The Whole Story

An article in the Regal Courier came out yesterday about DonorsResource.org. No words can express the pure gratitude for all of the media coverage that we have received.

There's more to the story that I would like to shout from a roof top. My sister, Deborah and I formed Sisters of the Community (SOC), the parent organization of DonorsResource.org. Arm in arm we grew SOC. Then board member, Theresa O'Heron dedicated many hours writing the text for our first brochure, tightening up our business plan and she coined "One Community, One People."

Craig Spencer designed the SOC website and the logo which remains a stroke of genius.

DonorsResource.org was created and launched in March of '07 as an online directory that allows the end user to easily find a nonprofit organizations by zip code, cause supported and items needed. Craig Spencer designed the logo and website. Richard Navarette from my favorite city, Austin, Texas built the data base.

After collaborating with LakeOMedia, the virtual warehouse was launched in April of '08. Lake OMedia brought gas to the burning fire; big enhancements, groovy new colors, branding, marketing strategies and a rockin' back end that can do flips.

This is only a small reporting of the countless hands that propelled this project along the way. There is always more to the story and this is not a one man show.

My Favorite Question

More often than not, people ask "What do you do with the funds you raise?"

To keep us online there are many expenses starting with the website itself. Consider all that our site can do; allow for posted donations in a million different categories, automated emails to donors and nonprofit claim history reporting.

Our system is saavy and it requires upkeep and maintenance. Add in the day to day activities of alerts and newsletters that have to be written, set up and sent which involve marketing for design and layout and web works for system checks. All of this takes time and dollars.

Like all other professional businesses we have liablity coverage, filing and accounting fees, supplies, consulting, postage and marketing expenses.

Being a web based organization takes dollars. What doesn't?

A year in review

'08 was amazing as I knew it would be. The press we received was enough to count the past year as groundbreaking . A conglomerate of people far and wide offering kuddos and support. The tables turned with calls and requests being received instead of always initiated.

Months ago we were somewhere around 2500 items that had been posted and claimed in the virtual warehouse and over 180 nonprofits are currently registered. Not bad, since we just launched in April.

Pending registrations from 32 nonprofits ranging from Arizona to Florida, Pakistan and Mexico awaiting access DonorsResource.org.

The rubber is really going to meet the road in '09 and I'm safely buckled in for the ride.