1.	One interesting trend that has arisen from the fertilizer of affiliate commissions is that of splitting the commission with the consumer's chosen charity. A number of new e-charity firms have formed, all aggregating merchants and enabling consumers who shop those merchants via the e-charity to redirect part of the new Internet margin - represented by the affiliate commission - to a charity. Again, so far, so good.
2.	Consumers appear to love the idea. Now, when they shop online for the things they need or want, a percentage of the purchase goes to a worthy cause. In many cases, to the individual's personal favorite worthy cause - the medical research that will help their descendants, or their kid's school, or the mission that is helping to educate inner city kids, or the pet rescue charity in town.
3.	And merchants appear to benefit. Marketing statistics indicate that consumers have a strong preference for doing businesses with corporations that are good citizens, and that when the merchant is making a donation of part of the sale price to the consumer's cause, consumers see a very tangible demonstration of corporate citizenship.