I've always wanted to offer one of those matching grants, e.g., for WNYC or a charity that you hear about during fund drives: E.g., "Janet and Ralph LiberalDollars will match your pledges up to $10,000" etc.
Unfortunately, I'm not a VHNW* individual or a foundation. Nonetheless, I'm trying to do "matching" on a more modest scale in reaction to the latest shooting in MD (which has already slipped out of media consciousness -- if it ever really was, now that these events are so depressingly routine).
So the other day, after I donated $25.00 to the Gabby Giffords PAC, I posted a diary (reproduced below) offering to contribute another fifty cents for every comment here that states that the commenter has donated at least $5.00 to the Giffords PAC, the Brady Foundation or any other gun control group.
Since the response was somewhat limited, I've decided to try again, and maybe even make it a regular series. So thanks to contributors Belinda Ridgewood, Nimblewill, Sharon Wraight, Coquiero and Glen the Plumber -- so far!
(I considered asking that the diary be recommended to permit more contributions, but worried that that might be construed as recommend-mongering -- so I won't do that!)
Reading about one after another shooting story and the disgraceful inaction by our represented officials can make you feel helpless. So in light of the MD shooting (and every other shooting since and including 12/14/12) I just donated $25 to Gabby Gifford's PAC, Americans for Responsible Solutions. Here is their contribution page.
I would like to do and contribute more, so I will contribute another fifty cents** for every person that comments here and states that you have donated at least $5.00 to Gabby's PAC or any other gun control group, including the Brady Campaign.
No need to scan and post any receipts. I will abide by an honor system.
**up to an affordable limit to be determined in my sole discretion, also part of the honor system. (My Soros grant is late this month. Otherwise . . .)
*Very High Net Worth