Sustainability VI: Back 7 Cups
Dear Community,
I hope you all are well.
Soon you'll be able to back 7 Cups directly, through monthly or one-time contributions. You'll see a "Back Us" button in the top menu. You can also find it here: http://7cups.com/back-us/. Guests, members, and listeners can all take part.
For a long time I wasn't very transparent about what it costs to run 7 Cups. More recently I've started to open up: it's expensive, and revenue is a real and ongoing challenge. When I've shared that, many of you responded the same way - how can we help? This is the answer.
We've built 7 Cups together, brick by brick. Everyone here has their own square on the sphere. It has never been my project that you volunteer for - it is a community we own in common, and it runs on something that can't be bought or sold: people showing up for each other because they choose to. That's exactly why we're asking you to back it rather than charge for it. Backing is the only model that fits what we actually are.
If 7 Cups has been a place where you found support, or found a self you didn't know you had, or found people who mattered to you, then this is a way to help keep your square, and everyone's, standing.
Cris worked hard on the icon: a beating heart, with colors that shift over time and it follow you around the site.
Please let me know what you think. I’m happy to hear thoughts, questions, and concerns. Thank you for considering it, and thank you for building 7 Cups with me.
Best,
GlenM
@GlenM I'm not sure if it's just me, but the link isn't working. Also, how much does 7 Cups cost to run and how much by extension does it take for it to be supported so that it can keep running? I think Wikipedia has a similar thing where it has a number listed and has recommended donation values.
@Mallie217 Link isn't working for me either. 🤔
@Mallie217 sorry will be live in the morning! just wanted to give you all a heads up before you saw the button. Thank you!
@GlenM When I go to click on the link, it's currently not working. I hope that once the link starts working again that many people find it in their ❤️ to donate and back 7 Cups! 🙏
@YourCaringConfidant thank you YCC! Will be live first thing tomorrow. Thank you! 💗
This is great! When I am more financially okay, I will consider donating. Right now I can simply share it :)
@Remina thank you for the support! No pressure. I appreciate you thinking of us when it makes sense!
The link is working now, y'all. 😀 Whooo hooo! Yayyy! 👏 Let's back 7 Cups if we can. This platform and community here definitely has impacted me that's for sure.
@GlenM I love how we can literally see the # of people each month our donation keeps the site free for. Makes it so much more personal knowing and seeing the impact of our donation. Literally, every dollar counts! Hope the site receives many blessings with this the same way the site has been a blessing to us. ❤️
@YourCaringConfidant I wonder how they reached that calculation. How much does it take to run the site? How much is left over for profit? I'd love to know
@Mallie217 Those are great questions! 😀 However, I don't know. 🤔 All I know is that 7 Cups has definitely been a safe place for me, has offered me a sense of belonging, and the ability to give back and contribute and help where I can. ❤️
@GlenM
I truly wish I could contribute to the community. If I was an adult I would do it 100%. As a teen I cannot do it. Plus we are not at out best economically here. So sorry I cannot help✨️💜
@cheerfulKiwi1776
That's totally okay! You do so much around this community that helps people immensely already <3
The next best thing to donating is spreading the word, because the more people know, the greater the chances of receiving the support necessary to keep our beautiful community garden watered and thriving!
@Heather225
Thanks for your kind words. I already spread it hehe
@cheerfulKiwi1776 what H said below! Zero pressure from us on this. Supporting 7 Cups happens in many ways and you do a lot to care for our community. I appreciate it!
@GlenM
Thank you so much!!
@GlenM
Such a great initiative and option! 😊 ❤️
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
@SparkyGizmo thank you Sparky!
@GlenM
You are most welcome my friend! 😊 ❤️ and..........
Happy International Friendship Day! 🥳 Seemed like the perfect day to Back 7 cups financially as well as all of the other ways that we do so.
*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️
If you have found meaning, connection, or a sense of belonging here, and want to continue to enjoy 7 Cups, I would really love for you to consider backing us and the long-term security of our beloved community. <3
@Heather225 very well said, H! Thank you for writing it up so clearly!
@Heather225 Beautifully said, H! 💯
@GlenM
I just contributed for the first time, although I've been using the site a while. Please continue the fight against those who misuse the site for purposes that it wasn't meant for. I only mention this because when I chipped in it said "thank you , your contibution allowed the site to serve X number of users this month" and my first thought was that number also includes those who misuse the site, which obviously nobody wants to support.
I'm sure you know about the challenges and I dont need to bring them up here, and I dont want to derail the conversation. But one of the rules of software , which might apply here, is that "a tool should be easy to use correctly, and difficult to use incorrectly". Hopefully that is a tenet that we can all work toward. Thank you and everyone else on the team 💗
@ItsCayley Thank you for calling them out on that!! There's way too much that needs changing about the site, and unfortunately, it feels like progress is *very* slow. Certain things don't see changes for years, and some things seem like they're going to be a site staple :/
@ItsCayley thank you for contributing and helping us out! We do a lot to screen out users with bad intentions. It is a bit of an arms race. I can tell you that each month and each year it gets better and better. I appreciate your support and patience! We will continue to work hard and smart on these fronts!
Can you at least make it non animated?
Does anyone care about user experience?
@ShockTop00, yes very much so! We've spent a great deal of time on UX. It might not seem like it, but I can assure you we have!
I wish I could afford to help... Sorry! But I love this option! <3
@jesusredeemedme2425 thank you for all of the support and help you provide in other valuable ways. I see it and it means a lot to me!
Awww you are so welcome! <3