
★★★★★ 5-Star Rating
30 Seconds to Install & Go Live!