Update on the Go Fund Me

1/30/23 update

Hey all,

With your unbelievable support, we have breached the stretch goal that we set for the Go Fund Me. I am meeting with our potential new hosting platform this week to work out pricing and how the migration process will work.

We’re also waiting on information from Vox about what will or won’t move once they shut off the financial valve. I will say there are more positive vibes coming from that front that not as much will have to change as we originally thought, but I’ll leave it at that until I know more for sure.

All additional dollars sent to the Go Fund Me will help us continue to keep the writers impacted funded through the end of the season, and will help us reach for more expensive options with the new hosting platform to make this as seamless of a transfer as possible. I’m very optimistic at the fundraising rate we’re going at that things won’t be too different once we transition (aside from parts of the site being behind a paywall once we move over). So please keep sharing/consider donating if you’re seeing this for the first time. Honestly the support we have gotten has truly been a much needed boost to get through this process.

I will be able to provide more updates as the week goes on, I think. I’m trying to be as transparent as possible with the GFM and what our plans are.

I also want to make sure we do this right while also doing right by the writers under my care who are impacted by this.

Thanks all for everything!

Original article below:

Hey guys,

We’re still in the process of weighing a couple of options for what we can do with the site moving forward.

The option that I think is going to make the most sense for us — which is going to be the closest thing to what the interactions and space on this current website are like — is going to be pretty costly. This is on top of trying to keep the writers and editors who are losing their stipends at the end of February paid as we move through this transition.

We have set up — somewhat uncomfortably — a Go Fund Me to help these efforts. We’re going to do everything we can to make this as seamless as possible for you all, but I also want it to be as seamless as possible for the people who depended on (what little) money they were making from this place.

For full disclosure, we will likely need to move the site in at least some for of a pay-to-play. We’re not sure what that’s going to look like yet, but getting up-front funding will be a way to keep those costs down as we get rolling — since again, to do what I want to do is going to be a very big upfront cost to myself.

If you can’t donate, please don’t feel obligated to. If you don’t want to donate, again I understand. It’s why I’m trying to be as up front as possible with our future plans. Money is tight everywhere and this is not something I wanted to do in the first place, but I have to admit defeat here that a little cushion as we get going will go a long way.

The picture of the go fund me is an old one Mike made about me and Tony. I love this place. Little things like that remind me why I love this place so much. Your support through this has meant the world to all of us, and we look forward to seeing you guys on the other side.

When I get more updates on what that other side looks like, I will let you all know.

Thank you again!

The link is below if you want to donate or share.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-new-blueshirt-banter?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1