The model
How Good Circles works
Good Circles is a community marketplace where one purchase does three things at once: you save about 10% on local shopping, 10% of the business's profit funds a nonprofit you choose, and the business keeps 89% of its profit instead of losing 15–30% to a big platform. Same stores, same purchases — different math. Free to join.
One purchase, three wins
Good Circles doesn't ask you to spend more, donate extra, or change where you shop. It changes the rails underneath the sale — where the money goes after you tap "pay."
The math on a $100 local purchase
| Amount | Who | |
|---|---|---|
| You pay | $90 | a 10% discount, automatic at checkout |
| Funds a nonprofit | $5 | 10% of the merchant's profit ($50 profit after $40 cost) |
| Platform fee | $0.50 | 1% of profit — how Good Circles runs |
| Merchant keeps | $84.50 | 89% of profit + their costs |
The nonprofit's share comes from the merchant's profit, not your wallet — so it's a few dollars per sale. The power is in the aggregate: a town of 500 regular shoppers sends roughly $36,000 a year to local causes, with zero extra spending.
Join in 3 minutes
- 1
Sign up free at goodcircles.org — no app to download.
- 2
Pick your nonprofit — any IRS-verified 501(c)(3). Change it anytime.
- 3
Shop local. Prices already show ~10% lower, and a share of every sale funds your cause automatically. Your receipt shows exactly what you saved and gave.
What you can buy
Good Circles is a horizontal, local-first marketplace — groceries, prepared food, retail, repair and the trades, professional services, appointments, and more. When no local merchant carries something yet, you'll see an external "bridge" option (like Amazon) clearly labeled; those don't carry the 10% discount, and about half of that commission still funds nonprofits through a shared fund.
The Founding Circle
Good Circles launches in September 2026, starting in the Jackson, Mississippi metro and expanding from there. The first 200 businesses become Founding Merchants and the first 50 nonprofits become Founding Nonprofits — permanent recognition. Early shoppers are Founding Neighbors.
Why you can trust it
Nonprofits are IRS-verified automatically, every receipt is itemized and transparent, and there's no extra cost to you — the model is funded by the small fee businesses pay, not your wallet.
Questions
How it works FAQ
How does Good Circles work?
You shop local businesses through Good Circles, save about 10% automatically, and 10% of the merchant’s profit funds a nonprofit you chose at signup. The business keeps 89% of its profit. It’s free for shoppers and nonprofits.
Does Good Circles cost me anything?
No. It’s free for shoppers and nonprofits, and you actually save about 10%. Local businesses pay a 1% fee on profit.
How much does my nonprofit get?
10% of the merchant’s profit on each purchase — a few dollars per sale, which adds up to thousands a year across a community.
Where is Good Circles available?
It launches in the Jackson, Mississippi metro in September 2026 and expands to the cities that request it most.
One purchase. Three wins.
Join free — launching September 2026, Jackson MS metro first.