Not everyone has the financial ability to give money to the causes they care about. That is where the i’m Initiative steps in - it enables Windows Live Messenger users to make a difference by directing a portion of Messenger’s advertising revenue to a cause of their choosing.

If you are like me there must a be ton of questions flying around in your head about how it works, so I have used my favorite blog format (FAQ) below to hopefully help answer all your questions. If you still have questions please head on over to the Windows Live Messenger Newsgroup where I will be happy to answer them for you.

Wonderful! How does it work?

1. Use Messenger 8.1
2. Add the i’m emoticon to your display name by entering the code of the cause you would like to support (hint: I suggest adding it at the end of your name so you still appear in the correct alphabetic order in your contacts list)
3. Send and receive IMs
4. A portion of the advertising revenue generated by your usage of Messenger will be donated to your cause. So the more IMs you send and receive the more money will be donated to your cause.

note: currently the donation only applies to Windows Live Messenger users in the United States. If you are in the US and you are IMing with a contact in another country your IM activity will be counted towards the donation.

hat does the i’m emoticon represent?

It tells your contacts that you are making a difference, it is short for “i’m making a difference”.

What are the i’m emoticon codes and causes?

• American Red Cross — ready to help, code = *red+u
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America — providing a positive place for kids, code = *bgca
• National AIDS Fund — fighting AIDS, code = *naf
• National MS Society — joining the MS movement, code = *mssoc
• ninemillion.org — helping 9 million refugee kids, code = *9mil
• Sierra Club — exploring and protecting the planet, code = *sierra
• StopGlobalWarming.org — stopping global warming, code = *help
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure — finding the cure, code = *komen
• UNICEF — helping kids survive, code = *unicef

Can I put the I’m emoticon in my personal message? and send it in IM?

Yes you can. However you must also place it in your display name for your IM activity to be counted towards the donation.

My favorite cause isn’t listed. What can I do?

Please send us feedback here.

What is the minimum amount that will be contributed to each cause?

Each of the causes above will receive at a minimum $100,000 in the first year.

If there is a minimum there must be a maximum for each cause. What is it?

There is no maximum. The more IMs you send and receive the more money will be donated to the cause you select.

Can I contribute to multiple causes?

You can put multiple causes in your display name, however only the first one listed will count towards the donation. If you can’t choose just one, feel free to change the first one as often as you wish.

How does Messenger even generate revenue\money anyway?

Windows Live Messenger is a free service to users. We do include advertisements in the client that help pay for the service and our salaries. With the i’m Initiative you get to decide where a portion of the revenue goes.

Some of my contacts can’t see the i’m emoticon What gives?

In order to see the i’m emoticon you must be using Messenger 8.1 final. You can tell your friends to get it here.

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