Dotcom pioneer Marcelle Speller has a triangular vision: bringing together need, giving and expertise with the aim of helping thousands of the smallest charities and community groups raise vital funds for their local work via the internet.

Formed in partnership with the Community Foundation Network, Localgiving.com is being rolled out slowly across the UK. It will use the detailed local knowledge of the network's almost 60 members about the causes on their doorstep to offer donors all the information they require to give their philanthropy pinpoint accuracy, from location to beneficiaries and needs.

After an MBA from INSEAD and years in advertising and marketing, including senior posts with American Express, Avis and Inter-Continental Hotels, in 1996 Speller co-founded Holiday-Rentals.com. It became Europe's leading website for advertising private holiday homes, and was sold to Homeaway Inc in 2005, giving Speller the resources to invest in Localgiving.com.

A non-profit social enterprise, Localgiving.com's shareholders are the community foundations, while Speller is transferring her shares to a personal foundation whose mission is to to enable philanthropic giving. Speller is also a trustee of the Community Foundation Network, and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation.

One blogger summed up what was special about Speller's work in launching Localgiving.com: "Her act of kindness ... encourages a million more acts of kindness from people like you and me."