GoodDate exists to help rid the world of loneliness. That's a big goal for a small nonprofit, and we know it. Here's why we think it matters, how we're going about it, and why we're doing it as a nonprofit.

Public Dating Network, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, EIN 33-3270168, operates GoodDate as its only purpose.

Loneliness is more than a bad feeling, it's a public health crisis. In 2023 the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory calling it an epidemic: about half of U.S. adults report experiencing it, and it raises the risk of dying early by 26%.

It's not just an American problem, either. The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 6 people worldwide are affected by loneliness, and links it to more than 871,000 deaths every year — around 100 every hour. Lonely people are twice as likely to become depressed, and at higher risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

There are lots of ways to feel less alone: friends, family, community, therapy. All of them matter. But when researchers look at what protects people from loneliness the most, a close partner comes out on top. One study found positive marriages offered the greatest protection against loneliness of any relationship they looked at.

Notice the word positive. The same study found marriage only helped when the partner was also a confidant — someone you actually open up to. Just being with someone isn't enough, it has to be the right someone.

That's why we focus on matchmaking, and why we care so much about compatibility. You tell us what you value, what you need, and what your dealbreakers are, and we match you with people who line up. Fewer matches, but better ones.

Because the for-profit dating industry is failing people. There are more dating apps than ever, and yet the share of U.S. adults ages 25 to 54 without a spouse or partner rose from 29% in 1990 to 38% in 2019. Meanwhile, loneliness became an epidemic.

We don't think that's a coincidence. A dating app makes money when you keep swiping, keep subscribing, and keep buying boosts. When you find your person and delete the app, they lose a customer. The business works best when you're almost finding someone, forever.

As a nonprofit, we don't have that problem. There are no ads, no premium tier, and we don't sell your data. Our version of success is you leaving GoodDate because you found someone (our hosting bill agrees).

If you'd like to help, the best thing you can do is tell a single friend about us.