What is Kudzu.com?

Kudzu.com is a website that provides consumers nationwide with trusted information about the best service providers in their local area, like a neighbor who knows. . Plumbers, roofers, doctors, party planners - we've got 'em. Need somebody to build a new deck? Check Kudzu.com. Planning a wedding or big event? We've got detailed listings, credentials, ratings and reviews for everything from florists to caterers to limousine services.

Can any type of organization sign up for the Kudzu.com Fundraiser?

Any nonprofit organization — schools, clubs, sports teams, non-profits, churches, bands, etc. — can apply to raise money using the Kudzu.com Fundraiser. Cox Search/Kudzu.com may send a 1099 form to your organization at the end of the year.

Who can participate in my group's Kudzu.com Fundraiser?

Anybody over the age of 18 who has used a local business can write reviews that generate funds for your organization. Don't limit participation to just members of your club. We encourage you to recruit friends, family and co-workers — even those out-of-state!

How much money will my group make using the Kudzu.com Fundraiser?

It's pretty simple: The more eligible reviews your participants write, the more money Kudzu.com will send your organization. For each eligible review your group writes, Kudzu.com makes a payment to your organization of $0.75 up to a maximum of $10,000 for each fundraiser.

Some of your participants may just write a few reviews, while some reviewers on Kudzu.com have written 100 reviews or more. So, be sure to recruit friends, family, co-workers, etc. to join your effort and remind them often to keep writing!

To qualify to receive funds from us, a fundraiser must earn a minimum of $100. The maximumpayment from us to a single fundraiser is $10,000. See our Fundraiser Terms and Conditions.

When will my organization be paid?

1. After the completion of your group's fundraiser.

2. 30 days after receipt of your signed W9 form or proof of tax exempt status.

How do my organization's supporters sign up for the program?

You'll get a personalized link (URL) to a Web page when we approve your application to create a Kudzu.com Fundraiser. The URL will look something like this: http://www.kudzu.com/fundraiser/example.

You can send that URL to everyone you want to participate in your program. Those who want to participate simply will enter the URL in the address box on their Web browser or click on the link in the email you send them. The Web page they see when they go to that URL will have step-by-step instructions on how to register. Every qualifying review they write for Kudzu.com going forward will earn money for your organization.

How do my organization's supporters invite their friends, family, and co-workers to participate?

They can just forward the URL to anyone they want to invite to participate.

What does Kudzu.com get out of this program?

High quality reviews. Participants in this fundraising program are helping make Kudzu.com better for everyone by providing ratings and reviews of service professionals and businesses they've used. By adding ratings and reviews to the site, participants help others find the best service professionals for their needs.

And everybody else's ratings and reviews can help you, too!

What is an "eligible review"?

Here are our guidelines, which also appear on the page visitors to Kudzu.com see when they write their reviews:

• Reviews must relate your first-hand experience with a business – not hearsay.
• Don't include in reviews any personal information about yourself or anyone who works for the business you are reviewing.
• Reviews must not allege illegal activity or malpractice. If you suspect that a business has engaged in illegal activity, contact a law enforcement agency.
• Reviews must not contain profanity, abusive or offensive language. We'll delete these.
• Your experience with the business or service provider should have occurred recently.
• Use proper grammar and spelling and write the review in complete sentences. It makes your review appear more credible.
• Do not write reviews in ALL CAPS.
• Business owners and their employees/associates are not allowed to review themselves. Business owners can tell their story by enhancing their business listing on Kudzu.com.
• Your review must be in your words. You can't copy reviews from another source.
• The companies you review must still be in business.
• Reviews of nationwide restaurant chains (McDonalds, Golden Corral, etc.), gas station chains, movie theater chains and national or regional chain stores (Target, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc.) DO NOT qualify for the fundraiser. Feel free to review them on Kudzu.com, but they won't count toward your fundraising goal. Generally, these companies offer similar services or products, so there's not much you can write in a review to distinguish one from another. Also, reviews of local government offices, churches and volunteer organizations (any businesses listed within the Community category on Kudzu.com) DO NOT count toward the fundraiser goal.
• Reviews not meeting our fundraising terms and conditions or deemed inappropriate by Kudzu.com do not qualify for the fundraiser.

How do I add my reviews to Kudzu.com?

Anybody registered on Kudzu.com can post a review. Here's how to do that:

• Find a business on Kudzu.com that you've used. You can either use the search box at the top of any Kudzu.com page or browse for a business by visiting our All Categories page.
• Click on the name of the business you're looking for in our list of results.
• Click on the "Write a review" link on the business' profile page. You'll be asked to log in to Kudzu.com or register if you haven't already.
• Then choose star ratings for the business and write a review. Click on the publish button when you're happy with what you've written.

That's it!

Do all reviews have to be positive?

We encourage honest, informative reviews of local businesses you've used. Reviews should convey your actual, first-hand experience, whether positive or negative. They should not contain offensive or abusive language, provide the personal contact information of any individual, or reference illegal activity.

How do I view or change my account information?

The account information included with your Kudzu.com Fundraiser is available by logging in to your My Kudzu page and visiting your Fundraiser's Summary page. Changes to your fundraiser's account information can only be made while your fundraiser is pending approval. Once your fundraiser has been approved, any changes need to be handled through online support.

Will people know it was me who posted a review on a business?

Everybody who visits Kudzu.com will just see your screen name next to your review. Participants create screen names when they register on Kudzu.com for the first time.

What if someone starts writing for the fundraiser but hasn't clicked the link I sent them?

If someone writes reviews before they sign up for the Kudzu.com Fundraiser, they can click on the link you sent them anytime within the fundraising period and every review they've written during that period for Kudzu.com will earn money for your organization.

Who do I contact if I have a question about the program?

Feel free to contact us via our online support.