Method and apparatus for facilitating charitable conations

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system for placing and operating an automated donation station is disclosed. An automated donation station can be placed at a location upon receiving a request for an automated donation station from a charitable organization or event organizer. The automated donation station can be customized according to a particular requestor's needs. One or more donations may be collected using the donation station by displaying information to a donor, receiving a donation offer from the donor, and collecting donation details (e.g., payment information) from the donor. A donation receipt can be dispensed to the donor at the automated donation station. Further, donation gifts may be selected by the donor at the automated donation station and dispensed at the automated donation station.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for configuring an automated donation station, wherein said method comprises:
 receiving a request to customize an automated donation station;   customizing the automated donation station; and   placing the automated donation station.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the request is received via a customization application. 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the customization application operates over the Internet. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the automated donation station is portable. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the receiving of the request comprises receiving, at a web site accessible via a computer network, an electronic request for customization of the automated donation station, wherein the electronic request includes customization data for the automated donation station,   wherein the customizing of the automated donation station is based at least in part on the customization data included in the electronic request, and   wherein the placing the automated donation station places the automated donation station at a particular location for collection of donations from donors interacting with the automated donation station.   
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the customizing of the automated donation station customizes at least one graphical user interface thereof to a particular donation seeking organization or a particular donation seeking event.