Funds for SETI@Home

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Profile Angela Special Project $75 donor
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Message 1310297 - Posted: 25 Nov 2012, 21:30:49 UTC

Gary's idea about the different colored stars may become a reality in the future. I hate to dampen other forms of enthusiasm, but Kickstart is probably not the best fit for this project.

Kickstart works best when there is some "sexy" piece of equipment to buy. General operating costs are the greatest need of this project at this time. This project is extremely lucky to already have some fantastic individual organizers who have in the past, and may well in the future, spearhead drives to purchase equipment. These dedicated people are doing an amazing job, so it does not really make sense to "outsource" this sort of fundraising to Kickstart.

Kickstart works best when there is staff time devoted to making videos, organizing press releases, beating the drums etc. My friends, it is Sunday, and my husband is upstairs in his den right now working on a presentation he is giving tomorrow. Eric simply cannot fit another project into his life! Matt and Jeff are needed to keep things running. (See previous comment about the ball of twine and the roll of Scotch tape.) Please believe me when I tell you that there really is no spare staff time.

Kickstart works best when it attracts new people to a project. Chances are good that many of those who would donate through Kickstart would be users who already know the project and who might have donated through the project's conventional channels in the past. If these people donate for the year through Kickstart, the project loses the part of their donations that the Kickstart people take as their cut, along with the costs of whatever "swag" has been promised to donors. When regular supporters donate through other channels, direct donations decrease. It is unlikely that enough new users/donors would be attracted to offset the loses incurred.

Direct donations through the project are the best way to help. I see many green stars here and I know more are coming when Matt processes the most recent GPUUG donations. You folks rock!
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Profile Gary Charpentier Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
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Message 1310312 - Posted: 25 Nov 2012, 22:38:15 UTC

Had a thought about those sexy flashing light donations. Instead of asking for exactly the cost of the equipment and shipping add in 10%-20% or so as the cost of setting it up and running it. That way you don't get stuff and suddenly have to rob Peter to pay Paul to set it up and get it running. It really should be an option on the GPUUG donations to add in some staff $. Default on. Any left over - and you always want this - can go into the general fund.

I think I see a drive for a NTPCKR server. We also need a drive for NTPCKR software. After all why get a box and not have it flash its sexy lights? I suspect the graphs it will make might be able to be made "sexy" so this might be a doable fund raising drive. Of course we need a target number.

As for donations in general, if Eric could come up with a budget on time then we could get one of those so sexy thermometers on the front page to show how much has been raised towards the goal. Heck get like a pledge drive, a popup comes on with the pitch every initial visit you make to the Seti site unless you have made a donation since the drive started. Of course it has a dismiss box, but it should be a a couple of second delay. Doesn't Berkeley have a PBS radio station? I'm sure they could be a source of ideas for this kind of drive. For that matter they would be required to run PSA's. Toss one their way about Seti@Home.

I know. It takes time which Eric doesn't have.

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Message 1310368 - Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 3:07:11 UTC

I am ready for the 15 yr Anni Party, but not sure Ang and Eric are. As I am still getting requests for Anni Shirts and if Misfit gives the OK to reuse the design, I won't mind being the organizer again.
Ang and Eric went a bit negative on that endaver, because every Mod on duty at the time got a free shirt, all I asked for was reimburement for shipping. Their family of course got free shirts and a couple of hardship cases.
It also was a good opportunity to donate, but now we have another option, via
the GPUUG.
Let me know what you think via PM.
Oh, before I forget, any one who gives $500 or more, should get an autographed T.
Eric please don't hate me, but better than a free toaster, that never arrives.
Pluto will always be a planet to me.

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Message 1310401 - Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 5:15:50 UTC - in response to Message 1310368.  

The kitties are still dreaming of that authentic Seti toaster......
"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

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Profile Angela Special Project $75 donor
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Message 1310410 - Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 6:24:32 UTC - in response to Message 1310368.  

I am ready for the 15 yr Anni Party, but not sure Ang and Eric are.

A 20 year party might happen, but a 15 year party is too soon!!!
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Message 1310446 - Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 10:47:54 UTC - in response to Message 1310410.  

I am ready for the 15 yr Anni Party, but not sure Ang and Eric are.

A 20 year party might happen, but a 15 year party is too soon!!!

I am thinking Shirts GF.
Now you realize for the 20th Anni Party, someone will have to staff the Margarita Elevator.
Pluto will always be a planet to me.

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Message 1310450 - Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 11:22:45 UTC

Chris the Anni #15 is not until May 2014. I got Miles that expire then.










Pluto will always be a planet to me.

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Profile Gary Charpentier Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
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Message 1310612 - Posted: 26 Nov 2012, 22:40:31 UTC - in response to Message 1310450.  

Chris the Anni #15 is not until May 2014. I got Miles that expire then.

Hey, that is after 12/21/2012 so SETI knows that isn't the end of the world. :)

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Message 1310788 - Posted: 27 Nov 2012, 19:25:37 UTC

It would be great if there was a new Seti T-shirt.
Still have mine and wearing it all the time...
rOZZ
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Message 1310801 - Posted: 27 Nov 2012, 19:46:03 UTC - in response to Message 1310788.  

It would be great if there was a new Seti T-shirt.
Still have mine and wearing it all the time...


Any good graphic designers out there? My skills are less than or equal to that of stick figures. I do however have great networking skills and have someone in mind to get shirts silkscreened at a very reasonable price. Would just have to find a good bulk deal on shirts.
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Message 1310805 - Posted: 27 Nov 2012, 19:58:59 UTC - in response to Message 1310796.  

willing to help.




+1!
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Message 1313321 - Posted: 9 Dec 2012, 22:40:46 UTC

I'm sorry but I find the attitude a bit defeatist: The project is crumbling on a shoestring budget with less and less staff each year, but don't do anything just donate a few dollars to get a green star.

There's no manpower to get more funding, or in other words: The ship is sinking, but no one has time to plug the holes because everyone is busy bailing.

Kickstarter might not be suitable for S@H and merchandise might lose money for the project due to fewer donations. But there must be other ways.

If there's an idea to raise money the reply most often is "talk to the guys at GPUUG". But the GPUUG can only do as much. Fact is, GPUUG has had a fund raiser going for three weeks now but have still to advertise the fact here on the forums. Why? Because Slavac/Brad is unavailable due to pneumonia. Sure, there's more people around that help out, but on the whole GPUUG looks to be a one man show.

Asking the few who donate to donate a few dollars more helps, but it doesn't help much. It takes a lot of money to pay for staff, as explained here.

0.28% (3,765) of the users (1,344,698) donates money to the project, that's 2.5% of the active users (150,220). The two year average for donations is about $160,000 per year. The budget for 2011 was $476,200, i.e. one third of the shoestring budget is covered by donations.

No one is asking the S@H staff to work 200% to also raise funds. There's a great community here, use it!

Send out another email asking for donations, but this time not asking for donations of money but for donations of time/brain power. Start an official forum thread asking for ideas and volunteers. Put someone (one or more) you trust in charge of organizing the effort. The work involved for the S@H staff could be as little as giving different fundraising projects the stamp of approval.

That's my two cents.
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Message boards : Cafe SETI : Funds for SETI@Home


 
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