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Example
Title: Coworker in need of car transmission repair
Recipient Information: Oswaldo Anderson, 484 Lake Park Ave APT 665, Oakland CA 94610 USA, +1-510-323-2349, support@commonchange.com
Category: Transportation
Type of Request: Basic living & preventative
Amount: $500
Time: 7 Days
Description: Over the past two weeks I became aware that Oswaldo, who is a university professor that Ive known for six years, recently had the transmission go out in his car.  Im proposing that we help replace the transmission at a cost of $500.
Payment Method: Check
Payment Information: First Choice Transmission, 123 Main St, Oakland CA 94610 USA, +1-510-444-1111
Payment Note: Invoice #23489 for Oswaldo Anderson was emailed to support@commonchange.com

Title
Start your request with a short description (less than 140 characters) that will be used as the Title. Make sure not to identify first or last names in this section. This is how NOT to title a request: My friend Joe needs help.

Recipient Information
Provide the name of the individual you are advocating this request for. This information is only shared with your group. If you or your friend are concerned about privacy, like in the case of domestic violence, you may provide John/Jane Doe information and contact Common Change to provide corresponding information that will be held for internal use only. Note that Common Change does not reveal recipient’s information without receiving consent. Common Change verifies recipients against the known terrorist list.

Category
Select a category that best describes the gift you are seeking to give through this request. Requests might fall into multiple categories, but choose the one that is primary.

Type of Request
Letting your group know how you are thinking about this opportunity can help members respond more appropriately. Common Change has four types of requests.

  1. Crisis/emergency – typically primary physical gifts such as Food, Clothing, Water, Shelter, Healthcare
  2. Basic living & preventative – typically supportive or sustainable gifts such as Housework, School Supplies, Education, Jobs, Childcare, Counselling, Transportation
  3. Gift of kindness – typically mental or emotional health gifts such as Retreats, Babysitting, Visits, Care Packages
  4. Little Luxuries – gifts that are not necessarily needed for survival or basic living, but might be needed in certain circumstances to provide a stronger foundation for life

Amount
Choose a dollar amount that is less than the available group amount.

Time
Choose a time frame for the request. You can always edit and add more time. Be aware that selecting a shorter response time often results in less input by other group members and may result in a request expiring before members have a chance to weigh-in.

Description
In the description you share the specifics of the request. Tell the story. Start with a one or two sentence summary and a specific ask that includes how long you’ve been aware of the situation, how you know the individual or what the connection is, the length of time that you have known each other, and specific information on how you recommend your Common Change group meet the need. This is how NOT to describe a request: Need $500 for my friend.

Payment Information
After you have posted your request you can provide payment information.Payment can be sent to third-party vendors (like landlords) or directly to recipients or other members in the group as reimbursements (with receipts).

Payment Method
Common Change chooses the quickest and most cost-effective way to send money which may include, but is not limited to, checks, PayPal, Western Union, or bank wires.

Modifying Request
As an owner of a request you may edit your request at any time. Adding time does not reset the weigh-in. However, editing the amount or recipient name does. You may also start a discussion and later edit it changing it to a specific request.

Explanation and follow-up
After the gift is sent, a gift letter is sent to the recipient explaining where the gift came from. A greeting card will be sent to the recipient a few months after they receive the gift as a way of letting the recipient know we care.