I like the overall concept. I personally have no income and so only do free subscriptions and have no intention of monetizing my own sporadic and eccentric offerings. I'm not here for income. However, I have thought about if and how I could set up a donate option for readers that like my output that could funnel funds into grass root movements or "causes" that I would like to support. Possibly giving them a choice between a range of various such movements or causes. I don't like the idea of the funds destination being chosen by substack. I think it would be more appropriate, and gain more traction, if there was a reader/writer relationship that determined who or what was being supported. The blog could feature a range of creators providing a wide variety of content and each with their own preferences for supporting whatever they feel strongly about, and subscribers could choose which writers/creators within the blog they want their contribution to align with. I don't however understand the technology enough to know how difficult or simple such a set up would be to facilitate.
I reject wholly the idea of any kind of compulsory "charity tax" on the grounds that would immediately exclude from this platform people like myself who A have no money and B wish to remain anonymous.
I've been thinking about a donation engine for a long time. Substack is a great place to think about the issues. 1) the divisions and suspicions here are so strong that many people would probably rather leave than inadvertently support a random charity. This would disincentivize substack from commiting. 2) For the same reasons a charity blog would likely only become a mudslinging opportunity.
Have you considered more grassroots options like creating a writer's soup kitchen and gathering the client's writing, and partially funding it with the website's donations?
Leave, and go where? The most common alternative to Substack is Ghost, which starts at $9 per month, and goes up from there. And all the money goes to Ghost, and none to charity.
Please note, a Donation Blog would be 100% voluntary. There's exactly nothing for anyone to get upset about. If they don't want to donate, they can just ignore this option.
I hear your good intentions. What I mean is that charity is a troll magnet. If you can run the charity then it would be indisputably good. Otherwise you will be doing a lot of damage control as people are seriously jaded regarding institutional support. That's why substack even begins to work, because users get to support individuals rather than institutions.
I'd be happy for Substack to assure readers that the money they pledge gets to a charity. I wouldn't be happy with them choosing what it is. I think far more substackers would be interested in this initiative if they could use it to promote causes they care about. I'd also like to see Substack not charge for this service — or perhaps charge a one off charge to meet any of their costs in setting up such a function.
Your request is a common one, but also a complicated one. You're asking Substack to route money from many thousands of users to an unlimited number of causes. And you don't seem that willing to pay for such complex customization. My guess is that Substack's response to such requests would be to just skip the whole thing.
My interest is that this actually happen, and the simpler the system is the more likely that is to occur.
Yes, my ask is a little unrealistic I agree. But I think a lot of people are quite jealous of their own choices in the way they do good. I think other platforms would be better at commoditised fund raising for good.
I’m intrigued by the idea, especially because your Substack itself is free. I recently started my own Substack whatever you wanna call it. It is totally free. Thanks for following me. Please continue to read as it evolves. I will continue to read your posts.
Greetings! We (a few of us who have turned on paid for charitable purposes) are starting a GiveBackStack Directory which is a place to list the Substacks that are deciding to use paid subs for charitable purposes. This decentralized, choose-what-you-like-to-support method might appeal to those who don't want Substack to choose where pooled charitable funds go. We already have about a dozen Substackers interested in being listed. I came up with a definition that includes accountability so that we don't slide into an "everyone's giving it away (but not actually)" situation. Here is the link to the very nascent GiveBackStack Directory... pleased to hear your feedback and input.
As for me, my RainMakers & ChangeMakers substack focuses specifically on East African changemakers who I interview and draw about (and vet through a variety of networks). I'm starting a little RainMaker Fund through paid subs as a result. On my other Substack, the Creative Convergence, I've turned on paid subs to support youth refugee artists who I write about regularly.
Hi Emily, thanks for your note. I've already started exploring your site, and just subscribed and recommended it. Yea, we're on the same page, it's fun to find you.
Yes, the decentralized method is indeed a good option. And much easier to implement than a global fund. Your directory seems a start on a compromise between the two. I agree, some people will indeed prefer an option which offers maximum choice.
As you've seen, my vision is a little different. I'd like to see Substack writers take on a fund raising project together, as a community. If we work together on a project, we can generate big numbers, which becomes a story, generating media coverage, enhanced reputation for Substack, attracting new readers and subscribers to the network etc. You know, if we want to get Substack the company involved we have to look at this through the business lens too.
Nice to meet you, I'm looking forward to learning more about your projects!
Hi hello! I understand what you are saying and think that it's always a good thing when "both/and" applies. I'll continue to watch this space and interact. So glad that Substack notes led me to you!
I like the overall concept. I personally have no income and so only do free subscriptions and have no intention of monetizing my own sporadic and eccentric offerings. I'm not here for income. However, I have thought about if and how I could set up a donate option for readers that like my output that could funnel funds into grass root movements or "causes" that I would like to support. Possibly giving them a choice between a range of various such movements or causes. I don't like the idea of the funds destination being chosen by substack. I think it would be more appropriate, and gain more traction, if there was a reader/writer relationship that determined who or what was being supported. The blog could feature a range of creators providing a wide variety of content and each with their own preferences for supporting whatever they feel strongly about, and subscribers could choose which writers/creators within the blog they want their contribution to align with. I don't however understand the technology enough to know how difficult or simple such a set up would be to facilitate.
I reject wholly the idea of any kind of compulsory "charity tax" on the grounds that would immediately exclude from this platform people like myself who A have no money and B wish to remain anonymous.
Sad it is; we are taxed to the ground, and we roll over and offer our last to another, and they hate us for it; sad to be them...
Yeha would be happy to talk with you about this on a zoom sometime. It’s a good start perhaps!
I've been thinking about a donation engine for a long time. Substack is a great place to think about the issues. 1) the divisions and suspicions here are so strong that many people would probably rather leave than inadvertently support a random charity. This would disincentivize substack from commiting. 2) For the same reasons a charity blog would likely only become a mudslinging opportunity.
Have you considered more grassroots options like creating a writer's soup kitchen and gathering the client's writing, and partially funding it with the website's donations?
Hi there,
Leave, and go where? The most common alternative to Substack is Ghost, which starts at $9 per month, and goes up from there. And all the money goes to Ghost, and none to charity.
Please note, a Donation Blog would be 100% voluntary. There's exactly nothing for anyone to get upset about. If they don't want to donate, they can just ignore this option.
I hear your good intentions. What I mean is that charity is a troll magnet. If you can run the charity then it would be indisputably good. Otherwise you will be doing a lot of damage control as people are seriously jaded regarding institutional support. That's why substack even begins to work, because users get to support individuals rather than institutions.
Hi again Pantha,
Did I explain adequately that a Donation Blog (as I imagine it) would be 100% voluntary, just like every other blog on Substack?
I'd be happy for Substack to assure readers that the money they pledge gets to a charity. I wouldn't be happy with them choosing what it is. I think far more substackers would be interested in this initiative if they could use it to promote causes they care about. I'd also like to see Substack not charge for this service — or perhaps charge a one off charge to meet any of their costs in setting up such a function.
Hi Nicolas,
Your request is a common one, but also a complicated one. You're asking Substack to route money from many thousands of users to an unlimited number of causes. And you don't seem that willing to pay for such complex customization. My guess is that Substack's response to such requests would be to just skip the whole thing.
My interest is that this actually happen, and the simpler the system is the more likely that is to occur.
Yes, my ask is a little unrealistic I agree. But I think a lot of people are quite jealous of their own choices in the way they do good. I think other platforms would be better at commoditised fund raising for good.
I’m intrigued by the idea, especially because your Substack itself is free. I recently started my own Substack whatever you wanna call it. It is totally free. Thanks for following me. Please continue to read as it evolves. I will continue to read your posts.
Greetings! We (a few of us who have turned on paid for charitable purposes) are starting a GiveBackStack Directory which is a place to list the Substacks that are deciding to use paid subs for charitable purposes. This decentralized, choose-what-you-like-to-support method might appeal to those who don't want Substack to choose where pooled charitable funds go. We already have about a dozen Substackers interested in being listed. I came up with a definition that includes accountability so that we don't slide into an "everyone's giving it away (but not actually)" situation. Here is the link to the very nascent GiveBackStack Directory... pleased to hear your feedback and input.
As for me, my RainMakers & ChangeMakers substack focuses specifically on East African changemakers who I interview and draw about (and vet through a variety of networks). I'm starting a little RainMaker Fund through paid subs as a result. On my other Substack, the Creative Convergence, I've turned on paid subs to support youth refugee artists who I write about regularly.
https://rainmakerschangemakers.substack.com/s/givebackstack
Hi Emily, thanks for your note. I've already started exploring your site, and just subscribed and recommended it. Yea, we're on the same page, it's fun to find you.
Yes, the decentralized method is indeed a good option. And much easier to implement than a global fund. Your directory seems a start on a compromise between the two. I agree, some people will indeed prefer an option which offers maximum choice.
As you've seen, my vision is a little different. I'd like to see Substack writers take on a fund raising project together, as a community. If we work together on a project, we can generate big numbers, which becomes a story, generating media coverage, enhanced reputation for Substack, attracting new readers and subscribers to the network etc. You know, if we want to get Substack the company involved we have to look at this through the business lens too.
Nice to meet you, I'm looking forward to learning more about your projects!
Hi hello! I understand what you are saying and think that it's always a good thing when "both/and" applies. I'll continue to watch this space and interact. So glad that Substack notes led me to you!