BUSINESS PLAN -- again, a draft is in place, done by a CPA volunteer. But the incorporation papers can't be filed until the state is chosen, and the non-profit status papers can't be filed until the corporation exists. And the initial startup costs (downpayment, construction, moving, etc), as well as monthly costs (rent, utilities, etc), and annual costs (insurance, permitting, taxes), cannot be calculated until the exact location is finalized. However, a sample plan, based on one possible location, had to be prepared before we could determine the minimum funding amount for the kickstarter/indiegogo drive, so this has been done. The museum WILL NOT be relying on online donation drives to continue operations -- those funds will be provided through a wide variety of sources -- from visitors and memberships, to gift shop and online sales, to local and federal grants, among others.
dhunton wrote:copycat wrote:Seems like a lot of paltry benefits for the amount to be donated. "One free entry." Wow. No thanks.You are not PURCHASING the benefits you mention, you are donating to the cause of a Museum of D&D, and the benefits are our "thank you" for your donation. I'm sorry that you feel that $15 is too high of a donation to preserve D&D's history.We have actually had other "perks" suggested (like a custom die), and we are looking into adding others. If you have any thoughts on what we should offer, please let us know.
copycat wrote:Seems like a lot of paltry benefits for the amount to be donated. "One free entry." Wow. No thanks.
GamesGuy wrote:[...]I was going to say a physical museum isn't necessary because so much of D&D is intangible and idea based. The physicality of D&D is personal, for me. My most treasured items are *MY* beat up old Holmes basic set, and MY PHB and DMG (completely with colored in pictures. My favorite miniatures are the ones me and my friends hand painted (HORRIBLY) and are the Grenadier boxed sets.
dhunton wrote:We will happily listen to ALL constructive suggestions (if you don't like the way something is being done, suggest an alternative).
Pipswich wrote:Copycat,In general your points are sound. But, they cannot promise lifetime membership in an organization that does not exist, etc. [... stuff directed at someone else ...]If you believe in this, or any, cause and wish to donate... by all means do so. But, don't expect member perks until other people have financed and created the museum.. if you are looking for a tit for tat exchange.
gyg wrote:Not a lot of love for this it seems - less than 500 dollars pledged and the number of donors hasn't even reached double figures. The facebook page also seems dead in the water - just no positive buzz at all. Not sure whether its a shame or not - at least if this attempt fails (as seems likely) then those that attempt something similar in the future will have some kond of benchmark.
Pipswich wrote:http://artsblog.dallasnews.com/2012/11/ ... hips.html/My very first act in Mobile was to make all admission fees voluntary. I then spent years paring back the costs of membership and never once organized a membership drive. Really, most of us here are museum visitors... not donors or patrons. The key issue with the kickstarter project is that it muddles up the distinction. The kick starter project does not succeed or fail based upon money raised in small increments. Frankly, one might take the perspective that it has already identified a few donors that were unknown to the founders when they launched it. That, coupled with any warm contacts it has brought to the surface have likely made the KS project quite beneficial.Meanwhile, it takes months and months of behind the scenes work to organize a museum and/or non profit. KS can not speed the process. It may very well be a long time before most of us know anything much about this museum possibility.