TGIF! The perfect time for a news dump! A "Friday news dump" is done by politicians, businesses and organizations hoping to avoid media scrutiny. They release long documents or bad information then because a lot of reporters are looking to the weekend and have already wrapped up their reporting for the week. By the time reporters get back to the office on Sunday or Monday, that document dump is already old news.
I am not dumping bad news--instead, I am dumping GREAT news. We have had several good things happen for us financially. This is great news, that's why I am trying to hide it on a Friday night. Some people get motivated to do something when they read or hear bad news. They want to make a donation to help someone face down in the mud, about to become homeless, or is down on his luck but gives $10 to a stranger in a viral video. But an organization with good news about its financial situation? That's a reason for people to conclude, "Well, I don't need to help them. Is there anyone face down I can help instead?" That is definitely Friday Good News Dump material.
First, the really big news: Two high school students are trying to have the largest fundraiser in TNKR history. They have already raised 8.4 million won (about $7,200) and have pledges for almost another 8 million won ($6,700) through 2022 in the form of monthly donations.
Jun and Eugene came to us more than a year ago, hoping they could tutor North Korean refugees. I gently nudged them away from that, doubting that high school kids would remain engaged for long, and knowing that refugees prefer studying with tutors older than themselves. Instead of sulking, they listened as I discussed TNKR's real challenges, especially fundraising. They tried a few other things, then finally came back to the original idea: fundraising. That then led to them creating events, and then that led to them deciding to create the TNKR Global High School Union. I had never considered such a thing, but they created it, then made it happen! They began recruiting other high school kids to join them. They stopped by our office today to present a check representing the amount they have raised. They thanked us for believing in them.
We have had many people come to us, optimistic about what they could do, but later they come up with excuses, or even blame me when they fail to reach their goals that I agreed with. I have Harvard graduates, politicians, entertainers, rich people, and many others, but it is high school kids who are coming up with the biggest fundraiser in TNKR history. The money is intended to help TNKR with its eventual move to a larger office.
There is more great news. This morning at about 6 a.m., I received a scanned copy of our US IRS Determination Letter. This is the first time in my life that I have been thrilled to receive anything from the IRS. I don't even like tax refunds, because it means that I have paid too much in taxes.
TNKR is officially registered in the USA as a non-profit organization, and we've got the government's letter to prove it. We didn't have a real presence in the USA and weren't sure our NGO in Korea would survive, so we hesitated to set up operations there. We had some good things happen last year, so I finally decided to pursue the non-profit status in the USA. We had started it back in 2017, but for a while I had considered shutting down TNKR on its 5th anniversary in 2018, so we held off.
I should have more good news about this in the future--probably to also be released on a Friday night. I have heard from other organization leaders that they are afraid to release good news, because donors don't feel urgency to help. It is better to find release stories about how tragic things are.
I do want to keep things in perspective. A few years ago, when we had almost nothing, one of our volunteers was amazed to see us raise $400 in a week. He told me, "Wow, the money is rolling in!" I responded: "Would you like that to be your salary for one week, with promises of nothing the following?"
I used to work at the Cato Institute, which now has an annual budget of $37 million. I know what it is like to work for a wealthy organization. Back when I worked there, I noticed that the founder and CEO would make a pitch to donors, talking about the great work the organization was doing, but then would conclude with, "We could always be doing better." Then he would remind donors to make another donation so the organization could continue its great work. It doesn't matter how rich an organization is, it still must present itself as needing more support, now and forever.
***
I had another interview today. Yesterday it was with a TV station, today it was with Yonsei University students studying journalism.
She joined us in September, and has already made an impact!
* She is tutoring two students at different levels, and loving it!
* She was the speech coach mentor for the refugee who won the Hana Foundation's third English speech contest.
* She set up a super fundraiser for TNKR that has raised 383,000 (about $330). https://give.lovetnkr.com/en/fundraisers/Cranes-for-TNKR
We thanked her for her great fundraiser with a signed copy of book Jang Jinsung's "Dear Leader." Check the TNKR Book Club for other books signed by NK refugees.
I also asked her to be interviewed by the Yonsei students.
* An American donor put $5,000 in our bank account, to be released when we raised the money to match it. We are now 16% of the way to raising that.
* A Korean couple deposited 10 million won ($8,600) in our bank account, to be released when incoming tutors raise money to match it. Tutors joining the 97th Matching session have raised 1.4 million won ($1,230). Thirteen of the 14 tutors engaged in fundraising or made donations.
We had a Matching donation challenge that failed last year. When people offer Matching challenges, it is better for them to deposit the money, to be held until we match the donation. Hopefully we can meet both challenges.
For a few years now, TNKR has relied on fundraising by volunteers and fans to help us survive. A few years ago, having volunteers help with fundraising was our only choice. We had some volunteers who were offended when we asked them to help us build the organization, and even now we have many potential volunteers who view it as "time or a dime." As I said then, eventually we would get strong enough that wealthy people would be more willing to support us. We are not quite at that point, but we are getting closer.
Weakness may attract some donors, but it is strength that attracts wealthy donors and stronger organizations. Next week, we will be going to Harvard University, this trip would not have been possible if we had accepted those volunteers with "time or a dime" outlooks.
Support TNKR: http://www.lovetnkr.org (even though we are no longer completely in poverty, we could always be doing better with more support)
I am not dumping bad news--instead, I am dumping GREAT news. We have had several good things happen for us financially. This is great news, that's why I am trying to hide it on a Friday night. Some people get motivated to do something when they read or hear bad news. They want to make a donation to help someone face down in the mud, about to become homeless, or is down on his luck but gives $10 to a stranger in a viral video. But an organization with good news about its financial situation? That's a reason for people to conclude, "Well, I don't need to help them. Is there anyone face down I can help instead?" That is definitely Friday Good News Dump material.
* * *
First, the really big news: Two high school students are trying to have the largest fundraiser in TNKR history. They have already raised 8.4 million won (about $7,200) and have pledges for almost another 8 million won ($6,700) through 2022 in the form of monthly donations.
Jun and Eugene came to us more than a year ago, hoping they could tutor North Korean refugees. I gently nudged them away from that, doubting that high school kids would remain engaged for long, and knowing that refugees prefer studying with tutors older than themselves. Instead of sulking, they listened as I discussed TNKR's real challenges, especially fundraising. They tried a few other things, then finally came back to the original idea: fundraising. That then led to them creating events, and then that led to them deciding to create the TNKR Global High School Union. I had never considered such a thing, but they created it, then made it happen! They began recruiting other high school kids to join them. They stopped by our office today to present a check representing the amount they have raised. They thanked us for believing in them.
We have had many people come to us, optimistic about what they could do, but later they come up with excuses, or even blame me when they fail to reach their goals that I agreed with. I have Harvard graduates, politicians, entertainers, rich people, and many others, but it is high school kids who are coming up with the biggest fundraiser in TNKR history. The money is intended to help TNKR with its eventual move to a larger office.
***
501(c)3 in the USA
There is more great news. This morning at about 6 a.m., I received a scanned copy of our US IRS Determination Letter. This is the first time in my life that I have been thrilled to receive anything from the IRS. I don't even like tax refunds, because it means that I have paid too much in taxes.
TNKR is officially registered in the USA as a non-profit organization, and we've got the government's letter to prove it. We didn't have a real presence in the USA and weren't sure our NGO in Korea would survive, so we hesitated to set up operations there. We had some good things happen last year, so I finally decided to pursue the non-profit status in the USA. We had started it back in 2017, but for a while I had considered shutting down TNKR on its 5th anniversary in 2018, so we held off.
I should have more good news about this in the future--probably to also be released on a Friday night. I have heard from other organization leaders that they are afraid to release good news, because donors don't feel urgency to help. It is better to find release stories about how tragic things are.
****
I do want to keep things in perspective. A few years ago, when we had almost nothing, one of our volunteers was amazed to see us raise $400 in a week. He told me, "Wow, the money is rolling in!" I responded: "Would you like that to be your salary for one week, with promises of nothing the following?"
I used to work at the Cato Institute, which now has an annual budget of $37 million. I know what it is like to work for a wealthy organization. Back when I worked there, I noticed that the founder and CEO would make a pitch to donors, talking about the great work the organization was doing, but then would conclude with, "We could always be doing better." Then he would remind donors to make another donation so the organization could continue its great work. It doesn't matter how rich an organization is, it still must present itself as needing more support, now and forever.
***
Another day, another interview
I had another interview today. Yesterday it was with a TV station, today it was with Yonsei University students studying journalism.
***
India Meyers visits
She joined us in September, and has already made an impact!
* She is tutoring two students at different levels, and loving it!
* She was the speech coach mentor for the refugee who won the Hana Foundation's third English speech contest.
* She set up a super fundraiser for TNKR that has raised 383,000 (about $330). https://give.lovetnkr.com/en/fundraisers/Cranes-for-TNKR
We thanked her for her great fundraiser with a signed copy of book Jang Jinsung's "Dear Leader." Check the TNKR Book Club for other books signed by NK refugees.
I also asked her to be interviewed by the Yonsei students.
***
Matching Donation Pinata
* An American donor put $5,000 in our bank account, to be released when we raised the money to match it. We are now 16% of the way to raising that.
* A Korean couple deposited 10 million won ($8,600) in our bank account, to be released when incoming tutors raise money to match it. Tutors joining the 97th Matching session have raised 1.4 million won ($1,230). Thirteen of the 14 tutors engaged in fundraising or made donations.
We had a Matching donation challenge that failed last year. When people offer Matching challenges, it is better for them to deposit the money, to be held until we match the donation. Hopefully we can meet both challenges.
For a few years now, TNKR has relied on fundraising by volunteers and fans to help us survive. A few years ago, having volunteers help with fundraising was our only choice. We had some volunteers who were offended when we asked them to help us build the organization, and even now we have many potential volunteers who view it as "time or a dime." As I said then, eventually we would get strong enough that wealthy people would be more willing to support us. We are not quite at that point, but we are getting closer.
Weakness may attract some donors, but it is strength that attracts wealthy donors and stronger organizations. Next week, we will be going to Harvard University, this trip would not have been possible if we had accepted those volunteers with "time or a dime" outlooks.
***
Support TNKR: http://www.lovetnkr.org (even though we are no longer completely in poverty, we could always be doing better with more support)