WORKSPACE

[GIVING BACK]

PHILANTHROPIC PROFILE

NUMBER OF CHARITABLE GIVING PROGRAMS:

2

AMOUNT DONATED AFTER THE HOPE FOR JOPLIN FUNDRAISER:

$167,000

VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED DURING HOPE FOR JOPLIN:

132

NUMBER OF FUNDRAISERS COMPLETED THROUGH YOUR IDENTI-TEES:

47

Thoughtful Threads

Days after the 2011 Joplin tornado, Bigfi sh Screenprinting started a fundraiser that changed the company for good.

After a catastrophic tornado ripped through Joplin on a Sunday night in May 2011, 417-landers, including the small team at Bigfi sh Screenprinting LLC, rushed in to help pick up the pieces. The team knew they wanted to help but initially didn’t know how. “People always say, ‘I’m one person, what can I do?’ Well, we were thinking that same thing,” says owner Vicki Simpson. “We’re a small company. I mean seriously, what can we do?”

On Tuesday, they decided to make a T-shirt that read “Hope for Joplin,” thinking they would possibly sell 500 and

donate the money to a church or a disaster relief fund. But thanks in part to Facebook, requests for shirts were pouring into Bigfi sh’s inbox, and lines of customers were out the shop’s door. “Springfi eld always steps up to the plate, but the nation really rallied behind some little town in Missouri,” Simpson says. By the end of the campaign, they had sold approximately 30,000 shirts to customers in 48 states and six countries. “It really shaped more of who we are as a company,” she says. “Yeah, it’s just T-shirts, but we can help people.” The fundraiser’s surprise success meant the entire process was a learning experience. Other businesspeople warned Simpson against bankruptcy. Now she advises others to donate the profi ts, not the proceeds. By taking out the costs you incur, you’ll eliminate the risk of debt. Another concern was taxes that would have cut into the overall donation amount. Determined to fi nd a way around that, Simpson looked into creating a nonprofi t foundation. Even with the help of a lawyer, she says the application process is overwhelming but does suggest paying someone to help. Bigfi sh also had to navigate the tricky waters of nonprofi t classifi cations. “Know what you’re going after and what the ramifi cations will be,” Simpson says. “Are you really going to be able to do what you want to do?” For example, Bigfi sh Foundation can only give to other organizations, causes or events that aff ect the broader community because of its classifi cation, she says. In February 2015, the company created Your IDENTI-tees, an online fundraising platform. This model allows customers to market their eff orts and determine their profi t May 2011, 417-landers, including the margins by setting an item’s price. Some small team at Bigfi sh Screenprinting LLC, customers have raised close to $13,000 rushed in to help pick up the pieces. through Your IDENTI-tees, and Bigfi sh is The team knew they wanted to help able to help even more people. but initially didn’t know how. “People But with so many requests, it can be always say, ‘I’m one person, what can I diffi cult for business owners to choose do?’ Well, we were thinking that same a cause. “You can’t say yes to everything,” thing,” says owner Vicki Simpson. Simpson reminds others. “So I’d say if “We’re a small company. I mean it touches your heart, go for it.”

margins by setting an item’s price. Some customers have raised close to $13,000 through Your IDENTI-tees, and Bigfi sh is able to help even more people. But with so many requests, it can be diffi cult for business owners to choose a cause. “You can’t say yes to everything,” Simpson reminds others. “So I’d say if it touches your heart, go for it.”

Vicki Simpson, owner of Big sh Screenprinting, took the small action of Screenprinting, took the small action of creating T-shirts after the Joplin tornado creating T-shirts after the Joplin tornado and turned it into a fundraising model and turned it into a fundraising model that helps efforts across 417-land. that helps efforts across 417-land.

[HOW-TO]

Working the Crowd

Crowdfunding success requires more than enthusiasm and a good idea. We talked to a Kickstarter whiz to learn how to maximize your efforts and avoid a crowdfunding flop.

BY: STEPHANIE TOWNE BENOIT

Kickstarter helps build excitement for an idea and get ventures off the ground, but the platform does not guarantee success. A great campaign takes preparation and planning, a reality Caleb Stokes, owner of Hebanon Games, has learned over the years. Stokes has successfully used the platform three times to fund tabletop roleplaying games such as Red Markets, which is the fourth most-funded Kickstarter in Springfield to date. He shares his tips on how to avoid possible pitfalls.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Familiarize yourself with other campaigns first. “If you are going to be a writer, you should read a lot of books; if you are going to start a Kickstarter, you should at least look at a lot of Kickstarters,” Stokes says.

GET SOCIAL

Start marketing long before your launch by building a following outside of Kickstarter through blogging and social media. “When [people] back it and they retweet it, those are the people who are going to get you the biggest number of [additional] backers,” he says. “But if you don’t have that pool before you start, you are in big trouble.”

TIME IT RIGHT

The timing of your launch is important. For example, with tabletop games, Stokes says backers have less disposable income during the holidays and around major gaming conferences. Consider trends to avoid launching at an inopportune time. “You need to kind of know those statistical truths and the ins and outs of your industry,” he says.

SWEETEN THE DEAL

People are more inclined to support a project if it offers worthwhile rewards. “You are asking people to give you money for a product that may not exist yet,” Stokes says. “You are going to have to give something away for free. That gets your name out there and shows that you can produce professional work without asking people to gamble a whole bunch of money on you.” Plan to build rewards into your budget.

DEVELOP RAPPORT

Take advantage of the connection Kickstarter creates with backers. Keep them up-to-date on your progress and detail your budget, which builds trust and indicates that you will deliver on the project. “I know some people aren’t comfortable with that,” he says. “But that engenders such goodwill among the Kickstarter community, and that goodwill is a powerful tool for marketing.”