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Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Talk about hip-hop, music, movies, current events, life, and other interesting topics. Discuss and debate but plan to be nice.

Moderator: Plastic

Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Postby Plastic » Thu May 01, 2008 10:18 pm

Fund Drive progress
Need: $8994.54
Raised: $4841.74

I've been blessed to see Sphere of Hip-Hop flourish in the last 13 years. Maybe you have too. Looking forward, I am aware of the challenges of "doing what we do" here with the Sphere website family and of course all of the things we're doing offline as well.

Believe it or not, Sphere of Hip-Hop is more than just a website. We've become something that affects change and also gives hope to many across the globe. Lives touched and hearts changed. We're blessed to be a blessing for sure!

With that said, we need your help. We need help in catching up past debt that has piled up from 2005-2009.

The new year has not been so bad. We're still coming up short but not by as much as before. Thank you!

2009
Quarter 1 (Jan - Mar): -$772.81
Quarter 2 (Apr - June): -$532.58
Quarter 3 (July - Sept): -$469.73
Quarter 4 (Oct - Dec): $33.96 (Oct and Dec broke even)

Monthly support progress: 17.2% of goal.

Our fixed operating costs figure to $903 monthly. That covers the basic needs and costs in operating the site including (but not limited to): phone, internet, web hosting, postage, shipping supplies, storage space, digital download services, shopping cart capabilities, supplies (printer ink, paper, labels, tape etc) and other odds & ends. Some months that total can grow anywhere from $100-500 based on different activities we're working on. Flier orders, software needs etc come up irregularly throughout the year.

Please consider helping Sphere out in any way and in any amount you can. Please also consider sponsoring a particular need we have. The goal is always to simply break even and use any profit to bless others through several offline ministry opportunities we assist with. Remember that nobody is drawing any sort of salary... everyone (myself included) donates all of their time.

If you would like more information to feel comfortable supporting, please hit me up privately and I'll be able to help. I am ready to be creative in any way so we can get this debt paid off in quick fashion. Let me know if you have an idea!

God bless,
Josh "plastic"

Support options:
Everyone who helps out is entitled to a special "Site Supporter" note on their forum account (if you participate in the forums). Please ask for yours if you've helped out.

1 - Donate directly
Our Direct donations page (aka Tip Jar) has a few denominations ready for you to select to donate online. If you would like to mail in a donation, please let me know and I will get you the information.

You may also help offset some of our expenses by purchasing items listed on our Amazon.com wishlist.

2 - Support monthly
Would you like to pledge ongoing support? This option is for those who wish to donate on a monthly recurring basis without the hassle of remembering to do it. No checks to write, no remembering... it's automatic and you control it 100%! Contact me via Email or PM for details.

3 - Buy any of the album downloads created for our Fund Drive
Last Call $5.99 + Penny For Your Thoughts $6.99 + Sphere Mixtape #1 $6.99 + The Runaway - A Brief Word $7.99

4 - Sponsor the Sphere Podcast
Sponsor our Podcast. Want a shout out or brief announcement? Want to run a 15/30 second advertisement? Hit me up for information.

5 - CD Grab Bag nets you some tunes and the site some support
Purchase a CD Grab Bag. About $35 of the purchase price benefits the site.

6 - Cop the Sphere shirt
Purchase a Sphere t-shirt. About $9 of the purchase price benefits the site.

7 - Message forum usage tax.
A fun idea suggested by a forum member. Pay your post count! Donate a penny (or more if you wish) per post you've made on the forum.

8 - Buy some respect! Up your "rep" by adding posts
Another fun idea from a forum member. For a $10 donation I will grant you 500 posts to your post total.

9 - Advertise on Sphere of Hip-Hop
A fantastic way to get your stuff in front of our regular visitors and for the cheapness! You'll be hard pressed to find a better promotional value that gets you in front of folks who visit Sphere on the regular. Only $50.00 per week. Are you a fan of a group who could use a banner spot? Sponsor one for them! Contact me for details.

10 - Custom forum member title
Want something clever for your very own custom member title? For a small donation, you can have it! Want to express your love and devotion to Grapetree Records by adding "GRPTREE-LVR" under your user name next to every post you make? You can now have it. There is a character limit but most things should fit. For only $20 you can have your own special member title. Wanna change it a few months from now? Make future changes to it for only $5 per change.

11 - Consulting phone time
If you need help in planning your current or next album, let me know. Running a record label and need some help? Drop me a line! I've got a lot of knowledge to share and would love to help you out. I charge $50 an hour. I can provide a client list of people I've worked with before.

12 - Add banners to your website/Facebook/Myspace etc
Link to the store
Code: Select all
<a href="http://www.sphereofhiphopstore.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.sphereofhiphop.com/images/sphere-of-hip-hop-shop-support.jpg" border="0" alt="Sphere of Hip-Hop"></a>


Link to the main site
Code: Select all
<a href="http://www.sphereofhiphop.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.sphereofhiphop.com/images/sphere-of-hip-hop-shop-support.jpg" border="0" alt="Sphere of Hip-Hop"></a>


Videos from supporters
AudioSketchBook http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUdQn4hC9zY
Cookbook http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa62xwe4KeQ
CY from Much Luvv Records http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Df4ow6ZWo
DJ Skillspinz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjhqVPY4hvI
Manasseh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InqPjMfvsf8
NomiS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht4HxvguxeI
Propaganda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpIkBgRqY00
Sketch the Journalist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjYy1cFGspM
Souldaddy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IqtV7ewV98
Soul the Interrogator http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ugq70YQzeE
Theory Hazit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LCc9qXHeFw
Tony Stone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fpGSwnjalY
Zane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxewx3M30qI

Specific needs we have
Printer ink
Various boxes - need varies (about $100)
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: to help Sphere survive!

Postby Plastic » Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:26 pm

CY from Much Luvv Records just made a support video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Df4ow6ZWo
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: to help Sphere survive!

Postby Plastic » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:39 pm

Tony Stone just made a video. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fpGSwnjalY
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: to help Sphere survive!

Postby Plastic » Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:00 am

Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: to help Sphere survive!

Postby Plastic » Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:31 pm

New support video posted:
Soul the Interrogator http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ugq70YQzeE
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Postby Plastic » Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:39 pm

Posted some updates! Thanks for the support and please continue to help where you can.

We've got an Amazon.com wish list for various supplies we need if you'd like to support that way.
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Postby Plastic » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:33 pm

Check out the support video from NomiS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht4HxvguxeI
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Postby Plastic » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:34 am

New support video from AudioSketchBook:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUdQn4hC9zY

Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Postby Plastic » Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:00 pm

Posted final updates for March and also our April progress thusfar.
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Postby Plastic » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:46 am

New support video from Zane

Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Postby Plastic » Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:13 pm

Just posted the update for July. Initially it was shaping up pretty strong but the end of the month was poor. People must be on vacation and not buying music :lol:

Please continue to keep the site and our funding needs in your prayers.

Several close and trusted friends suggested a few months ago that I consider doing a support based ministry. Basically raising monthly support to maintain what we're currently doing and to also engage in some additional ministry activity. I spent loads of time in prayer on it and feel led to let everyone know about it now.

I've got that going now and we already have about half a dozen (as of today) people on board. If you'd like details about this, please zip me an email and I'll fill you in. I'll be reaching out to those of you who have supported in the past as well.
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Postby Plastic » Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:27 pm

Updated everything for September. We did alright! Thanks for the support and please keep it up. We're about 7% towards our monthly support goal. If you're interested in pledging monthly support on an ongoing basis please let me know. Email or PM for details.

New support video from Cookbook


New support video from Chalwell
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Postby Plastic » Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:17 pm

Thanks for continuing to support the site with your prayers!

We've got a few things we could use right now. I could use some blank DVDs for data back up and also a few Black ink cartridges for our printer. We use about one or two per month with all the printing we do.

Our Amazon.com wishlist has the exact ones we need.

Thanks everyone! Still a long way to go to get back to zero but we're making some amazing progress especially over the last 2 months.
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN

Re: Fund Drive: Help meet the need!

Postby Plastic » Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:26 pm

Posted the final update for 2009. We lost a bit during November but came out on top in both October and December. First two positive months in over 2 years! Please keep up the support so we can get back to zero overall.

Let me know if you're interested in supporting on a monthly basis. We're 17.2% towards our goal for that.
Sphere Store - Facebook - Email list - Donate/Support - Sphere's Amazon wishlist - Radio show - Sphere Podcast

Please support our sponsors. Thank you!

Kierkegaard wrote:People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.
User avatar
Plastic
Minding That Rap
 
Posts: 28686
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 1998 9:43 am
Location: Rochester MN


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