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Monica Ostby, President of Inlu.com Featured on Smartgirlsway!

by inlu blog patrol on December 1, 2011

Bio & Company Story:

Inlu Co-Founder, Jamaica Jenkins and I, both mothers of three, saw first hand how our beloved cultural celebrations not only have a negative environmental impact, but also miss out on technological advances that make life easier to organize. So, “in lieu of” excess, hassle, and waste, we created inlu.com, an online web invitation service with a built in group giving system. Inlu enables friends and family to easily pitch in for what is truly wanted as a group – toward ANY gift, ANY charity, or BOTH – and streamline the process for everyone. We’ve also tied in a patent-pending carbon footprint tracker that demonstrates the positive impact of giving as a group.

Today, Inlu helps people organize group gifting across many occasions, from birthdays to weddings, to non-profit fund drives. Since launching, over 100 different charities have been supported – some multiple times. And unique gifts have been given: from birthday skateboards, to newlywed first home deposits, and growing family double strollers, to a wheelchair ramp for a neighbor in need.

We have seen our early adapters embrace this easy to use tool – with over 20% having used Inlu more than three times in the short time we have been live. One Inlu enthusiasts has already participated in over 25 Inlu collections. We hope to see the word about Inlu spread, so that everyone can experience the joy of our celebrations, without the hassle, excess, and waste that we all agree we can do without.

To read the entire page and view other 100×100 entrepreneurs (like our friend, Janice Shade of TrueBody Products), click to visit SMARTGIRLSWAY.com

Click to visit Smartgirlsway.

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Who are We Thankful For? (You!)

by inlu blog patrol on November 23, 2011

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4 Ways to Handle Inlu Gift Collection Funds

by inlu blog patrol on November 10, 2011

how inlu works

We like chatting about all the fabulous ways to spend final gift collection funds. Today, we want to focus on the four main ways Inlu Gift Collection funds are pooled and sent.

(As the Gift Collection Organizer, you can choose how to handle your Gift Collection Funds)…

1. Consolidate and Send

Simply coordinate the collection and indicate that Inlu SEND the consolidated funds to someone. This can be the person or purpose being honored, or another person who will purchase a gift for the person being honored. You don’t know what the final collection total will be until your Inlu closes. This is perfect for gift certificate type giving – where the final amount is less important than the gift itself.

2. Purchase Ahead of Time, Reimburse Your Wallet

Consider the consolidated funds to be a REIMBURSEMENT to you. If you want to pre-purchase a gift for someone (for example, a new bike), and you want whatever donated funds to go toward that gift, then consider those funds to be a reimbursement back to you. This is helpful for things like birthdays when you want a specific item to be ‘opened’ at the party. Buy it whenever you want. And know that the collected funds will find their way back to you after your collection closes. The collection might not meet your total cost.

3. Many Honorees, One Contribution (Alternative Reimbursement)

IF a you are coordinating a SINGLE Inlu meant for MULTIPLE HONOREES (ie, 3 COACHES GIFTS, 1 contribution PER family), it is best to use the Inlu as a REIMBURSEMENT to you. The Inlu system enables you to list ONE person and address to which all funds can be issued. You can see the final amount collected on the day of your Collection End Date, divide that amount as you see fit, and purchase multiple items (like individual gift certificates) yourself. For example, if you collect $90 you can purchase 3 $30 gift certificates. Use the Inlu funds to reimburse yourself.

4. Direct-to-Store Group Gift Certificate

Purchase a single GROUP GIFT CERTIFICATE from our growing list of partners. In this case, the gift funds are sent directly to the shop and held as a gift certificate in your honoree’s name. The Inlu system issues a gift certificate announcement to the person being honored with the messages from all who contributed, as well as their group gift certificate number registered with that store. Nice and easy!

Know an awesome little local shop that should become a partner? Lets us know! Businesses LOVE when their own customers refer Team Inlu. You will help an awesome local business compete with ‘the big guys’ when they become a partner. —> Email us support@inlu.com!

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Inlu This! Burton Chopper Star Wars™ Board

by inlu blog patrol on November 3, 2011


Welcome to the AWESOME side. Your kiddo’s got plenty of plastic toys. He’s got enough “stuff” to fill up a walk-in closet. This year, use the FORCE of Inlu to coordinate contributions to cover the cost of the most badass, radical, excellent group gift, like, EVER.

This $189 ride-on galaxy blaster will take you from the living room to the white fields of that planet with the hairy white creature that captures what’s-his-face in that cave…nevermind.

This is a perfect group gift for the Holiday season. Your kid will LOVE it, the grandparents will be happy to pitch-in and the favorite aunt in Oregon is pumped to put some $ in the pool, leave a note and know there’s not going to be an 11th hour mad dash. You’ll be PSYCHED because you know that, AFTER the new year, when the snow starts to pile, this gift will be  put to good use!

Here’s how you’d use Inlu to make this Chopper happen (see SAMPLE):

1. You login (free account!) and create an Inlu announcement

2. Write some details about the gift your kiddo really wants

3. Opt to set a collection cap, have excess funds go toward a charity (I set this one at $189- again, optional)

4. Send to friends and family members you know would like to pitch in for this super gift

5 . You track and view contributions and notes from your dashboard, where you can easily send a thank you when the collection closes.

6. Then you get the $ in one check to go and buy the gift. Easy, that was, hmmn? (say in cute Yoda voice).

Sound good? Get started now, send it to yourself. Add recipients when you’re ready. Go easy on everyone, easier on the planet (less wrapping, shipping and “stuff” when you group gift).

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Watch This Wednesday! ($1 Will Go To The Athlete Recovery Fund)

by inlu blog patrol on November 2, 2011

Inlu.com users have supported a variety of causes over the past two years. Today, I’d like to simply share a way you can support an industry and passion that is near and dear to many of our users: action sports. By simply watching this video, $1 (up to $100k) will be donated by Ballpark Franks to support the Athlete Recovery Fund, which provides insurance and healthcare to some of our most admirable, “uninsurable” daredevil heroes. That’s it. All you do is watch. Thanks! (Here’s the link: http://youtu.be/1-rrKZZTV_A)

PS Idea Alert: The Athlete Recovery Fund would make an awesome Inlu cause this holiday season! (Note: we are not associated with any charities, this just seems like a great cause that makes a real difference:).

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25 Charities, Causes and Nonprofits REAL Inlu Users Have Supported (BTW, Inlu Users Rock)

by inlu blog patrol on October 20, 2011

Our users have supported MANY charities in several IN LIEU OF contexts, like:

In lieu of gifts, send gift monies (in one sum!) to help a cause.
In lieu of collecting many small checks, pool contributions together for one  easy fundraiser!
In lieu of wasting $ on wrapping paper, they’ve pitched in smaller amounts as a group to give back to the planet.
In lieu of bake sales,  users have simply created an Inlu to support schools, nonprofits and more.

Here’s a list of 25 randomly selected charities, causes and planet-happy ways our users have given back to help others:

  1. Best Friends Animal Society, Utah
  2. Cheetah Conservation Fund
  3. Burlington City Arts
  4. NOFA Farmer Emergency Fund
  5. Donation to the “Church they were married in…” St. Patick’s Cathedral
  6. Autism Speaks
  7. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
  8. U.S. Luge Association/ I Slide 4 Nodar
  9. Visiting Nurses of Vermont
  10. Dayton Children’s Hospital, OH
  11. Kennedy’s Cord Foundation, KY
  12. Alzheimer’s Association
  13. New England Center For Homeless Veterans
  14. Sutter Aubrurn VNA Hospice
  15. Life Rolls On
  16. Homocide Survivors Fund, AZ
  17. Camp Dudley William J. Schmidt Scholarship Fund
  18. Champion Against Bullying
  19. Children’s Hunger Fund
  20. Teaching Tolerance, AL
  21. Intertribal Friendship House
  22. Pennies For Peace
  23. Ashlee’s Charity for Junior National Young Leaders
  24. Discovery Charter School
  25. Southeast Valley Youth Football, AZ

Want to create an IN LIEU OF charity collection? Visit inlu.com and

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Fans and Friends, We Have a 25th Month Anniversary Gift for You!

October 8, 2011

As our loyal friends, fans and fabulous peeps, we’d love to offer you a special WE INLU sticker for your car, computer or wherever you’d like. Simply email us with your name and address and we’ll get one in the mail. support@inlu.com YOU are the best and we love you.

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Watch This! Wednesday: Inlu 25th (Month) Anniversary Flashback!

October 5, 2011

As we head full steam into October, we want to take the time to let you know that all this month, we’re celebrating YOU our users and our Inlu experiences over the past two years (25 months actually). All month, we’ll be bringing you bits and pieces that will celebrate what you have done as [...]

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10 Recycled, Reusable and Really Rad Wrapping Paper Ideas

September 28, 2011

Ok, so the season of shower gifts, group given or otherwise is upon us. And in the wake of that awesome clip, 30 Gifts to 30 Strangers, I thought, well, why not round up wrapping paper options so when you give that beautifully wrapped gem of a gift, you know you’re not using toxic papers [...]

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Etsy Artwork = Perfect Group Gift

September 17, 2011

Have you ever stopped in your tracks to gaze at a piece of art, thinking THAT would be a perfect piece in my house! Do you know an artsy couple about to get hitched? Do you happen to know a local artist you’d love to add to your collection? Could your inlaws use some artistic [...]

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