Charitybuzz
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| Type of business | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | New York City, USA |
| Key people | Coppy Holzman (CEO, Founder) |
| Industry | Online Charity Auctions |
| Website | charitybuzz.com |
Charitybuzz is a for-profit internet company that raises funds for nonprofit organizations through online charity auctions with celebrities and brands. Auction experiences include music, entertainment, business, politics, sports, art, fashion and other industries.
The company was founded in 2005 by CEO Coppy Holzman, and board members Brad Reisner and Serena Chew. As of December 2016, the company has raised more than $200 million for charity through its website with more than 3,200 nonprofits partners.
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.
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