Posts Tagged “fundraising”

If you’ve been following my microdrivel lately, you know that I’ve been actively fundraising for the Photographic Resource Center at BU. On Monday, we (by which I mean all my donors and I) hit the $2,000 goal. This is a big step, achieved ahead of schedule, and I wanted to take a moment here to recognize that.

Thank you to all 40+ donors. There were several gifts of $10 or less and some of $100 and more, and some came from people whom I know are out of work right now. I’m also especially grateful to those who gave even though I didn’t email you specifically, probably from a referral or a tweet or facebook status message.

A special shout-out to some of the businesses that donated. If I’ve missed yours, drop me a line.

• Ziplens, online rentals of Canon and Nikon lenses
• Frame 38 Studios
• Brilliantpictures photography and Brilliantplaces (real estate in JP and beyond)

If you gave – or are about to – and work for a company with a corporate matching program, I encourage you to take advantage of it. I know that many of my donors do, notably those at Ipswitch and Firstgiving. You’ll need the PRC’s EIN, which is 04-2610466.

Persistence and some use of social media paid off, but mostly it’s all about people’s generosity even in tough times. $2,000 will make a difference at the PRC but more is needed there and elsewhere. I’m going to keep the fundraising page open at least through my next birthday, and will continue to offer print raffles at every $1000 raised. I hope that limeduck readers will be generous and also visit the Photographic Resource Center and enjoy its programs.

The Photographic Resource Center is an organization that’s very important to me, and one that serves fans and practitioners of photography around town and around the world. If you haven’t been, I urge you to visit. There’s a lot going on.  I had planned to raise money this summer for the PRC, but times are tough for all nonprofits, and I’m concerned that if we don’t raise some money now, the PRC won’t see my 29th birthday again.  So I am advancing this year’s birthday fundraiser, and I hope both of limeduck’s loyal readers can be generous.

Please visit www.firstgiving.com/11th29th or use the fundraising widget in the blog’s sidebar to learn more and make a donation.  Every dollar you donate to this page will serve as a raffle ticket for a photograph from my collection that I will give away when we raise the $2000 goal.  [UPDATE 3/30: I'm going to raffle one photo at $1,000 and another at $2,000 so the earlier donors will get two chances!]The more you give, the better your chances. The winner will have his or her choice of these three framed and matted photos.  [UPDATE 4/3: hit the $1k point, did the first drawing and Jason chose the Stupich print - two prints left, next drawing at $2k!]

Frazier King -  Brassia ondontglossam Longlen, selenium-toned GSP, Ed. 8/20, image 18.5″x14″

Mary Parisi – Boiled Chicken, 2005, ed#1/20, C-Print, signed in pen on front of print, 19½x20” (actually, this one isn’t framed right now but I can fix that easily enough)

Martin Stupich – Old Colony Rolling Lift Bridge, Fort Point Channel, Boston, 2007. K3 Inkjet print on rag paper, open edition, signed recto, 22×10.5″ [4/3 TAKEN!]

Please spread the word to others who might be interested and able to help.  And remember, the raffle won’t happen until we hit the $2000 goal!  www.firstgiving.com/11th29th

The folks who think the bible is a fairy tale have come up with their own stranger than fiction scenario.  The British Humanist Association has raised over 100,000 pounds (far in excess of their original goal of 5,500) to fund something called the Atheist Bus Campaign which will buy ad space on London buses proclaiming,

Ok, disclaimer and attempt at flame prevention time.  This is an incredible feat of online fundraising.  The comments and discussion generated are pretty entertaining.  Props to the humanists and atheists for asserting themselves in the marketplace of ideas.  It’s their money, they can do what they want with it.

So…  what in the holy name of Richard Dawkins are they thinking?  If you had a $200,000 media budget (or even $20,000) to get your ideas out there, would you spend it on bus ads?   For people claiming the high ground of logic, reason and science, these atheists are putting a lot of faith in some of the least effective and most unquantifiable of marketing methods and a self-congratulatory message that’s hardly going to win anybody over.

I know lots of smart marketeers read limeduck. What would you do with a wad of cash to promote atheism?  Viral social media campaigns?  Street teams?  Direct mail?  I’m off to London next week and maybe I’ll catch one of these buses and get some good ideas.