Time and again, it's been shown that businesses who seem to truly care for their employees, or just the People in general, are richer than any business that cares only to turn a profit.

A big thank you to breadpig for its charitable efforts.

It's really just a ploy. You see, as people buy LOLmagnetz, more money gets donated to our local SPCA, which can save more cats and dogs, only to have them get adopted and create more pet owners, who will naturally be inclined to... buy LOLmagnetz.

Ta-da!

Admittedly, this just arose from a desire to create interesting stuff people wanted (it's such a calculable way to know someone likes what you've created). I suppose it's not far from the YC maxim.

We're in a lucky place because we don't need to do this to pay our own bills, so we can give it all away. But this element came from my frustration with how stale fundraising has become for most non-profits. People have become desensitized/jaded/bored by the typical plea of "help X, give $Y." Offering a product someone wants even without possibly knowing of the charitable implications (and I have anecdotal evidence to show that many don't know this about in our products) means a unique fundraising channel for the non-profits that benefit.

If I had my druthers, more people - especially nonprofits themselves - would copy not just our products (hehe) but also the model.

Oh, and as for caring for people, I am an avid believer in the great affect it has on business. But here's the best part, the bar has been set so low that you don't even need to care, just don't be a dick. Or put inversely, be reasonable and kind.