Microsoft Rewards points can now be automatically donated to charity as part of a new initiative called Give with Bing.
The points that Microsoft Rewards users earn by searching the internet via Bing will be changed into money when it’s donated to one of more than a million non-profit organisations. These include UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders and many more.
Users simply have to turn on Give Mode in their Microsoft Rewards account to activate the new feature, choose their charity, and start earning points on their PC, tablet or mobile phone. If you are not a Microsoft Rewards member, switching on Give Mode will create a Rewards account for you.
Microsoft will also be matching donations through to the end of December, and will send a monthly email to those signed up to Give with Bing to give them an overview of their charitable activity.
A spokesperson for The Special Olympics, one of the organisations that people can donate their points to, said: “The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
“COVID-19 has not only affected our ability to provide sports and social opportunities to our athletes, it has also impacted the health and wellness of this vulnerable population. Our number one priority has been to keep our athlete safe and healthy while physically distancing at home.
“Our partnership with Microsoft and the Bing team has allowed us to continue to support our athletes during this critical time. While the unemployment rate continues to rise, and our usual donor pool is unable to support us at their regular level, Microsoft Rewards and the ‘Give with Bing’ campaign are critical in securing funding, visibility, and support for our movement. We are immensely grateful for a technology partner who cares so deeply about inclusions and accessibility.”
Give with Bing is already live in the US, and has proved to be hugely popular with Microsoft Rewards users. This is the first time it will be launched in the UK.
Brian Kealy, International Marketing Lead for Bing, said: “We’re extremely excited to be launching Give with Bing in the UK, empowering our users to support important causes in these difficult times. Microsoft has always been focused on philanthropy and this is a fantastic way for our users to continue to make a real positive difference.”
Visit the Give with Bing homepage to learn more.
