How to submit a project...

 

The Tipping Bucket is a successful online platform that helps individuals and organizations fundraise for sustainable social causes.  The platform is simple:  Our site features one project, or bucket, at a time, each with its own specific funding goal and deadline.  Using a proven social media strategy, we leverage the organization's social network as well as our own to reach the funding goal in time.  Because we ask people to "donate $1 and spread the word," we turn casual newsletter subscribers and Facebook fans into "micro-donors" and advocates of your cause.  This process, known as "crowd-funding," is changing the fundraising landscape, and we invite you to be a part of it.  

So far about 90% of our buckets have tipped, or reached their funding goals in time.  Since our commitment to our micro-donors is that they will only fund projects that will actually be completed, if a bucket doesn't tip in time, the transactions aren't processed and no one pays even $1.  Hence, our promise to "Change the world or your money back!"  So far our buckets have ranged between $400 and $15,000.

 

We are always on the look-out for new projects that will change the world for the better--in sustainable and measurable ways.  While we firmly stand by our DRIPS criteria (which you'll find below), we are open-minded and look at each project individually.  Because our mission is to support aspiring social entrepreneurs, we prefer to work with projects in their beginning phases and help provide seed capital.  However, we do welcome submissions from more established organizations and more developed projects, especially projects that are particularly innovative, impactful, and that have potential for replication.

 

We work with projects from all over the world within several impact sectors (health, education, environment, opportunity, etc.)  While Tipping Bucket staff and review board decide which projects go up on our site, it is ultimately our community's decision--as they vote with their $1--if a project is funded or not. But these guidelines will sure give you a head start:  


We fund PROJECTS

Our goal is to enable individuals, groups and organizations to take calculated risks. We fund new initiatives, experiments, pilot programs. We help projects get off the ground or get to the next level. We don't fund on-going operational expenses. Now, please don't misunderstand. So-called "overhead" is a very real part of any project and should be included in project proposals (more on this below). What we mean is that proposals to cover the costs of doing what you already do aren't our focus. We want to help push the boundaries, take on challenges you wouldn't be able to manage alone--but with a whole community at your back, watch out world!

 

We FULLY fund projects

Your funding goal is what you need to accomplish the project. It has nothing to do with the size of other projects on the site, what you think you can raise, or even what donors might think the project should cost. The funding goal is what it will take to do what you're setting out to do, and do it right. Period. Now, our partners often choose to tackle their projects in phases, For example, we work with several secondary schools in developing countries working to become self-sustaining. One project may be to start a bee-keeping business, another to purchase a used tractor, another to expand the student housing. But these are phases (each with a distinct deliverable, and results that will come from accomplishing it) not simply bits and peices of the larger funding goal.  

 

We fully fund GREAT projects

Great TippingBucket projects are ones that meet our DRIPS criteria. Why are our selection criteria called DRIPS? Well, the short answer is that it's catchy and goes along with our "drops in the bucket" theme. But the real reason is that experience has shown that these are critical elements of sustainable social change projects. Here they are: 

  Demand : Is there a need? How do you know? What about that need led you to this solution?

  Readiness : Can it move forward soon? Have you done your research, built a team, set up local partnerships, etc.?

  Impact : Will it make a difference? What effects will the project have? How will you track and evaluate them?

  Propriety : Does the project fit the context? Is it culturally sensitive? Does it foster local participation and ownership?

  Sustainability : Will it last? How will you maintain your impact? Is there potential for replication and/or growth?


Other things you should know...
Historically, about 25% of a project's funding comes from members of the TippingBucket community. The remaining 75% comes from the direct efforts of the project's fundraising team. The site provides a fantastic platform for social fundraising, but the money doesn't raise itself :) We provide you with some social media training and together we build a custom social fundraising strategy to leverage your unique social media assets.
We have found our most successful partners use 2 overlapping "teams" First, there's a core team (about 1 per $1,000) who are absolutely committed to seeing the project succeed--and who are well-connected both online and off. They don't have to be wealthy, just really good at motivating people and bringing them together around a cause. Then there's the "street team" who simply commit to 1 5-min task per day that the project is in the bucket. We recommend 10 people per $1,000 for this team. Telling us about your fundraising team in your application is a major plus. 

Great.  What's the application process?
 It's simple: If you're interested in partnering with us and feel that your project will be a good fit for the TippingBucket platform, go here to create an account and submit a project inquiry.  We'll get back to you within a week and let you know if we need more information.  From there, we'll work together to flesh out the project details, prepare concise, compelling messaging, and develop a social media strategy to give your bucket the best chance of tipping. It may be a few weeks before the projects we select are featured on the site, but we'll be in touch throughout the process.


Continue to project submit form