--- title: How PIFster Works url: https://www.pifster.org/how-pifster-works/ date: 2026-11-01T03:45:08+00:00 modified: 2026-11-01T03:45:08+00:00 lang: en_US --- # How PIFster works Join thousands of everyday heroes paying it forward for as little as $1 a month to discover, vote for, and fund nonprofits making a real difference in our communities. [Watch how it works](#watch)[Become a PIFster](/become-a-pifster/) 1 Your $1 goes in ### Become a PiFster Give $1 a month into the community fund. Your dollar earns you a vote. → 2 Your idea ### Suggest a charity Nominate a local nonprofit or cause that deserves support. → 3 Your vote ### Vote Vote for the causes you believe in. Every eligible voice counts. → 4 Fund goes out ### We fund the winner Each month the community fund goes to the cause with the most votes. → 5 Shared results ### See the impact Follow the stories and results your giving helps make possible. ▲ ↻ Repeats every month ↻ Steps 3 to 5 repeat every month ## See it in action A short look at how a small monthly gift becomes a shared voice for good. [![Player Logo](https://www.pifster.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PIF-Circ-Avatar-Fnl.png)](#) Play Pause Backward 10s Play Pause Forward 10s Unmute Mute / Settings Playback Accessibility Announcements Keyboard Animations Enter PiP Exit PiP Enter Fullscreen Exit Fullscreen ## A closer look at each step A small gift can become a shared voice for good. Here is what happens, from your first dollar to the stories it makes possible. 1 ### Become a PiFster Give $1 a month into the community fund. Everyone who joins chips in the same way, and your dollar earns you a vote every month. You can cancel anytime from your profile. Received a gift or have a code from your employer? You can redeem it and start right away. [Become a PIFster](/become-a-pifster/)[Redeem a gift or company code](/become-a-pifster/#codes) 2 ### Suggest a charity Nominate a local nonprofit or a person in need. Every suggestion is vetted before it reaches the ballot, so you can give with confidence. [Suggest a cause](/become-a-pifster/#suggest)[See how we vet causes](/charity-vetting-process/) 3 ### Vote Each month, discover the causes your community is supporting and vote before the monthly period closes. Every eligible voice counts, and signing in takes a one-time link sent to your email, with no password needed. You can also earn bonus votes by donating directly to the cause you are voting for. Your donation goes to that cause whether or not it wins, so your generosity supports the work you believe in either way. [See this month’s causes](/current-charities-grid/) 4 ### We fund the winner At the end of each month, PIFster directs the collective giving according to the community’s results: the cause with the most votes receives the subscriber vote funds. Your own bonus votes and direct donations are separate, and go to the cause you chose whether or not it wins. [Meet past winners](/past-winners-grid/) 5 ### See the impact Follow the stories and results your giving helps make possible. Every winner shares what community support means to their work. [Read the stories](/charity-support-blogs/) ## Frequently asked questions #### How much does it cost? Membership is as little as $1 a month, and you can cancel anytime from your profile. #### How does voting work? Your membership includes one vote each month to support the cause of your choice. The cause with the most votes receives the subscriber vote funds. #### What are bonus votes? You can also cast bonus votes through the voting platform. Every additional dollar you donate to your chosen cause gives you one bonus vote. Your bonus votes and direct donations go to your chosen cause no matter which cause receives the most votes. #### How are causes vetted? Every cause is checked for legitimacy, including 501(c)(3) status, history and structure, lawsuits and board member backgrounds, and for finances, including overhead, funding sources and how much is spent on the cause. [Read the full vetting process](/charity-vetting-process/) . #### How do I redeem a gift card or company code? Visit pifster.org and select Become a PIFster. Enter your code in the designated field, then follow the instructions to complete your registration. [Go to the code boxes](/become-a-pifster/#codes) . #### How do I sign in to vote? Enter your email address and we will send you a secure sign-in link to cast your vote. No password needed. More questions? [Leave us a message](/get-involved/) ## Make giving part of your everyday life. Give $1. Help create real change, month after month. [Become a PIFster](/become-a-pifster/)[Give a gift](/christmas-gifts/)