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Hello, Haiku friends.
I have a modest proposal regarding fundraising that I would like to
submit for general consideration and discussion in this forum. My wish
would be to see some (likely improved) variation on the proposal
adopted by the Haiku project in the end and implemented on the Haiku
website. I think that the potential material benefits to the project
would be sufficient to warrant the investment of initial effort for
the implementation.
Here is a bit of background to my proposal. Over the past couple
years, ever since Haiku Inc. obtained its tax classification status as
a not-for-profit corporation under US law, I have personally made a
few cash donations, but only a few, perhaps three or four. I might
have made many more donations than I did make if only I had *thought*
of it more often. Many of us are busy with our work, our studies, our
loved ones, raising children, etc., so that we fail to remember to
support more faithfully the public-good efforts that are close to our
hearts, like the Haiku project.
My proposal boils down to this: implement an automated email reminder
service for voluntary cash donors to Haiku Inc.
The program would be called "One Hour for Haiku". The idea is that any
person who wishes to volunteer to become a regular monthly cash donor
to Haiku Inc. could sign up (through a link on the donations page on
the website) as a member of One Hour for Haiku. By signing up with One
Hour for Haiku, a person would be making a (self-monitored) pledge to
make a free-will cash donation to Haiku Inc. once each month in the
amount of one hour's earnings from paid employment. This figure (one
hour's earnings) could be calculated from one's own actual income, or
from an assessment of prevailing wages in one's industry or community,
or simply from one's best guess at an affordable amount that could be
donated monthly by oneself on a sustainable basis. The idea is that a
donor would be pledging effectively to work one hour each month *for
Haiku*, hence the name of the program. (Another way for non-coders to
"work for" Haiku!)
Each month, say on the fifth day of the month, each member of One Hour
for Haiku would receive an automated email from Haiku's web server.
The email would be a reminder of the individual's pledge to make a
monthly donation. Donations would be "due" on, say, the tenth day of
the month. The email would include links to the actual donations
websites (Network for Good for USA; PayPal for all others),
facilitating immediate action. Perhaps the email could include some
details of recent progress in the development of Haiku, or some
information regarding improvements in Haiku's financial situation as a
direct result of the generosity of donors like the recipient of the
email. Words of encouragement and expressions of gratitude, all
genuine, would be appropriate. Above all, the email should help make
it quick and easy for the donor to complete his or her donation for
that month.
Monthly donation amounts would never need to be disclosed to anyone by
the donor member of One Hour for Haiku. That would be his or her
private information exclusively. There would be no "enforcement
mechanism" regarding submissions of donations; making one's own
monthly contribution per one's pledge would be entirely a matter of
personal conscience and honor. At the time of registration with One
Hour for Haiku, a new member would need to submit his or her name (or
"Anonymous"), nickname (if desired), email address (required but never
publicized), and country of origin, residence, or affinity (optional).
That's all.
There would be a "Current Donors" listing page on the Haiku website
somewhere that would list donors' names, nicknames, and countries,
ordered first by country and secondly by name. This would be one way
that the Haiku project could recognize and thank donors for their
support (a tiny bit of "fame"). Perhaps the listing could also include
the date on which the donor signed up as a member ("Member since: 26
April 2007"). This would serve as a nice recognition of enduring
commitment, and an encouragement of tenacity.
Donors would need to be reminded in the monthly email of the
importance of their commitments. The actual amount of individual
donations would be perhaps less important ultimately than their
*regularity*. If donors meet their commitments *faithfully*, however
modest the individual commitments may be, then Haiku Inc. will be
assured of a steady, reliable revenue stream. The reliability of this
income is the critical factor, in my opinion, permitting planning,
hiring, etc. with sufficient confidence with respect to ongoing
financial stability. If on a given occasion a donor cannot contribute
the full amount of his or her regular monthly donation, the donor
should still be encouraged to contribute some lesser amount in
accordance with his or her means at the time. Without shame.
That sums up my thinking thus far. I look forward to hearing what
others think of this proposal.
Best wishes to all,
Czeslaw Czapla
Unofficial Haiku Booster
