Aussie Expat To Launch CharityChex in US
9 October 2008 at 3:41 pm
An Australian-born businessman and philanthropist is about to launch a credit card system in New York which he believes has the potential to raise more than $US35 million for US charities in 2009.
Melbourne-born Scott Talbot has developed CharityChex, a credit card merchant technology system that allows point-of-sale, payer-designated charitable donations to be used initially in conjunction with participating restaurants across America.
The system enables what he describes as a seamless transaction between a payer, merchant and charitable organisations.
Talbot says hospitality businesses can use the CharityChex credit card merchant processing system to transfer funds allocated by a patron as a charitable contribution on the bill directly to their charity of choice.
Talbot says that with the state of the economy, the Not for Profit sector is facing a financial crisis. With just 5% market share and only $1 donated per credit card purchase, the launch of CharityChex in 2009 could potentially raise over $35 Million for charities across the United States in its first year.
He says CharityChex will be available for all hospitality, retail establishments and internet credit card purchases, transforming the way in which Americans give.
The new technology allows an immediate tax invoice receipt to be printed for the patron. Upon payment of the retail invoice, the CharityChex fund transfer system will direct point-of-sale patron-designated charitable donation amounts to the charitable organisation of the patron’s choice.
CharityChex expects a 2009 launch with a strategic processor and ISO partners with the system to follow six months later in Australia.
Scott Talbot is described as an international businessman, community leader and philanthropist with over 20 years of experience in strategic business development that he built by turning underperforming assets into thriving businesses.
At the age of 18, Talbot acquired the Red Lion Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. In 1987, he entered the real estate market by establishing Talbot Family Homes. In the midst of a recession, he found buyers for his entire inventory using innovative marketing programs.
In 1992, Talbot joined the management team of Central Equity Limited, one of Australia’s largest property development company’s. In six years, he grew his division to 200 employees and over $1 billion in sales.
In 1997, Talbot became the CEO of the marketing subsidiary of L.J. Hooker, one of the world’s largest real estate groups.
The CharityChex concept has been developed through Talbot’s social enterprise company called Charity Group,LLC which provides tools and platforms to help Not for Profit organisations and Corporate donors align and coordinate their fundraising efforts and objectives.
Scott’s twin brother Grant is also well known in the volunteer sector in Geelong in Victoria, where he organises the annual Queenscliff Seafood Feast as a major fundraising event for the annual Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
For more information download the CharityChex PDF below.
