"Ask the Admins" Question about DU's finances.

[poorpoorme]

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

[Mike220]

Uh oh. This may not end well for the champagne-and-OJ primitive.

[Thor]

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.

[BlueStateSaint]

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." 

[DLR Pyro]

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.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I AM THE GREAT OZ!  PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!

 

[zeitgeist]

Actually I thought Skinner was quite forthcoming.

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. 
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 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.

[BlueStateSaint]

Actually I thought Skinner was quite forthcoming.
He may be a crook but at least he is a truthful crook.

"Honor among thieves"--who knew?

[franksolich]

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.

[formerlurker]

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.

[franksolich]

Gosh he is swell.

I told you, madam, my fellow alum's a weasel.

[true_blood]

Actually I thought Skinner was quite forthcoming.
He may be a crook but at least he is a truthful crook.

[txradioguy]

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:

[DumbAss Tanker]

He may be a crook but at least he is a truthful crook.

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