FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
How is $5k in 5 days possible? Isn’t that ridiculous?
It’s entirely possible. Most fundraising fails because it’s not ambitious enough to excite people. Here are a few ways we can get to $5k and then trump it:
20 people (or groups or organizations) each fund “book parties” at $250
100 people (or groups or organizations) each fund book purchases at $50
1,000 people donate only $5 bucks each, that’s one lunch!
It can will be done.
Can I donate to any not-for-profit I want?
At this time, all donations from the LibraryForLaos.org campaign will go towards reading programs and book purchases through the local Lao non-profit Big Brother Mouse. This is because 1) we believe that NOW is a critical time to act to improve the literacy of rural Lao and focusing our efforts here will have the greatest impact, 2) Big Brother Mouse is an excellent non-profit that lacks support in Laos and desperately needs our help – we’ve interviewed their CEO and seen their operations, 3) you will first hand “virtually” experience the effects of your donation through our Updates page, and 4) Allen Burt, co-found of LibraryForLaos.org, will be in Laos working hands on with the children and schools ensuring that they receive your donation!
Can I donate directly to Big Brother Mouse? Why should I donate through the LibraryForLaos.org PayPal donations page?
Of course! If you would prefer to donate to Big Brother Mouse directly, you can contact them here. However, do to the high cost of bank transactions fees, Big Brother Mouse does not advise donations under $600! Through the LibraryForLaos.org campaign, we provide normal people the ability to donate smaller amounts through our secure PayPal donations page – minimizing transactions costs and increasing the percentage of donations that go directly to reading programs and book purchases!
How Does My Donation Get to Big Brother Mouse?
At the end of the 5 day campaign, all money donated through the paypal donations page will be securely wired to Big Brother Mouse via a local bank in Luang Prabang, Laos. The entire donated amount will be transfered as a lump sum in order to minimize bank transactions costs!
Will any of my donation go to fund LibraryForLaos.org’s parent non-profit, SocioEconomic Ventures, Inc. or Allen Burt’s travels?
Allen wishes, but ABSOLUTELY NOT! Minus PayPal and bank transactions fees, 100% of your donation will go towards funding reading programs and book purchases. You even get to watch how your donations are used on our Updates Page!
Are donations to this campaign tax-deductible?
LibraryForLaos.org is a campaign through SocioEconomic Ventures, Inc (SEV Inc.), a not-for-profit corporation in the state of Illinois. SEV Inc. is a young organization with incorporation as recently as November of 2008. According to IRS publication 557 page 20, all donations to SEV Inc. (through LibraryForLaos.org) are tax deductible so long as SEV Inc. files for 501(c)(3) tax exemption within fifteen months of incorporation and is approved. Therefore LibraryForLaos.org and SEV Inc. can not guarantee 501(c)(3) status approval and can not guarantee that donations will be tax deductible.
Read to jump in? 5 minutes of your time can alter lives in rural Laos and get you experiences money can’t buy. Make a difference in 3 easy steps!