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TECHNOLOGY

Surf the Web to raise charity cash

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Everyclick.com will give 50 percent of its revenues to charity.

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LONDON, England (CNN) -- A new Web search engine gives users the opportunity to generate cash for their favorite charities every time they browse the Internet.

British-based Everyclick.com plans to give 50 percent of its revenue to charity and hopes to claim a share of a global market worth an estimated £3.9 billion ($7.1 billion) this year.

"Our aim is to create something that gives the user the result they want but at the same time benefits the charities. There's no cost to the charity and no cost to the user -- it's the equivalent of a wristband online," Everyclick.com managing director Polly Gowers told CNN.

Like other search engines, Everyclick.com raises funds from companies and organizations that pay to have their details listed. When someone clicks on a search result, the owner of the Web site pays a clickthrough fee.

If 10 supporters of each of the UK's 188,000 registered charities used the search engine, Everyclick.com estimates it would generate more than £22 million ($40 million) for charities in its first year.

A typical Web user would raise around £12 ($22) annually. Users can register to support a particular charity, or suggest a charity of their own.

Charities already registered range from international campaigns such as Save the Children to local primary schools.

Gowers, a former professional event rider, and fellow director Julia Felton, a former teacher and fundraiser, came up with the idea while working together as Internet consultants.

"It was a light bulb moment when we realized it could so simply raise so much," said Gowers. "It's like sending charity Christmas cards. This is a new donation tin for charities to rattle and they are really embracing it, which is fantastic.

"We're hoping that Everyclick.com will capture the public imagination and become a big hit. It's one of those small changes everyone can make that add up to a real, lasting difference."

Gowers said the search engine was aimed at general Web users in the UK and provided a user-friendly experience.

But she said the software was in place to extend the service to other countries, and said that new features such as a price comparison service would be added to the site.

Laurence Helgesen, business development manager of children's charity Barnado's said the search engine had the potential to give Google a run for its money.

"This revolutionary fundraising concept is refreshingly easy and technically brilliant. We are eager to see the site flourish, raising vital funds for many worthy causes," said Helgesen.

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