The Conservative Cave

Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: poorpoorme on November 25, 2010, 11:19:31 AM

Title: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: poorpoorme on November 25, 2010, 11:19:31 AM


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=437x923

Mimosa Donating Member (1000+ posts)
Sat Nov-20-10 12:49 AM
Original message
Re: Contributions: Is there a link to info about D.U's financing?
   
Edited on Sat Nov-20-10 12:54 AM by Mimosa
Regarding the Fund Drives.

Does Democratic Underground pay for itself?

I see advertising. Do the ads pay for at least part of the bandwidth? Is there a hosting company? If there is, are our contributions applied to pay for a host?

Is Democratic Underground a 'non-profit' corporation? I'm just curious whether Democratic Underground's fund drives are intended as a measure to keep us online. I've never understood whether D.U. was intended to be a profit making enterprise. All the ads I see made me think D.U. hosting fees are paid for. But if they aren't I'd like to know. I've lng donated what little I can. But times are very tough for me now. So tough I may have to give up having health insurance. If D.U.'s financing is a for profit enterprise, please let me know how it works. To get a star do we have to pay by quarter? Or annually?

Thanks,

Mimosa

Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: Mike220 on November 25, 2010, 11:22:02 AM
Uh oh. This may not end well for the champagne-and-OJ primitive.
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: Thor on November 25, 2010, 11:27:35 AM
I can't see this ending very well...... HOWEVER, DUmmies are just that.

I CAN safely say that we don't operate that way here. Our Staff are all "volunteers". All monies we receive either go towards hosting, to reimburse Kevin for the money he spent on the server, or for any potential upgrades we may need to do.
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: BlueStateSaint on November 25, 2010, 11:33:36 AM
I can't see this ending very well...... HOWEVER, DUmmies are just that.

I CAN safely say that we don't operate that way here. Our Staff are all "volunteers". All monies we receive either go towards hosting, to reimburse Kevin for the money he spent on the server, or for any potential upgrades we may need to do.

When I was moderating a board or two for liveDaily about ten years ago, I used to get the occasional question inquiring how much I made moderating.  My answer?  "They can't pay me enough to do this for money."  :tongue:
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: DLR Pyro on November 25, 2010, 12:45:38 PM
Uh oh. This may not end well for the champagne-and-OJ primitive.
perhaps a tombstone  is in his/her/it's near future for upsetting the applecart and I'm not talking about a pizza.
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on November 25, 2010, 02:57:56 PM
I AM THE GREAT OZ!  PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!

 :rotf:
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: zeitgeist on November 25, 2010, 03:10:41 PM
Actually I thought Skinner was quite forthcoming.

Quote
Skinner ADMIN  (1000+ posts)        Tue Nov-23-10 09:31 PM
Response to Original message
1. Democratic Underground is a for-profit Limited Liability Company. 
 We are not able to qualify as a non-profit because we are political and partisan.

Our two primary sources of income are advertising and voluntary donations from our members.

The income we receive covers all of our operating costs, hardware, software, bandwidth, lawyer, salaries for three administrators, taxes, etc.

Democratic Underground depends on donations from members, but we are not so desperate that we want our members to forgo important necessities in order to donate. In fact, if you are having difficulty covering your personal expenses, we would rather you not donate to DU.

Any donation, no matter how large or small, gets you a donor star and donor privileges. Donor stars last for one year after you donate. 
 Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Mimosa  (1000+ posts)      Wed Nov-24-10 01:26 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. Thank you, Skinner
 I just wanted to understand D.U. in the same way I'd want to understand a charity which requests donations. This time around I couldn't contribute. Things are so tough for me that come January 1, my partner and I are having to let our BC/BS health insurance drop. And we got turned down for a plan which was less costly.

I hope next year is better for everyone. 
He may be a crook but at least he is a truthful crook. :rotf:
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: BlueStateSaint on November 25, 2010, 03:44:20 PM
Actually I thought Skinner was quite forthcoming.
He may be a crook but at least he is a truthful crook. :rotf:

"Honor among thieves"--who knew? :lmao: :rotf: :tongue:
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: franksolich on November 25, 2010, 03:55:30 PM
Actually I thought Skinner was quite forthcoming.

I think my fellow alum was a little bit, uh, slippery, in that answer.

One weasel recognizing another weasel.

Good job, Skins.
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: formerlurker on November 25, 2010, 05:09:59 PM
Quote
Democratic Underground depends on donations from members, but we are not so desperate that we want our members to forgo important necessities in order to donate. In fact, if you are having difficulty covering your personal expenses, we would rather you not donate to DU.

Gosh he is swell. (http://www.rightnation.us/forums/style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: franksolich on November 25, 2010, 06:14:57 PM
Gosh he is swell. (http://www.rightnation.us/forums/style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

I told you, madam, my fellow alum's a weasel.
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: true_blood on November 25, 2010, 07:20:46 PM
Actually I thought Skinner was quite forthcoming.
He may be a crook but at least he is a truthful crook. :rotf:
:rotf: :-)
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: txradioguy on November 26, 2010, 09:19:53 AM
Quote
Skinner ADMIN  (1000+ posts)        Tue Nov-23-10 09:31 PM
Response to Original message
1. Democratic Underground is a for-profit Limited Liability Company. 
 We are not able to qualify as a non-profit because we are political and partisan.

Our two primary sources of income are advertising and voluntary donations from our members.

The income we receive covers all of our operating costs, hardware, software, bandwidth, lawyer, salaries for three administrators, taxes, etc.

Democratic Underground depends on donations from members, but we are not so desperate that we want our members to forgo important necessities in order to donate. In fact, if you are having difficulty covering your personal expenses, we would rather you not donate to DU.

Any donation, no matter how large or small, gets you a donor star and donor privileges. Donor stars last for one year after you donate. 
 Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Just another reminder for the lurkers:

(http://www.DemocraticWarrior.com/forum/imagehosting/174a906b95a8fd8.jpg)
Title: Re: "Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on November 26, 2010, 10:08:32 AM
He may be a crook but at least he is a truthful crook. :rotf:

The greatest cons always weave in as much truth as possible.