Charitybuzz

Origins and history

CEO Coppy Holzman founded Charitybuzz out of his Westport, Connecticut home in April 2005. After a conversation with Chevy Chase and President Bill Clinton at a reception to benefit the Clinton Library in late 2004. He launched Charitybuzz a few months later with one employee and a directive from Chase to raise funds for The Center for Environmental Education. Holzman and his team persuaded 70 celebrities and luxury brands into donating meet-and-greets, VIP tickets, vacations and other gifts for the company’s first auction. The first experience auctioned was a Caddyshack golf outing with Bill Murray and Chase. After a segment with Chase on the TODAY show, the online auction site raised $250,000 within two weeks. After its initial success, Charitybuzz's business grew quickly through word of mouth.

Holzman ran Charitybuzz part-time until the fall of 2007, when he committed to operating the business full-time and moved the company out of his home and into an office space. In 2008, he registered charitybuzz as a sub-chapter S in Delaware and secured a board of directors which included Kerry Kennedy, Peter Borish, Jonah Goodhart, Jon Melzer, Stuart Sundlow, and Jayni Chase.

Soon after, during the height of the recession in 2009, the company marked $100 million in bids and one million unique visitors. By 2010, with more than 1,500 online charity auctions complete, Charitybuzz doubled in size by expanding its focus to include corporate philanthropy support. The company subsequently moved its headquarters and staff from Connecticut to an 8,000 square foot office at 437 Fifth Avenue in New York City.

In early 2012, Charitybuzz added Macy’s Chief Stores Officer Peter Sachse to its Board of Directors. In 2012, Charitybuzz launched a new celebrity concierge service for charity called "Do Good Dream Big," where bidders could request customized celebrity access for a minimum donation of $20,000.

Charitybuzz unveiled an updated logo in an updated logo in April 2013. In September 2013, Patrick Farrell was appointed Chief Operating Officer, a new position within Charitybuzz

In November 2013, Charitybuzz marked $100 million raised for nonprofits and celebrated by ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Black Friday.

In 2014, Charitybuzz raised $30 million for its nonprofit partners, bringing its total raised since inception in 2005 to $130 million. Celebrities including Bruce Springsteen and Matthew McConaughey supported their favorite causes to raise money for organizations including the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, WhyHunger, Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, The Kristen Ann Carr Fund and more. The top lots from 2014 included the opportunity to meet Sir Paul McCartney backstage which sold for $105,000 for the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Coffee with Journey's Steve Perry which sold for $75,000 to benefit City of Hope.

Business model

By auctioning luxury items and celebrity-backed experiences through the internet to bidders worldwide, Charitybuzz is able to raise funds for foundations and non-profits. Charitybuzz's staff of 40 provides auction services for more than 3,200 nonprofit clients, as well as cause marketing support for many for-profit brands looking to enhance their corporate philanthropy programs.At the end of each auction, Charitybuzz keeps 20 percent to cover its operating costs.

Offerings auctioned

Charitybuzz auctions have included: