Discussions

Make A Donation?

Posted by 2sweetnsaxy • 2/01/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: donation, General Discussion

I've seen this button a few times in blogs and I find it rather funny because it's usually on a blogsite that's free. "Help Keep This Site Alive".

Can anyone clue me in on what this donation button is about on a free service? I'm not knocking anyone for doing it, just curious as to what I might be missing.

User Comments

2/01/08

bsd13

In a word.

Money

[reply]
1. 2/01/08
  
  2sweetnsaxy
  
  :-D
2/01/08

ender

common reasons:
help defray someone's hosting fees
pay for the time they put into the content
as mentioned, money or greed

[reply]
1. 2/01/08
  
  2sweetnsaxy
  
  I supposed. Thanks Ender. :-)
2/01/08

jackpayne

Begging for profit.

[reply]
1. 2/01/08
  
  2sweetnsaxy
  
  Well, that's what I thought but am leaving the door open for someone to show me another side of the coin.
2/01/08

jojoblue

Hahahaha...that is just stupid to do that in a free site. Maybe for a cause like feed the hungry.... if not then maybe it was a "make a donation for the greedy" button.

[reply]
1. 2/01/08
  
  2sweetnsaxy
  
  I thought it was interesting but I thought I'd ask just in case.
2/01/08

clioandme

Cyberbegging.

[reply]
2/01/08

AmmoBob

Or cyberpanhandling...

[reply]
1. 2/01/08
  
  2sweetnsaxy
  
  Stoneman & AmmoBob - I knew there had to be a term for it. :-D
4/13/08

Mtnbarbie

LOL I like cyberbegging,

Ok if I land on a blog and the person filled this site with info and possibly downloads that work and not just crap I may consider leaving a donation , But so far I haven't come across any that offered such info and had a donation button.

But if they had it filled with great reading and was not loaded with adsense ad's but had at least one, I use the "click off method" to leave my contribution.

But I have many feelings about this adsense thing to

[reply]
4/13/08

exinco

volunteer donating. some blogger are very kindness and they like to donate.

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4/13/08

Shiley

I'm considering putting one on my proof positivity site. I want to work on getting some cameras computers and things to kids that don't have these things. I'm trying to negotiate w/ a school to get the kids to write for the site but technology or lack thereof is a major problem w/ the kids I'm dealing with.

[reply]
1. 4/13/08
  
  ThriftShopRomantic
  
  But that's more of a cause or a fundraiser, Shirley, so I can understand that.
  
  Most often those buttons or "buy me a cup of coffee" buttons are just for the blogger's own pocketbook.
2. 4/13/08
  
  Shiley
  
  Oh, god no. The only way I would truly benifit is to get the things I need to get to "my schools" and speak to students and board of ed and stuff.
3. 4/13/08
  
  globalgirl
  
  Shiley, is there a school foundation in your school district? If so, you can see if you can use their school foundation as a fiscal sponsor to raise money for your school.
  
  Here is a link about fiscal sponsorship: foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/fiscal/
  
  Also, if you choose this route, you'll be more apt to get in-kind donations from companies and grants.
  
  foundationcenter.org is filled with great resources for fundraising and other non-profit info.
4. 4/13/08
  
  Shiley
  
  I have no clue if there is a school foundation. I'll look into it though.
4/13/08

globalgirl

LOL cyberbegging...

Have you ever donated to a blog? I have not and doubt I will.

[reply]
1. 4/13/08
  
  Shiley
  
  I literally can't afford to like in the projects can't afford to. There are some I would have, had I the luxury. The other two sites are strictly for me and will remain w/out a donate button.
2. 4/13/08
  
  globalgirl
  
  Shiley, FYI, I was laughing about the term "cyberbegging".
  
  Hey, the beauty of PayPal is that you can place it on your blog for friends, family and visitors, with the hopes that someone will give towards your need. I hope the provision falls into your account so you can get these needed items.
  
  I've been the recipient of surprise financial gifts in the past to support my work in Guatemala and it was a real blessing. Now I have a 501c3 so now there is a tax incentive to give for the children and people in Guatemala.
3. 4/13/08
  
  Shiley
  
  My bad. What is a 501c3? I mean I know it has something to do w/ taxes and probably non-profit...?
4. 4/13/08
  
  globalgirl
  
  I started a California charitable and educational non-profit that recently received tax exemption status for our work in Guatemala.
  
  What are you raising money for specifically?
5. 4/13/08
  
  Shiley
  
  For computers, video cameras for the kids. Also so that I'm able to bring in tutors and maybe money to make it a full time thing to provide services for the kids. I want to focus on the kids in the projects. They don't have a lot of support in their homes. I want them to be able to be the ones writing the Proof Positivity blog. Thank God governor Manchin is putting free internet service in my area. The kids I will be dealing w/ can't afford it.
6. 4/13/08
  
  globalgirl
  
  Upon taking a look at your blog and what you have said here, perhaps forming a non-profit is the way you should go (as you seem to have big & wonderful dreams). :-)
  
  Check out: nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/CE94A6B3-EFB6-4036-8498D5414328FD73/111/262/
  and go to your local library and get "How to Form a Non-Profit Corporation". It will take approximately 9-12 months to get your tax exemption status, depending upon a myriad of factors.
  
  I am happy to discuss this more with you off-line. Send me a shout.
7. 4/13/08
  
  Shiley
  
  I just shouted at you.
4/13/08

Mtnbarbie

Shiley you have a heart of gold

Now I'm not prepared to donate either but If seen proof on a website of kid's benefiting from this I would defiantly spare what I could.

exinco
volunteer donating. some bloggers are very kind and they like to donate.

globalgirl

Have you ever donated to a blog? Yes I have a few that are filled with great info that I donate money from my paypal account too.

I donated to a grafix site and a site for pets.

[reply]
1. 4/13/08
  
  Shiley
  
  I refuse to put one on until I have permission from the school principal. As is I'm going to be doing a lot of work to get it running and if I don't have kids learning from it what's the point?
4/13/08

wehireu

You can use a variety of services for cyberbegging. I could not get myself to do it. The most obvious is paypal. Then there is the Amazon Honor System
zme.amazon.com/exec/varzea/subst/fx/home.html/ref=gw_hp_ls_1_9/002-8793214-... I think Amazon takes 15% for the purpose of managing your honorable collections. This does not require you to form a nonprofit
corporation
it is pure cyber begging.

[reply]
1. 4/13/08
  
  Shiley
  
  I'm not sure that's what I'm in to. You'd have to go to my site to see what I'm saying. At the moment I'm in negotiations w/ a school.
  
  proofpositivity.blogspot.com
4/13/08

timethief

There are quite a few free-hosted bloggers at wp[dot]com who blog for charities and other laudable causes and they have customized payapal donation link on their blogs. Here are the instructions onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/how-to-add-a-custom-paypal-donation-li...

Aside from the foregoing we are now experiencing an influx of cyber beggars, who are blogging free of charge but who have what I call "personal paypal begging buttons". These cyber beggars also tend to bellyache because they cannot have adsense or other advertising on their wp[dot]com blogs. (They didn't bother read either the ToS or the policies in the FAQs.) And no matter how many times they are told that Google adsense allows only one account per blog and that wp[dot]com has the account on our blogs they arrive in forum moaning and complaining. Not surprisingly, most of them end up at Blogger.

Do I donate to worthy causes? Yes! I donate right here in my own community to every charitable cause there is.

[reply]
4/13/08

kaybday

I placed an amazon honors button on my Florida blog for a short while. I included a notice that any donations would go to programs to help at-risk children or animal shelters. No one donated, but I always give to organizations that help both. I think it's fine for people to do that tho, even to help with their hosting costs. It's kind of like a voluntary admission fee to me. And no one makes a person donate, so as long as a blogger needs or wants it, that's his or her call. Some websites make you pay for full access anyway. best, Kay

[reply]
4/15/08

skykid

Well I have the same button - but do not consider myself to be a cyberbegger or anything like that. After all donation is voluntary. My reason behind having this button is for example getting a domain name ( which ain`t free) or upgrading the hosting ( yes wordpress is a free host but it has custom CSS upgrades ...etc for a fee).

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4/15/08

MadameX

And, of course, if you're going to cyberbeg, don't forget that it's taxable income.

[reply]
4/15/08

ThriftShopRomantic

I always think of it in terms of other hobbies.

How many folks would ask their audience to, oh, donate to pay for their new bowling ball so they can enjoy amateur bowling night...?

Or get them new duds for karate?

Or help fund their biking habit by investing in a new helmet?

Hopefully if you choose to do a blog for your own enjoyment, then you're prepared to pay the costs that might be associated with it.

[reply]
5/23/09

Norski

I've set up my first 'donation' button, on Apathetic Lemming of the Month ( apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/ ). Ideally, I'd be able to maintain my household on goodwill and happy thoughts.

Here in the real world, there are bills - quite a few of them, lately. So, I'm letting visitors decide what a little over 1,000 posts per year on a wide range of topics is worth.

[reply]