FR Fundraising Discussion Thread

Little House on Unaka | May 13, 2008 | don-o

[don-o]

This thread is for the purpose of discussion regarding fundraising efforts. Free Republic is sustained by voluntary contributions. There is no paid advertising and, hence, no pop up or banner ads. We all know, and hopefully, appreciate this.

We all also know of the quarterly fund raising campaign, a.k.a. the Freepathon. Love ‘em or hate ‘em - this is how a great deal of the money is obtained to pay expenses. Some of us know of the monthly donor option. We can elect to have an automatic deduction made from a credit card account.

There have been some private discussions about whether the discussion I propose is even necessary. Others, like myself think a pro-active approach to future fund raising is worth thinking and talking about. What can be done to generate the needed money that is not being done now?

Jim Robinson, of course, has the say-so on how it’s done. I just want to get some focused discussion.

Please share your thoughts and ideas. Ping it widely. Thanks

[Fiddlstix]

Here's the budget in case some people might miss it.

Free Republic Monthly Budget

Once we get our monthly donations to the point where they will cover all of our expenses, we will not need to have fundraisers.

Est. Recurring Monthly Contributions			$9,133.00
Monthly Expenses
	Bandwidth and Colocation	$2,700
	System Administation and Programming	5,000
	Administrative and Taxes	9,500
	Legal and Accounting	1,000
	Bank Fees, Credit Card Fees, Processing Fees	800
	Equip, Maintenance and Repairs	300
	Office Expenses, Rents, Insurance, Telephone, ISP, Supplies, Misc.	2,500
	Travel Expenses	800	22,600.00
Est. Monthly Shortfall			($13,467.00)

---

Est. Recurring Monthly Contributions

This is the amount contributed by the monthly donors only. It does not include one-time donations.

Est. Monthly Shortfall

Amount needed in one-time donations per month or additional monthlies need to meet budget needs.

The title is also a clickable link.
Posting it on the thread might be a bit of help.

[Fiddlstix]

As I understand it, yes.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Does FR get the money through a donation if I buy some of the FR stuff?

[deport]

I really don’t know. You’d have to asked JR.

[dforest]

Has a join up fee ever been charged? Might keep the people who are only here as troublemakers away as they usually are too cheap to pay for their trolling.

I don’t know much about this kind of thing. Just asking.

[don-o]

I have never been asked for any money at all. I have been given an opportunity to voluntarily support what is free for the taking.

It’s what I think that conservatives would intuitively do - share the cost for value received.

I would think that charging a fee would be the absolute last resort. Maybe others see it differently.

[Fiddlstix]

Here's the Monthlies List started last FReepathon.

List of Monthly Donors
Brad's Gramma Maceman NormsRevenge noexcuses M0sby ThePythonicCow Slicksadick xcamel saminfl illiac Jean S rface Cable225 NY Attitude vandy McLynnan CyberAnt Vermonter Empireoftheatom48 toddlintown GovernmentShrinker EdReform Chairman_December _19th_Society SamAdams76 katykelly Betty Jane Flashman_at_ the_charge HairOfTheDog RobFromGa xzins glock rocks brityank crazy aunt in the attic SubMareener Ditter Bush_Democrat Bahbah eastforker CholeraJoe hattend leadpenny FreeperMania NCMOM umgud toldyou Ole Okie twin2 dutchess Angelwood McGavin999 Kathy in Alaska Fiddlstix Alamo-Girl TomServo Mo1 Quilla RichInOC steveegg duckbutt MindyW Moiraine Letitring CaptRon GunsareOK Exit 148 babble-on Minute Gal Jacvin Slip18 EllenM M1911A1 Don Carlos afnamvet wireplay Bergen redhead upsdriver Caipirabob Baynative Allegra	don-o NewLand katnip Just another Joe goosie notaliberal Little Bill w1andsodidwe blam gidget7 Just another Joe VirginiaMom chesty_puller dalereed betty boop dixiechick2000 Max Monroe SunTzuWu texas booster Chuck54 basil FairWitness estrogen DancingMyRainbow beandog Vermonter Stentor concretebob RabidBartender Billthedrill scott7278 Mr. Smorch RedRover Verbosus GitmoSailor daybreakcoming Sir Hailstone freespirited vetvetdoug TaxRelief The Right Stuff oceanperch ScottHawaiian Tijeras_Slim drc43 Laura Earl Conspiracy Guy Judith Anne NYTexan politicalmerc Publius LakeLady Tarpaulin Ellesu pelican Pharmboy Pete-R-Bilt Rushmore Rocks Grampa Dave UpstateNYRouser X-FID cedarswingman Two-Bits Miss Behave Mad_Tom_Rackham pgkdan Magnolia hotshu shetlan bamabound Diamondhead LuigiBasco Raffus beandog truthkeeper lula MEG33 concentric circles sneakers 4woodenboats ButThreeLeftsDo NinoFan SnarlinCubBear	American Quilter usflagwaver Rheo LUVW JustaNobody Jazusamo ol’ hoghead davidosborne Lonesome in Massachussets mojo114 musicman WVNan brityank HiJinx Randy Larsen FreedomPoster plsjr processing please hold holly go-rightly Aggie Mama angkor lonevoice Lady Jag Eric Blair 2084 proud2beconservativeinNJ GrandmaPatriot dynachrome Chode RandallFlagg Ditter mountainfolk george76 F.J. Mitchell do the dhue holly go-rightly scripter Kitten1 seekthetruth BIGLOOK LadyPilgrim SFConservative adm5 facedown LadyNavyVet processing please hold MizSterious sjeann harpo11 bazbo angelsonmyside JDoutrider BoxerDawgs BooBoo1000 Bommer Kay Ludlow commonguymd crager MarineMom613 Tax-chick markomalley primatreat pax_et_bonum mnehrling JMJJR Momaw Nadon eyedigress BlessedBeGod WorkerbeeCitizen Owl_Eagle NonValueAdded Shelayne Jeff Gordon John O I_be_tc Peacekeeper357 ElkGroveDan Jack Deth Eddie01 jch10 SwatTeam
This Is The Beginning Of The Monthly Donor List. This Is A Test. Please Help By Contacting don-o To Have Your Name Added To This List. Thank You PS: Please Visit The Monthly Donor Thread

A link to this thread should be added to it.

[Fiddlstix]

[don-o]

A link to this thread should be added to it.

I see that you have taken care of that. The new monthly donor list looks great. Let's think positive for a quick quick - as in seven day Freepathon.

[don-o]

I see that you have taken care of that. The new monthly donor list looks great. Let's think positive for a quick quick - as in seven seventeen day Freepathon.

Fixed it.

[Jet Jaguar]

“I’ve thought a lot about having some sort of indication that a poster is a donor”

I think that would be a good idea

[Randy Larsen]

I just looked at the Budget Link and really have a problem with the travel budget!

800 bucks a month, are you joking?

[Fiddlstix]

.....Let's think positive for a quick quick - as in seven seventeen day Freepathon.....

Not to "rain on your parade"......
But.....
seventeen day 'thon?
This is day sixteen and take a look........

35%

Try for 27 days......
(Or maybe even 37)

[Randy Larsen]

I love that idea!!!

[don-o]

If you wish to quibble about a line item, you can do that.

I’ve never though that to be worthwhile. If that line were eliminated and $800 added to “legal” would that be better?

[don-o]

I started to go large, but, trying to stay optimistic and positive.

[don-o]

btw, you have a misspelled word on your profile.

[Randy Larsen]

My question don-o is WHY is this so small?

The owner of this website needs more funds just to be able to participate in it’s functions!

[Randy Larsen]

No Doublet!

[Randy Larsen]

Checking....LOL!