a new business model

When DonorWare LLC was created in 1999, it was in response to a crisis -- we had clients asking us to start a company to protect them from the risk of data loss from the failure of another company.  We were up and running in under three weeks.

When you start a company from scratch in three weeks, you don't have a lot of time to think about why you exist, let alone create a business plan and secure venture capital.  After achieving profitability in 13 months, DonorWare LLC went on to purchase Donor Automation in 2001.  We then spent the next six years reinventing our software and systems.  During this time, the partners of DonorWare LLC revisted the question of why did DonorWare LLC exist?  The Bible says you either serve God or money.  We don't think there is anything wrong with business, capitalism or making a profit.  In fact, we think it is essential that non-profit organizations think of themselves as "not-for-profits" (rather than "non-profits") that must still run profitably, but for a different purpose than rewarding shareholders.  

As a result, the nine partners of DonorWare LLC unanimously decided to transition their ownership to the DonorWare Foundation, a 501(c)3 charity whose stated purpose is to serve other charities by owning and operating DonorWare LLC.