Internet Begging Experiment!

This is the Internet Begging Experiment! The goal is to raise 1 million dollars by getting 1 million people to donate at least one dollar. Help me get there and we'll find out if internet begging really works! Read the details below to see what I intend to do with the 1 million dollars and how you can help shape a future of giving for your neighbors in need. Donate now to the Internet Begging Experiment.

Welcome to the Internet Begging Experiment!

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you could get ONE MILLION PEOPLE to give you one dollar?

I am going to find out. This is the Internet Begging Experiment, launched June 11, 2009. There is a Paypal donation button at the bottom of this page. Donate 1 dollar (or more) to the Internet Begging Experiment. If one million people will each give one dollar, that's a million dollars... BUT....it gets SO MUCH BETTER! Read on...

Internet Begging

First let's talk about internet begging. Internet begging, also known as cyber begging or internet panhandling, came into existence quickly once the internet started to get popular. The internet gave people a way to reach a large scale audience. So instead of standing on the street corner with a cup and a sign, internet beggars were able to potentially lose the cup and the sign, and reach many more people in the course of one day. There have been a few notable internet begging successes up til now, but none like the Internet Begging Experiment.

IBE Charity Poll

Which charity would you like to see receive half a million from the IBE? Dr. Phil Foundation Oprah's Angel Network Humane Society of the US Ronald McDonald House Make a Wish Foundation You should split the half million amongst all 5! You should choose smaller and lesser known charities! View Results

My Story

Now personally, I have a story. Some might say it's a sad one. There might be quite a few people who would feel sorry for me. I would go into it, but that's not really the goal of this experiment. It could be argued that I am internet begging, cyber begging or internet panhandling, and by definition, I suppose I am. I'm just a chick, with a kid, and some BIG PLANS! I have big plans for this 1 million dollars and if you are interested in being involved, read some more!

Tell Everyone You Know!

Once I reach my goal of $1 million, I plan to donate 50% of this money to a charity. There's a poll listed in the right sidebar of this page. Here you can give me an idea of how you'd like to see that money donated. The goal is ONE MILLION dollars. YOU can help me spread the word by telling everyone you know about the Internet Begging Experiment. In order to keep the spirit of giving alive, once the Internet Begging Experiment goal of one million dollars is reached, I will form a non-profit corporation, and use the funds that surpass the initial goal to help other people in need. If the goal of $1 million is not reached, I'm keeping it all, so it's up to you to tell people and spread the word so we can get to one million dollars. Paypal, in all it's brilliant wonder, takes about 33 cents off every dollar donated. (Any ideas around that would be appreciated.) So once I reach a million in donations, what's left over, minus the fees, will be split in half for donation. Here's an outline of my intentions for the future of the Internet Begging Experiment...

The ultimate goal

After one million of you generously donate $1.00 each, a non-profit corporation will be formed with your continuing generous donations. I have had a dream for a few years to start an organization that can help individual people with individual problems. If you've been in a tight financial situation ever before, you may have thought to yourself, 'If someone would just pay my electric bill, I'd be ok'. Or 'If I could get my hands on 500 or 1,000 bucks, my life would be so much different!' Maybe you need new tires on your car, or maybe you just need a car. Maybe you're behind on your taxes, or the mortgage company is threatening foreclosure. I want to be an instrumental part of handing individual people the help they need to get out of a hole. But I've got to get out my hole first.

Help me change the world

So, by donating $1 and then telling all your friends to come by InternetBeggingExperiment.com you will be contributing to a dream that will change the world! I expect media attention on this. Heck, maybe even Oprah will call me. Now that would be fun! Because of the anticipated explosion of this experiment, you will probably find out who I am, though I would like to keep a bit of privacy if at all possible. I will be completely transparent on this and if we get to one million dollars, you will see proof of the charitable donation. Once this experiment is completed and the 1 million dollar goal has been reached, this page will be updated with links to the new site. (I'll need help on that, so if you want to partner up for an exciting, not-for-profit adventure helping regular people with regular problems, let me know.)

Contact me

I know there will be a TON of people wanting to express opinions, good, bad or indifferent. Feel free to email me at internetbegging@gmail.com. Tell me off, tell me how great this is, tell me whatever. I promise to try to personally email everyone back; even if it's just a thank you!! Don't forget, it's up to you to spread the word on this. If I don't get to $1 million, I'm keeping it all. And as a side note to the IRS, I plan on paying the taxes due as well. It's up to you to tell your friends, spread the word, and help me make it to the $1 million goal so half can be donated to an awesome charity. If you feel absolutely compelled to call me, you'll only be able to leave a message. Dial 206-666-6376 . You can also check out the IBE Blog!

Total donated so far...

Below you will find a Paypal donate button. I tried to use my mad coding skills to hook up the real-time amount donated so far, but I couldn't figure it out. If you know how, please email me. Until you email me with instructions, I'll be updating the total donated so far as frequently as possible. Please remember, the amount you donate to me, using the Paypal donate button below, is NOT tax deductible, so don't donate too much! I mean feel free to donate as much as you want, but I'm only asking for one dollar each from one million people. You'll be contributing to something beautiful, PLEASE tell everyone you know! If you really want to donate a huge amount, wait until the non-profit is in place. Then your donation will be tax deductible and will help someone (or many someones) pay a bill or release some mad stress.

What happens now...

When you donate using Paypal, I will be keeping track of your email address. I will NOT sell, redistribute, or otherwise misuse this information. I will only use it to contact you with updates on the Internet Begging Experiment's progress, and these email updates will be infrequent, I promise. Depending on how this progresses, there may even be new developments. If you do not wish to ever hear from me about anything, just shoot me an email saying so. That will be no problem. Also, if you'd like your 125x50 logo displayed on our advertising page, just donate and send me an email with your donation receipt and your 125x50 logo. I'll give your free advertising for your generous participation in the Internet Begging Experiment.