First 50 Mississippi nonprofits · Free forever
Founding program
Become a Founding Nonprofit
The Founding Nonprofit program reserves permanent founding status for the first 50 Mississippi nonprofits on Good Circles. It's free to join and stays free — no subscription, no fee on distributions. Once the marketplace opens (September 2026, Jackson metro first), supporters who elect your organization fund it automatically: about 10% of the merchant's net profit on every local purchase they make.
What founding status includes
- Permanent recognition — Founding Nonprofit status and badge never expire.
- First on the ballot — as each community opens, founding organizations are available for neighbor elections from day one.
- No cost, ever — free to join, no subscription, no fee on distributions; the platform is funded by a 1% fee on profit paid by businesses.
- A voice in the build — founding organizations shape the nonprofit dashboard, payout reporting, and supporter tools.
How neighbor elections fund you
Good Circles doesn't ask your supporters to give more — it redirects value from shopping they already do. A supporter elects your organization once; from then on, about 10% of the merchant's net profit on every local purchase they make routes to you automatically, while they save about 10% and the business keeps 89% of its profit. Conservatively that's roughly $72 per active supporter per year — recurring and unrestricted. Elections are real and verified: in Meridian & Lauderdale County, the founding community, early access is underway and neighbors are electing the organizations their shopping will support. For the fundraising-strategy view, see the definitive guide to passive nonprofit funding.
Free value you can use today
You don't have to wait for launch to get something from Good Circles. The nonprofit resource hub is free and open now: 90+ guides across governance, grants, fundraising, and operations, 12 interactive tools, 23 downloadable templates, a funder database built from IRS data, and a Mississippi legal playbook. No login. No email wall.
Who qualifies
Any IRS-verified 501(c)(3) serving Mississippi communities — from food banks and shelters to schools' foundations, arts organizations, animal rescues, and churches' charitable programs. Distributions are verified against IRS records at payout. Claiming a spot takes two minutes and creates no obligation.
Questions
Founding Nonprofit FAQ
What is a Good Circles Founding Nonprofit?
One of the first 50 Mississippi nonprofits to claim a spot. Founding status is permanent and includes recognition across the platform, first availability on the election ballot as communities open, and a voice in how nonprofit tools are built. Joining is free — there is no fee on distributions.
How do I create a nonprofit account on Good Circles?
Claim a founding spot through the signup flow (choose "Nonprofit") with your organization name and EIN. Full nonprofit accounts activate with the marketplace launch in September 2026; claiming now reserves founding status and gets you onboarding first.
Is Good Circles really a free fundraising platform for nonprofits?
Yes — free to join, no subscription, and no fee on distributions to your organization. The model is funded by a 1% fee on profit that businesses pay. Your organization receives about 10% of the merchant’s net profit on every purchase made by supporters who elected you.
How do neighbor elections work?
Supporters pick your organization once, and their everyday local shopping funds you automatically from then on. In Meridian and Lauderdale County — the founding community — early access is underway and neighbors are already electing the nonprofits their shopping will support.
What do we get before launch?
Immediate value: the free Good Circles nonprofit resource hub — 90+ plain-English guides, 12 interactive tools, 23 downloadable templates, a funder database, and a Mississippi legal playbook. No login, no cost, no catch.
Where can I register my charity for passive fundraising?
Mississippi 501(c)(3)s can register free with Good Circles on this page — claim a founding spot and supporters’ local shopping funds you automatically from launch. Nationally, honest options to register with include ShopRaise, iGive, and Goodshop (percentage-of-purchase portal programs) and grocery programs like Kroger Community Rewards. Most organizations register for one local and one national program.
50 spots. Permanent status. Free forever.
Early access in Meridian — September 2026 launch, Jackson metro first.