Time to get rid of the FReepathons!

FR | 10-16-03 | Bob J

[Bob J]

The latest quarterly FReepathon was a success and is over now. However, these events are a pain in the butt for those that run and operate them and for two to three weeks they dominate the sidebar and each thread. It is time we work to eliminate them once and for all.

Monthly Donations!

Many FReepers of good will are signed up for a monthly donation to FR as opposed to making a quarterly contribution. There are advantages to this system for both the site and the donor. FR can operate on a sounder fiscal basis by having money coming in monthly and as a donor you can spread your contributions out in smaller increments over an entire year.

Currently FR gets about 7k in monthly revenue. If we could get this up to 25k, there would be no need for the FReepathons. You can sign up for a painless $5-$10 a month (more if you are inclined, several people are at $50-$100!), which would be processed through a secure server by Jim and his family. Plus, running bulk CC donations on a monthly basis is less expensive than using PayPal. Even if you can only afford $2-$3, it would be a tremendous help!

It's time we help put FR onto a more secure and professional revenue plan! Please, bump this thread and use your ping lists to encourage your friends and family to GO MONTHLY!

We need to get 1800 FReepers who would be willing to donate an average of $10 once a month!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR A MONTHLY DONATION!

[oprahstheantichrist]

I noticed that this one took a long time. I could only come up with one explanation: Rush must have been a HUGE contributor....

[justshe]

***I assume you are including all 468 of our present monthly donors!***

Thank you for asking what I was wondering. I would LOVE a mug..and have been a monthly donor for some time. It really IS the easiest way to donate!

[Bob J]

EVERYONE!

[justshe]

WOO HOO!!!!!

Thanks!

[Bob J]

BTW - This will be a special, one time production coffee mug...only monthly donors will get THIS one. Jim may decide to continue this offer, but, the mug WILL BE DIFFERENT!

I'm thinking an FR logo on one side and the other saying "I'm a monthly donor, BACK OFF DUDE!"

Heheh.

[justshe]

EVIL.....heeheehee.

If there is a way....you should get the info about the mugs into the title of the thread...or into the text of your 'article'. A *LIMITED EDITION* Thank-You Mug!

[EdReform]

"Even if you can only afford $2-$3, it would be a tremendous help!"

BTTT! We've been working hard to convince folks to that a monthly donation is an easy way to contribute. And we're making progress. RottiBiz has been keeping track of the stats and the number of monthly has been increasing each FReepathon.

So once again I post (with a few changes):

Freepers and Lurkers - if you haven't already done so, please consider a donation to Free Republic. Monthly donations are most helpful, however ALL donations are greatly appreciated!

Can you spare 17 cents per day? Great! Join Grampa Dave's Monthly Donors Team.

$5.00 per month too much right now? Consider MonroeDNA's $3.00 per month challenge.

Even your loose change can add up to a nice donation. Join Exit148's Loose Change Club

A $1 (~3 cents/day), $2 (7 cents/day), or $3 (10 cents/day) per month donation may seem insignificant to some folks, but it helps to pay the bills and it's a great way to start a monthly contribution. Getting started is what's important.

I've been doing a monthly for almost two years and have increased it slowly as my budget permits. It's an easy way for me to donate to FR.

Please consider a monthly donation to Free Republic today.

Thank You for your support!

Click The Logo To Donate

[Bob J]

Thanks for the links to the other programs! I suggest keeping threads like this active in the sidebars until the next FR-Thon! Maybe we won't need one by then!

Please add the "Coffee Mug" offer to your list!

[RottiBiz]

I believe some are hesitant to sign up because they are worried that, if their financial situation changes, they will be locked in forever.

Free Republic is not like AOL!

Every month, a few days prior to your donation day, you will receive the following notice:

"Dear monthly contributor,

Thank you for your monthly contribution to Free Republic!

This e-mail is a reminder that it is time for your next scheduled donation. Your donation amount of $XX.XX will automatically be charged to your credit card on X/X/2003.

If you would like to change your contribution information,
please visit our management tool at:

[clickable link specific for you]

Thank you for supporting Free Republic.

Sincerely,

Jim Robinson and the Free Republic Fundraising Team"

Couldn't be easier and you have complete control of your donations. Give it a shot -- you won't be sorry!

[bmwcyle]

I find nothing wrong with the current system. I like to watch the bar increase.

[Sally'sConcerns]

I'm a monthly donor and have been since the last freepathon. I don't have to think about it, I get the email as mentioned and like my tagline says...It's painless!

[EdReform]

"Absolutely!! Kudos, MonroeDNA !!

Ditto! I'll second that!!

Since we're passing out kudos, let's not forget that Grampa Dave's classic 5,000 Freepers who care are needed now! resulted in a significant increase in mothly donors when he originally posted it.

We've been bumping both Grampa Dave's and MonroeDNA's threads every FReepathon since they were posted - and every FReepathon we always seems to pick up a few more monthly donors.

[Just another Joe]

Read and, please, heed.

If you give during the FReepathons, please think about becoming a monthly donor for the same quarterly amount.
It's the same amount of money, you can stop a monthly donation anytime, what's the diff?

[Molly Pitcher]

Well, yes, I kinda take an interest in that, BUT I haven't really worked at one of these fundraisers....just an occasional bump!

Staging them, running them, starting the new threads, etc. is pretty time-consuming for those who do this, and similarly,

Some others get tired of the intrusions on the various threads of the "Support Free Republic" guy.:-))

So, besides being able to count on a high # of monthly donors, giving a known and predictable amount each quarter, some of the extra work and aggravation of fundraising could be eliminated.

I think MORE people would be HAPPY with those developments than a few people like you and me who like to watch the bar grow, and would be DISAPPOINTED if not needed.

[Molly Pitcher]

Excellent clarification BUMP, Rotti. Thank you!

[RottiBiz]

*I noticed that this one took a long time.*

Actually, it was pretty much in line with previous ones.

Here are the number of days for all previous Freepathons:

December 1999 - 8 days

February/March 2000 - 10 days, 11 hours

June 2000 - 9 days, 9 hours

October 2000 - 4 days, 4 hours*

Nov./Dec. 2000 - 11 days, 9 hours

March 2001 - 18 days

June 2001 - 18 days

September 2001 - 17 days**

December 2001 - 4 days, 8 hours

March 2002 - 7 days, 1 hour

June 2002 - 9 days, 1 hour

October 2002 - 12 days, 5 hours
4th Quarter

January 2003 - 13 days, 7 hours
1st Quarter

April 2003 - 8 days, 5 hours
2nd Quarter

July 2003 - 11 days, 7 hours
Third Quarter

October 2003 - 13 days, 22 hours
Fourth Quarter

*Not a regular Freepathon, but a special fundraiser for a server upgrade to handle the increased traffic prior to the November elections.

**The total time was 19 days, 9 hours, but fundraising was halted for two days following the 9/11 attack.

[Lady Jag]

Studies show monthly donations to Free Republice
reduce blood pressure by ten percent.

[EdReform]

A ping to the folks on your ping lists would be appreciated!

[Jim Robinson]

Wow!

We have incoming:

$10 monthly from Virginia
$20 from Colorado
$5 monthly from New Jersey
$20 monthly from Washington
$5 monthly from Michigan
$10 monthly from Pennsylvania
$10 monthly from Illinois
$10 monthly from Never Never Land

Thank you all very much!!

[RottiBiz]

Thank you, Monthly Donors!