Visual Editors
Visual Editors, NFP was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2004.
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Robb Montgomery
Founder
Joined: 07 Mar 2004
Posts: 1504
Location: Chicago
Posted:
Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:03 pm
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One of the more humbling aspects of running a non-profit charity is having to ask the people you serve for a helping hand. But that is how it works. Pride swallowed, here goes.
VizEds relies on your financial help, your ideas and labor in running the fundraisers and finding partners who share similar outreach goals.
PayPal paperwork
I've just supplied Paypal with all of the charity's proof of of tax-exempt status and documentation from the Attorney General's office that this group is certified to solicit money - so we'll soon be able to use their resources to help.
Your ideas are certainly better than mine
So, onto your ideas and pledges for keeping alive this charity and the global services it supports for journalism education.
We've been getting by with contributions from myself, other directors, my family, the odd sponsor donation and many, many small gifts from dedicated members over the last three years.
Show the love for our supporters
One idea I am kicking around is to honor our regularly supporting members (As well as corporate sponsors) more prominently.
Should we host a public wall where our supportors could be recognized?
What if we let people 'Buy VizEds a beer'
The first goal I would like to set is for 100 people to pledge $8 a month to support the charity and agree to be billed that amount by PayPal as an ongoing subscription. That's the price of one beer (Ok really good beer! but still . . .) Tell yourself "Self. Now is the time to buy VizEds a beer."
I would hope that you would agree that VizEds is serving your needs to at least earn a toast from you.
Hey, it costs money to give away everything for free!
This base of users will support the charity so that we can meet our operational expenses (Remember that I don't get paid - in fact - NOBODY gets paid for working for Visual Editors) It's an all-volunteer effort but there are real costs in running a 24/7 global business - no matter the savings in labor.
The bullet points
So that's my one big idea - have a core group of VizEds lovers who would be willing to pledge $8 a month (About the cost of a pint of Guiness) that we could recognnize in a variety of ways.
1) List them as supporters on a public-facing page on the site.
2) Allow them to design their own custom avatars
3) Make their donations tax deductible
4) [insert your idea here]
That's it - I'll let you know when PayPal approves the non-profit to be able to allow us to accept donations and we'll put a quiet, but obvious, badge on the home page.
Officlal Donation Details
Naturally, if you prefer to make a donation by check, it should be made payable to Visual Editors, NFP and mailed to 931 W. 75th St., Room 221, Naperville, IL 60565, Attention: Support Director.
If you would like to make a donation in some other form, or have questions about your donation, please contact us for additional information.
Complete information about the charity including sponsor benefits is available at http://www.visualeditors.org
Visual Editors, NFP has been incorporated and is operated as a public charity. It has received official IRS recognition of its tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our federal ID number is 34-2015808. Donations will be tax deductible and disclosed to the IRS.
Privacy Policy: If you choose to make a donation to visual Editors, your credit card information will be used only for this transaction through our secure online payment system. Visual Editors does not retain card information.
One more thing - CORPORATE SPONSORS and the VizEds lunch
FYI: In October we would like to have an offline meetup at SND Boston.
VizEds members meet every year to raise money for a scholarship.
Last year we were sponsored by Topix.net and Font Bureau.
Can we count on you?
Request a sponorship packet to learn about the beneifits of supporting this group.
Let's here your ideas!
.
_________________
Where in the world is Robb?
Last edited by Robb Montgomery on Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:09 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Joe Greco
Juke Box Hero
Joined: 24 Jun 2004
Posts: 36
Location: Chicago burbs
Posted:
Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:03 am
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For bullet point 4) [insert your idea here| ...
4) We're all creative types, right? Perhaps we can help support this site by contributing works of art. VizEds can then upload jpgs of the artwork to a myCapture.com account. After prices are set, art lovers can order matte or glossy prints of original art -- paintings, sketches, photos, etc. -- framed or unframed. Oter items are also available, such as coffee mugs, mouse pads, calendars. Proceeds would support the site. Artists can even get a percentage to help encourage support. (No, I don't get a commission for pushing this site.)
5) Maybe the original artwork could be signed and dated by the artist and a quarterly auction could be held, with proceeds going toward VizEds.
6) Companies trying to push their wares onto our wide-eyed, tech-savvy VizEds family could offer up samples of hardware, software, etc., for auctions.
7) To keep this site operational for years, the thousands of VizEds devotees around the world could each sell a kidney. Heck, we only need one.
Any more ideas?
_________________
Something witty should go here |
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Anders Tapola
Juke Box Hero
Joined: 20 Oct 2004
Posts: 44
Location: Smålandsposten, Växjö, Sweden
Posted:
Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:51 am
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Robb, as you know very well: $ 8 for a beer is a regular price in Sweden, even if it isn’t a Guiness, Staropramen, Pilsner Urquell, Boston Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada, Samuel Adams or any other decent beer. Around $ 8 you are practically forced to pay here in Sweden for any disguisting so called International lager as Carlsberg and Heineken – or even for so-called beers as Miller and Bud!
In other words: I would certainly like to buy a beer for vizeds once a month. But maybe I’m not so much for monthly payings via Internet sites like PayPal. I would prefer a payment once a year: $100 payment for beers for a year is vizeds certainly worth!
And also I’m wondering: Don’t you have any more vizeds T-shirts (or sweatshirts) for sale? I would like to buy one – or a couple – if you have!
Anders Tapola
_________________
Don't you ever underestimate the reader! |
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Denise Covert
Maestro
Joined: 25 Jun 2005
Posts: 399
Location: Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal
Posted:
Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:17 pm
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| Jason wrote:: | | Is it possible to make VisEds an automatic payroll dedication? I wish I knew more on how this works and I’m not sure if a charitable organization needs to actually do anything to be eligible for such programs, but I think it’s a nice way to get people to contribute. At my company, we are presented with ten possible charities and we can make contributions by having a certain amount deducted from our paycheck each pay period. I think other companies have a lot more choices or flexibility in similar programs. |
Jason, I've worked for companies that did this, but it was usually through the annual United Way fundraiser.
I doubt companies, even newspaper companies, would do automatic deductions for VizEds, even if it is classified as a charitable organizaton.
HOWEVER, before you donate, ask in your HR department whether your employer does matching funds for charitable donations. I seem to remember Gannett did, and others might too. That might be a great way to double your contributions to this worthy cause! 
_________________
The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.
The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.
-- Kahlil Gibran |
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