The gist of our fundraising approach: small, honest, frequent, and human—with one or two bigger moments. Stimpunks should fundraise the same way it works: direct, transparent, mutual-aid-forward, and low-bullshit.
Here’s a plan for this year.
The Core Principle
Fundraise like we build:
- Direct support over overhead theater
- Plain language over polish
- Trust over persuasion
- Show the work as it happens
People don’t give to Stimpunks because of branding.
They give because we are honest about need and impact.
1. Make “Default to Open” the Fundraising Engine
What to do
- Maintain a public Now page (we have for several years)
- Keep a lightweight Transparency Log (we started one Jan 2026)
- Share:
- “Here’s what we’re working on”
- “Here’s what’s funded / unfunded”
- “Here’s what broke this week”
Why it works
This builds earned trust. Donors don’t feel sold to—they feel invited in.
Fundraising becomes: “If this matters to you, help us keep it going.”
2. Monthly Sustainers = Our Financial Backbone
Target
A small base of $5–$50/month sustainers.
How to frame it
Not “support our mission.”
Say:
- “Help us keep paying disabled people.”
- “Cover one creator stipend a month.”
- “Keep the mutual aid fund alive.”
Practical steps
- One simple Sustainer page
- Clear examples:
- $10/mo = one hour of paid editorial labor
- $25/mo = a micro-grant buffer
- $50/mo = keeps the site + aid running
Why this matters
Predictability > big one-offs
Sustainers reduce burnout and emergency scrambling.
3. Run 2–3 Honest Micro-Campaigns (Not Constant Appeals)
Think specific, time-bound, human needs.
Examples
- “Pay contributors for the Field Guide update”
- “Rebuild the mutual aid buffer after X month”
- “Fund the next research sprint”
What NOT to do
- No guilt language
- No false urgency
- No inflated goals
What TO do
- Name the real number
- Stop when you hit it
- Publicly close the loop
This builds donor confidence fast.
4. Treat Grants as Fuel, Not the Foundation
What Stimpunks is well-suited for
- Small to mid-size funders
- Trust-based philanthropy
- Disability justice / mutual aid aligned grants
What to avoid
- Reporting-heavy, extractive grants
- Funders who want metrics theater
- “Scale at all costs” money
Key move
Reuse our Charting Impact, Transparency Log, and Now page as grant artifacts. Don’t create special lies for funders.
5. Make Community Fundraising Allowed (But Optional)
Some people want to help beyond money.
Enable:
- “Birthday fundraiser for Stimpunks”
- Peer-to-peer links
- Occasional “If this helped you, pass it on” asks
Important:
Never make fundraising a requirement for belonging.
Mutual aid ≠ pressure.
6. Fundraising Cadence (Low Burnout)
Monthly
- One soft ask or update
Quarterly
- One clear, specific campaign
Yearly
- One annual “This is what we did / This is what’s next” appeal
That’s it.
No constant drip. No anxiety spiral.
7. The Tone That Works for Stimpunks
Always:
- Plainspoken
- Specific
- Grounded
- Human
Say:
“Here’s what it costs to do this work.
Here’s what we’ve got.
Here’s what we’re short.
Help if you can.”
That tone is our superpower.
Bottom Line
Stimpunks should fundraise the way it lives:
- Direct support
- Radical transparency
- Paying disabled people
- Trusting the community
We don’t need to convince people Stimpunks matters.
We just need to keep telling the truth out loud.
