In a nutshell, how does GIVE OUT LOUD (GOL) work?
Charities, individuals, companies who are interested in fundraising for a nonprofit, can create a GOL free basic site or a premium site. Both sites have many social networking functionality aspects, allowing the user to brand and personalize the site in many different and exciting ways.
Once a GOL page is established, using templated evites they can invite friends, family and colleagues to join and support their cause through email, social networks, and word of mouth. Donors make an easy, secure online donation directly to their charity; receive a thank-you letter from GOL and a receipt from their charity. Give Out Loud never rents or sells customer information to other companies. We are PCI compliant and conduct all credit card transactions over secure connections. Who owns GIVE OUT LOUD?
GOL is a for-profit business, serving a community of fundraisers and non-profit organizations and is owned by GIVE OUT LOUD, LLC, a Nevada-based corporation.
What is the Founding Members Campaign?
This campaign is designed to attract those individuals, businesses and charities whose intentions are grand but they may not have the experience or manpower to create something truly remarkable to communicate the change they would like to see and feel so passionate about. They understand the power of what happens when likeminded people get together. You see, most websites are created by a small team of people and then launched, hoping that people will come and use or benefit from the site.
We're approaching this completely different! Rather than a few of us making 100% of the decisions on how GOL will look and function -- we thought it would be unique and fun to first create a special community, called Founding Members, and provide a way this community can participate in the development of the actual site. As a small group we could do a good, but as a large community of like minded individuals -- wow -- we can do an incredible job!
Are Founding Members shareholders of GIVE OUT LOUD?
No, it is simply a special program designed to allow people to get involved, and participate in the creation of a social networking site to better serve them and their community. Founding Members also receive non-financial benefits through the Seeds Program, where the charities of their choice can benefit every quarter from the success of GOL. Special recognition and additional value is offered depending which Founding Members Package they choose. See Membership options for more details.
Why Become a Founding Member?
Founding Members will have a voice in sharing ideas on all aspects of the "final" Give Out Loud site to be launched Q1, 2009:
Vote on different ideas, such as site designs and functionality, different logos/templates and much more! Keep up-to-date with internal blogs and press releases Increase fundraising capabilities and number of donors for your cause Turn your donors into fundraisers Suggest and vote on GOL Foundation Initiatives Benefit in the GOL,LLC Founding Members "Sharing Seeds" program
What are GOL Seeds?
Seeds are included in your package as a Founding Member. 40% of ALL revenue generated by GOL LLC, will go to a GOL "Sharing Seeds Program".
The greater success GOL becomes around the globe, the greater the support to the Founding Members will have to their cause.
Your GOL Seeds will "grow" with the success of GOL and translate to increased support to your charities or foundation of choice.
Only Founding Members who join during the Founding Member Campaign will be given GOL Seeds as part of their package. GOL Seeds turn into donations every 90 days to the cause of their choice. The more seeds you or your business/charity have, the more potential benefit to your charity.
How will revenue be generated in GOL, LLC?
Initially, GOL's revenue streams will be generated by:
GOL Premier monthly membership sites Website Advertising GOL Merchandising Unique, exclusive GOL products available to the GOL community and to causes endorsed by GOL New ideas and concepts created in partnership by our GOL Founding Members
Do Founding Members receive money or a tax benefit for their GOL Seeds?
No. The Seeds are just a unique way to redirect the success of Give Out Loud back to different charities chose by the Founding Members.
Does it cost anything to be a Founding Member?
Yes. You have 4 different Membership options you can choose from. Prices range from $25.00 plus tax as a Grassroots Founding member to $5,000.00 plus tax for a Visionary Founding Member. Review Membership Options for details, including how many seeds are included in each pack.
Why is there tax on the Founding member packages?
Because you are pre-purchasing a product.
What will the GOL Founding Members Campaign revenue be used for?
The revenue raised will go towards the cost of designing the site based on the Founding Members input and ideas.
How does the GOL Donation Process work?
Will people get a donation tax receipt?
Yes, from their charity if over $250.00 and they will also receive an email confirmation from Give Out Loud for every donation received. You can also print out a statement summarizing donations made through your site.
Is Give Out Loud a Non-Profit?
We have two elements to Give Out Loud. First, is the "for-profit" LLC. This is the marketing arm to support and empower the world to Give. We also have a Foundation - Give Out Loud, a project of Congressional District Programs, Inc. -- a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Several projects (see below) will be introduced over the next 18 months.
What will the Give Out Loud Foundation do?
We have three projects / initiatives all ready planned out and will be launched throughout the next 12-18 months.
Autism Sleeps -- supports families with Autistic children with gifts in kind donations, using a sleep system technology that has proven to offer value to helping Autism and ADHA children. Neighborhood of Hope -- a goal to transform neighborhoods in cities across North America and eventually the world to inspire a greater way of living for those in difficult situations. This program is not a hand out but a hand up. A combination of education, inspiration and personal tools to help families gain their own confidence to success and inspire others. Not on my Watch -- a special program, with an exclusive product to support malnutrition and world hunger.
What's the advantage to using a personal fundraising social networking webpage?
Raising funds with your personal GOL page helps you reach more people and empowers others to donate from anywhere in the world using a credit card. This increases your capacity to raise more and to have your cause profiled around the world. The donations are automatically processed for the charity and are deposited to their bank account electronically.
Additionally, thank you notes are sent to each donor automatically via email. This saves you and the charity the effort of doing this manually.
The pages are also a very personal and fun way to connect with your friends, family and colleagues to tell them about your efforts and it can serve as a hub for your supporters to monitor your efforts online. It is time to tell the world to Give Out Loud!
Does this service cost anything?
Setting up a GOL site is free. We do offer a premier site with special functionality that will cost a monthly fee. The premier sites are ideal for charities, corporations, small business owners – any one who wants to make a substantial impact while benefiting from "caused based" marketing.
How long does it take to set up a page?
Setting up a page is simple, requires no technical skills and typically takes less than 5 minutes.
Can I change my page?
Absolutely, your Account will enable you to personalize and update your page quickly and simply. Like most social networking sites, it is designed for you to use as often as you can -- have fun with it!
Is this a secure service?
Yes. All transactions and data are captured and stored in a secure environment. GOL uses industry standard Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption certificates from VeriSign, the leading provider of digital trust services.
Can I also take off-line donations?
Definitely! Your personal webpage is intended to be one part of your fundraising approach. You can still solicit donations via mail, phone or in person. We even provide an area on your page for you to record your offline donations and add them to your total.
Can people donate anonymously?
Yes. Individuals can either donate anonymously and their name will appear on your fundraising page as 'Anonymous'. Please note: their identity will still be passed on to you and to the charity.
Have any more questions? Email contact@giveoutloud.com
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