We announced this morning that eBay buyers and sellers generated a record $63 million in 2011 for charitable causes. Donating an average of $120 a minute, donations in 2011 experienced a 15 percent increase over the prior year. In addition, PayPal processed $3 billion in transactions for more than 200,000 nonprofit organizations, a 31 percent year-over-year increase.

“eBay and PayPal strive every day to make a difference in the world, and cause-related commerce is a powerful way we help merchants and consumers easily and generously give to nonprofits and support people and communities in need,” said John Donahoe, President and CEO of eBay, Inc. “We are committed to using our global commerce platforms and technologies to drive social innovation and create scalable, measurable impact.”

UPDATED 3/20/12

Here is some additional information on eBay’s socially conscious commerce in 2011:

+ Through the eBay Giving Works platform in the US, UK and now Canada, which launched in August 2011, eBay enables anyone, anytime to easily support favorite charities and causes while shopping for the perfect item.
+ In 2011, eBay launched eBay Celebrity, a shopping destination that combines celebrity experiences, memorabilia and merchandise with philanthropic causes.
+ eBay is the platform of choice for celebrities looking to raise awareness and funds for charitable causes. In 2011 celebrity cause-related commerce efforts included: an auction featuring limited edition Nike Mag sneakers for The Michael J. Fox Foundation – eBay’s biggest charitable auction ever, and Warren Buffet’s annual lunch auction, which sold for a record $2.63 million, supporting Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco.
+ In addition to innovative fundraising tools and giving platforms, eBay and PayPal enable consumers to respond quickly to disasters around the world. In 2011, the eBay community donated $6 million for relief efforts in the wake of the earthquake in Japan and $3.3 million was donated to help end the hunger crisis in the horn of Africa.

Continuing the socially conscious commerce theme, I will be hosting a Twitter chat on Thursday, February 16 from 4-5pm PT with the Goodwill Industries and eBay Giving works team. We will discussing social and online giving, and the philanthropic tools that can benefit donations, advocacy and online communities. Follow the conversation here at http://www.ebayinkblog.com, or follow online by using the #SocialGiving hashtag. Make sure to follow our friends at @GoodwillIntl and @ebaygiving too.

Cheers,
RBH