I've got an idea that I want to run by you, and I think charities could really benefit by using Steemit. I'm constantly trying to figure out ways we could use Steemit and the blockchain to help the needy in this world. I've got an idea that might help and I would really appreciate any advice, thoughts or suggestions in the comments below.
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Idea: Charity Account & Support
Concept: A Steemonian like you and me find a local charity to educate and facilitate an account on Steemit. The charity then blogs daily about things they are doing and real stories of the people they are helping. The Steemit community supports by upvoting and sharing the charity's posts and following their account. The money earned is then used to benefit the charity.
Benefits: With enough support by the Steemit community, the charity account could generate a fair amount of revenue. Especially with the price of SBD and Steem so high right now. It would also give the charity an opportunity to share real life stories about their organization and highlight people that they are helping.
One Step Further: The idea is also possible to take to a homeless shelter or a battered women's shelter and one of us go in and teach them how to use Steemit.
Funding: Let's say the shelter needs a computer in order to help get them ready to blog. If they don't have the funds, and the computer costs $800, then they create a post asking the community to help with the computer. One whale could do that with a single 25% vote. This concept could be used for many things.
Challenges: Taxes are going to be the biggest. I expect there to be some tax issues, but I am sure there is a way to make sure this is beneficial financially to the organization or there is no sense in doing it. The other challenge will be to find good Steemonians that will help build this program up.
Overall: The Charity Accounts could be a great way for organization to make some extra money and to possibly give people a chance at finding financial freedom by using Steemit.
Thoughts: I want to know what you think. Let me know if you would like to do something like this. What am I missing? I would really appreciate any feedback.
I am willing to try this with a local charity, I know one that would be great and I already have a contact. Let me know your thoughts though, I don't want to jump into something if everyone thinks it will fail.
I don't ask often, but please resteem to get as much feedback as possible.
Thanks for reading and for your feedback.
Hi @walkingkeys
A very interesting post. I have given this some some thought myself, not just in terms of steemit but also block chain more broadly.
The biggest challenge I see to your concept is enabling the charity to create effective content.
I have done significant work in the charity space and most of the charities I have worked with are run on a shoe string budget. Some are run sole by volunteers. For a charity to dedicate someone to creating quality content would require a large commitment of scarce resources. For most charities I think this would be beyond their means.
I love your thinking though. I too am convinced there must be a way to use this eco system for philanthropic purposes. I’ll follow you from here and look forward to any further posts you may have on the subject.
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First of all thanks for the great reply. I do agree that most charities that I know are in the same boat. I do think that someone would either have to be dedicated to volunteering for this specific project or someone that would get paid in SBD maybe. The other option is to work with larger groups that have a social media person. It would take some work, but there is potential. I think if the charity was like a family homeless shelter then the residents could write the blogs. I don't know? It could be difficult, and I appreciate you making a good point. I too am like you, trying to figure out what we can do to use the blockchain to help people. Thanks for the comment.
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Difficult but worthwhile! Keep it up.
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I think this is an awesome idea.
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Hey, thank you very much. I appreciate it.
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We had a lot of talk about this around six months or so ago and my view remains the same that organised charities drain the contributions they receive by way of salaries and other expenditures which leave very little remaining in a lot of cases for the actual intended recipients. I believe steemit has a great potential for charity and should be further investigated but we should start our own rather than inviting established charities onto the site I feel. Initiatives such as @familyprotection clearly show that there is a place for such on steemit and that we can re-invent the concept.
Good to see a post bringing the subject up and starting conversation around it.
Hope your day is going well @walkingkeys. :)
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A great idea, i really think this could work. We need to get a group of steemians together and get it started. I would cefinitely be interested.
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I think its a great idea but whats stopping the account holder from pocketing the money given by the steemit community bro?
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Like the idea. Will keep an eye out for these kinds of developments. Have you seen celebrity endorsement type deals were the crypto benefits from the hype, and a slush fund gets put in with the expectation that the value can then be cashed out to help the charity of choice. All good things to watch out.
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