280 - Really, now - it's not a complicated question. "We have some legal fees to cover" or "we're expecting some unusual expenses next quarter like x, y, and z" or "we put it in a rainy-day fund in case we need it for emergencies" would all be perfectly legitimate answers to a legitimate question. Rather than get all suspicious about something going on, I think I'm just going to assume that none of you really know, nor do any of you care enough to find out. Which is fine - that's your choice. I don't see why I shouldn't ask, though - I care, even if you don't.
283 - Let me be perfectly honest - I believe you. I'm really honestly certain that there's a perfectly good answer. I just don't know that answer, so I'm honestly trying to find out. That's it. That's all. It probably has been answered many times before, but I don't know where the answer is buried, so if you can help, I'd sure appreciate it.
Older threads:
Is Free Republic a Fraud? Is it time for Free Republic to go away?
FReepathon threads:
It's Time for our Second Quarter FReepathon
John and Tami negotiated a new contract with our bandwidth supplier and got our bill lowered a couple thousand per month! Our monthly expenses are now totalling just under $20,000, so we're setting the target for this Freepathon at $60,000. We have approximately $18,000 (and growing) per quarter coming from our monthly donors so we will only need to raise a little over $40,000 this time. Hopefully, we can do this in a week to ten days...
We went over the goal last quarter and we used part of the extra money to purchase and install two new servers. We now have a total of five servers running Free Republic...
The Free Republic Fourth Quarter FReepathon is Underway!!
And I'm sure you've all read that Free Republic has been slandered by the City of Fresno Human Relations Commission as being a "hate group" holding "hate rallies" and "hate picnics." Well, we are not going to allow this false and libelous accusation stand unanswered! We've filed the required paperwork notifying the City of Fresno that they are about to be sued. They have 90 days to respond or offer to resolve this issue through settlement. If not, then we file suit. We don't expect any major legal expenses for the case this quarter, but there may be some. Consequently, I'm increasing our target this quarter so that hopefully we will have some funds available to cover any expenses related to this effort as they are incurred. We have a favorable financial arrangement with our attorney, but there may be some expenses that have to be covered this quarter.
The Free Republic 4th Quarter FReepathon is now underway!!
If you are enjoying Free Republic as much as I hope you are and would like to help us remain on the air, please consider clicking the donation link and make a contribution today. We are setting our goal a little higher this quarter. In addition to our regular budgeted expenses, we've purchased quite a bit of equipment, plus we have some taxes to pay. The additional investments and taxes will have just about depleted our cash reserves and we'll need to replenish them if we can.
Third Quarter 04 FReepathon Now Underway!!
Our big legal bill is now paid off and our budgetary requirements are now reduced. For the first time in our history, our monthly donations are now bringing in more than 50% of our quarterly budget! Thanks to our generous membership and the settlement with the City of Fresno, we now have a comfortable cash buffer and should have no problems meeting our coming tax payments and other obligations.
I've recalculated our estimated budget requirements for the remainder of the year and have posted them here:
Our 2nd Quarter FReepathon is Underway!
People have asked me if the $60,000 settlement with the City of Fresno means we won't have to have a fundraiser this time. Well, I wish it could be so, but, unfortunately, it's not.
First of all, we did not actually receive $60,000. After legal fees, mediation fees and other expenses directly related to the suit, we netted approximately $34,000. Of that, we distributed over $10,000 to the members of the Fresno Chapter who were in business and their businesses suffered due to the city's libel and also to the members who met with us regularly on a weekly basis. Then, due to the fact that the city was late with their press release and no media picked it up, we paid approximately $2,000 to run ads in several valley papers announcing the city's retraction.
The approximately $22,000 left over will be used in our operations. We plan to use about $4,000 to upgrade our equipment and $10,000 or more will go for taxes. I plan to use part of the balance to beef up our insurance coverage and also will look into a health insurance plan. The remainder will be used for travel and other expenses. I still hope to visit as many chapters as I possibly can over the next year or so, but obviously won't be doing so in a motor home (you had to have been there to get the inside joke). We'll be traveling in our trusty old FReepermobile van. She's an 11 year old Mercury Villager with 150,000 miles, but she's got good rubber, purrs like a kitten and is pretty good on gas.
Our 1st Quarter Freepathon is Underway!
Our budget requirements this year are about the same as last year. We will be needing about $60,000 per quarter. Travel expenses may increase a bit, if my plans for a nation-wide tour come to fruition, but later in the year our $3,000 per month legal bill will finally be paid off. On other fronts, we are negotiating a settlement with the City of Fresno in regards to their libeling our Fresno Chapter and that looks to be coming out well.
As you can see, Jim has consistently provided information on Free Republic finances. He has posted additional threads in the past year or two discussing finances, but I don't have the links bookmarked and I don't have the time right now to find them for you.
Well, that's excellent. It certainly looks, at first glance, that explanations of this sort of thing have been readily available in the past. So it shouldn't be a problem to find out what's going on this time, right?
Your post is very informative for those who honestly would like to know how this place is run.
Over the years, I have noticed that the few who complain about the "budget" and ask the same old questions every Freepathon usually do not contribute to the support of Free Republic and are just mischief making.
If they are not on the list, they probably don't care about Free Republic.
It's best to just ignore them.