I think the Patreon support goes well with spirit of OG. We just need to get the word out how important it is !!! If you have the means to support OG please do it makes a difference !!! If you cannot afford to do so currently no love lost were family!!!
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The best things in life can’t be bought. You see what happened to all the other forums.
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I see what you mean but I think Fundraiser auctions may sufficiently fulfil that goal: those who are short of money can send seeds, the rest can have access to great strains while contributing to server costs, it’s also a good way to attire new members, some of them later become really valuable ones … 
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yeah we need an OG lawyer fund… in various countries - it’s inevitable in one way or another
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This is ludicrous, members contributing and non contributing, setting policy. Running off sponsors. All the while welcoming 10 new members a week while having no clue how the site will handle it.
This is partially true, feelings cant be bought. I guarantee you will give 10 dollars to someone you love, how is OG any different? Its disingenuous to think things will always stay like they are with hundreds of members joining at a time. Its time for all members to step up here. Its interesting to note the How to proceed forward thread is filled with posts saying we should do it like we did with hundreds of new members and still use last years budget.
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I was referring to all these ideas of “selling” parts/groups in the site that are most useful to the overall community and world. Literally “overgrow the world” is the motto. I never said donating or contributing were bad things.
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I would like to continue actively participating in the OG server auctions and fundraiser auctions as a way to give something back rather than subscribe or join the Patreon, and would like to think that would be enough to not be considered a “taker”. I had (wrongly) assumed this was LJ’s full time job considering the frequency of the auctions and the sums of money involved. A while ago I briefly multiplied the number of supporters by the fee and it was a fair amount of money, and that was before Patreon was a thing. But that plus the Patreon, plus the banner ads, plus the auctions… it begs the question where does all that money go currently?
I’ve run forums myself in the past and it does take a lot of time. Time which I choose to give. However the banner ads alone more than paid for the hosting. It was much smaller than OG though, and didn’t have the legal ramifications that we have here, so I understand if my comprehension of this is way off base.
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This is the only thing Ive ever signed up for on a patreon as I really like OG but I’ll be more than happy to cancel quit OG if it gets to be like what u guys talking about. KINDA SORTA U GOTTA PAY TO PLAY count me out
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If I had to guess the total sponsorship and fundraising auction totals. I would say they constitute about 20% of what is needed for proper operation. As said membership is increasing exponentially but the supporter totals are downward trending. The lowest support level would easily cover it , if everyone pitch in. Fundraising for individuals and or sponsor auction funds do not help the platform, our home.
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We do have server fund auctions that go directly to the server fund. I do one every year to help support Joe and OG. I suppose I am one of the folks that just does not question “where the money goes”. I guess I just feel it’s none of my business any more than it’s my business how any business deals with it’s finances. The idea here is that Joe wants to cut his work hours and dedicate more of his time to running and improving the platform. Like the rest of us, he needs to live. Family to support, roof over head to pay for, food in the fridge, insurance on the vehicle, etc. Personally, I will just continue to support Joe and OG in my own way and not question all the details. OG is my online home and I am just happy it’s here for me to be a part of. 
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I dont believe there will be a pay to play wall on OG. But then i dont understand why 90 % of members arent supporters when it was so apparent to you in your first few months here.
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I’m really thankful for all the fundraisers, but they are mostly done out of necessity since we don’t have a better way to cover the gaps in our funding. After gaining experience over the years, here’s how I would compare them to Patreon pledges:
While one-time fundraisers can provide a boost in funding, they are not a sustainable long-term solution, especially for maintaining a platform like Overgrow.
Fundraisers often lead to a temporary influx of cash, but they don’t provide the steady stream of income needed to maintain a site over time. Operating costs, such as hosting, software, security, and most importantly, time and effort, are ongoing. A subscription model offers predictability, allowing me to plan and budget effectively.
Organizing a fundraiser takes a considerable amount of time and energy. This is time that could be better spent improving the platform and developing new features. Relying on fundraisers means constantly having to repeat this process, which is neither efficient nor scalable.
Depending on fundraisers comes with risks. Subscription model, on the other hand, builds a stable, recurring support base, providing more security. Unfortunately, with middlemens like PayPal, there’s always a possibility of account freezes especially if it involves significant amounts of money over a short period of time. That means additional headaches.
Fundraisers can make tax reporting a lot more complicated. Keeping track of numerous small transactions can quickly become overwhelming. On the other hand, using a subscription model makes it easier, since Patreon handles a lot of the work, making the accounting process much easier.
And finally I believe that a subscription model fosters a sense of shared responsibility for the site’s success, which one-off fundraisers can’t replicate. Regular contributions, no matter how small, reinforce the idea that members are helping to sustain the community they love.
By opting for a subscription model, we ensure that Overgrow remains financially stable and that I can focus on improving the platform and making the community even better for everyone.
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Since this is like one of the only ACTIVE non-drama b/s growing sites. I think the people are doing a wonderful job keeping up with seed auctions, trades and giveaways That being said, I would be open to a monthly subscription under 10$ a month, I spend more time here than Netflix so why not.
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Exactly I don’t get that either seriously I would pay 25 monthly what the patreon at now is that a possibility @LemonadeJoe to raise the patreon would that help at all
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I think we should do a auction for urself also as u do so much on here as well for the OG
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I get lots of gratitude and friendship here, that’s plenty for me bud. The feeling of knowing you have helped another is a pretty huge benefit for me so in a way, one could call me selfish. Regardless, I appreciate the thought.
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I know the feeling I’m always giving to a homeless I even got my daughters doing it lol my daughter n I be driving an she’ll spot a homeless person out with a dog an she’s like dad we need to get some dogfood a bowl an water an something for the guy or gal it’s an awesome feeling
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That’s very noble, good on you bud. People should help where they can. I know a thing or two about homelessness and those folks sure can use a smile and helping hand. When I was 15 I become homeless and was so for 2 years. There are some amazing people out there in really shitty situations.
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You can actually pledge a custom amount. $25 or any amount.
How to pledge what you can using Patreon? Click here
To join our Patreon, please follow the link:
https://www.patreon.com/join/Overgrowcom
There is a Make custom pledge button in the bottom of the page.
Please consider signing up for an annual membership if possible, as there are significant savings on fees.
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