Folo.world is the web extension that makes donating to charity a no brainer

Millionaire. Playboy. Philanthropist?

Yeah so you don’t have mega millions like old mate Trump, you can’t even get 3 matches on Tinder, but you still give a dollar or 2 to charity when you can spare some.

We students don’t have the biggest budgets and while we may have the best intentions, it can be difficult to actually donate your hard-earned money when you’re struggling to top up your Opal card more than $5 at a time.

Realising your spare change can make a difference, a whole bunch of profit-for-purpose companies are emerging which help you donate to charity simply through your usual day-to-day shenanigans.

Like some international airlines who ask you to donate all that spare currency you won’t be bothered to exchange to UNICEF’s programs to improve the lives of disadvantaged kids around the world. Or retail businesses like the rad pyjama brand One Night Stand, which provides a meal to homeless youth around Australia for every sale of their oh-so stylish pjs. Plus half of their profits go towards youth shelter projects and employment projects. It’s honestly such a win-win.

Ready for an even cooler idea? There’s this thing called Folo. Basically, it’s a web-extension that enables you to give away money just for doing what you already do. And it’s no extra fee to what you buy - all you have to do is click a button.

FYI: A web extension is one of those little icon things that lives next to your search bar on Google Chrome. It’s legit easier to install this than it is to unlock your phone with the new iOS 10 update.

You get to pick between a particular charity or a whole bucket of causes, like conservation or global poverty, so you can support whatever cause is near and dear to your heart.

It’s so damn simple.

You don’t have to dish out any extra dosh but still get that warm and fuzzy feeling of doing a nice thing. And maybe a warm and fuzzy jumper too.

“Folo is all about trying to connect us to what’s going on in the world and trying to making it easy for us to help and realise we’re all part of a global citizenship” Jaimee Abict said, a spokesperson from Folo.

So every time you buy something on The Iconic, you’ll be donating 5% of whatever you just spent to a charity of your choice.

And it’s not just a few shops that are involved. We’re talking over 700 retailers. Next time you buy an overpriced plain t-shirt from General Pants, skin care from Priceline, activewear from Rebel Sport, camping gear from Kathmandu, a groovy print from Etsy, or your textbooks from the Co-Op, you can simultaneously donate.

Expedia is another big name that’s on board with Folo. So when you’re booking flights home for the uni break or making travel plans for summer festival season, you could be donating big bucks to charity in the process.  

“The wastefulness of not downloading Folo is kind of sickening. Because there’s all this free money that could be going to causes but it’s up to us to be the conduits,” Jaimee said.

The extension is owned by The Pure Foundation, the same people who brought you Gratia Café in Surry Hills where you can brunch on protein pancakes guilt-free knowing all the profits go to charity. It’s all part of a social movement for ‘Profit for Purpose’ which is trying to weave philanthropy into everyday experiences.

Folo’s name apparently stands for “For Love” - so next time you’re procrastinating with some online shopping, share some love.