I have a couple of Occupy related projects of my own in mind, so I took a look at the ones already on Kickstarter, which is a remarkable "creative" project funding platform. I've seen it mentioned several times here on DKos, but I still don't really know how widely known it actually is here.
Basically, people post creative projects ("music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other") with a description, video and funding goal ($ amount, days to raise funds). The creator(s) keep 100% ownership and control, but offer products, services, "experiences" generated by the project to the project's contributors. The funding is all or nothing. You must reach your goal or the project won't be funded. Almost 50% of the submissions, which must be pre-approved, succeed.
If you haven't looked at Kickstarter, DO IT. I can't imagine anyone not being intrigued by it. Many kossacks have probably already contributed to projects and more no doubt will in the future. Besides personal interests, there are many projects involving topics specifically of interest to this community. Like the Ocuppy Movement.
[FYI, I have no stake of any kind in Kickstarter. I just think it's really cool and useful to this community, especially since the banks are so NOT helpful...]
KICKSTARTER PROJECTS OVERVIEW
Here's a link to Kickstarter's Project Guidelines. They specifically rule out charity and causes, but, as I review the projects, to me there seems to be a gray area...
You can search projects with a keyword
or
browse these FEATURED categories:
Recommended
Popular
Recently Launched
Ending Soon
Small Projects
Most Funded
Curated Pages
Or browse these project type categories:
Art
Comics
Dance
Design
Fashion
Film & Video
Food
Games
Music
Publishing
Technology
Theater
You can also search/browse by CITY.
- The vast majority of projects have goals under $50K.
- About 35 projects have been funded in excess of $100,000; virtually all of these occurred in the last 12 months.
- There have been projects funded up to about $950K (12/2010)
- Most of the high-funding projects are in Design and Film & Video.
- There are projects that have been funded in excess of 6,000% of their goal.
OCCUPY-ORIENTED PROJECTS OVERVIEW
I did searches on "Occupy" and "occupation" and found fourteen related projects listed.
Funding Goals of these fourteen projects:
(2) $300
(2) $1K
(2) $2-3K
(4) $4-6K
(2) $10K
(1) $13K
(1) $19K
- As you can, all have been fairly modest.
- Four projects have reached their funding goals
- Three projects have been funded (11/8, 12/4, 12/5)
- The remaining eight projects have achieved pledge levels of 1-32%;
---- seven of these projects have 6 to 44 days remaining
---- one project has less than 2 days remaining.
OCCUPY-ORIENTED PROJECTS REVIEW
The most successful project at this point hsa raised 209% of its target, with $21K pledged. It is open for 52 more hours, at which point it will be funded. This is for an Occupy Wall Street related Comics anthology.
The project funded on 11/8 exceeded its target, at 105%, $370. This is a design for a prototype occupation shelter by a 19-yr old named Steph.
The project funded on 12/4 exceeded its target, at 109%, $11K. This is for a printing of 100,000 copies of the Declaration of OWS.
The project funded on 12/5 exceeded its target, at 128%/$386. This is a documentary being created by four high school students.
Here are the remaining ten projects, which as yet have not reached their funding goals, in order of % funded:
Liberty Plaza Painting (before the police raid on 11/15)
32%, $320, 25 days
The Faces of Occupy Philadelphia
27%, $1,108, 13 days
Occupy (non-biased look at the movement, through 5 people)
27%, $555, 24 days
Occupying the Frame (B&W portraits)
13%, $696, 44 hours
99%: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film
10% $1,910 37 days left
Occupy the Social: Archiving Life at Occupy LA and Beyond (digital video archive)
6%, $195, 15 days
Project 99 - OWS Graphic Design Posters
4%, $408, 25 days
OWS Puppetry Guild - Occupy the Holidays
2%, $25, 6 days
Occupying America: The Rest of Us (Webseries blog, podcasts)
1%, $129, 24 days
Occupy the World (ongoing audio documentary)
1%, $52, 43 days
TWO OTHER PROJECTS
I came across two other projects of relevance to the Occupy movement. One was funded, one not.
An Illustrated Guide to Income In the United States
235%, $14,124, FUNDED 5/1
Above the Line: A Game About Income Inequality
Funding Unsuccessful; ended 5/12
TO DO
I've looked at a lot of the textual project descriptions and the bar does not seem to be set exceptionally high.
I have NOT really surveyed the videos, but I'm guessing that that's where the competition really occurs.
WRAP-UP
I don't know about you, but I found this survey pretty interesting. As I already, I have a couple of Occupy-related project proposals that I'm already working on. I will be posting them shortly for DKos review. Hopefully you'll have some, too, so we can tackle this challenge from all 360 degrees.