The Wild Hunt's 2013 Fall Funding Drive
"There are few resources I feel benefits all in the Pagan umbrella. The Wild Hunt is on the top of that short list for me." - David Salisbury, author of The Deep Heart of Witchcraft: Expanding the Core of Magickal Practice
Hello, my name is Jason Pitzl-Waters, a journalist who covers the religious movement known as Modern Paganism. Approximately one year ago, I decided to make The Wild Hunt, a Pagan news site which I've been running continuously since 2004, an independent entity again after a year of being hosted by an outside media company. It wasn't an easy decision, and it came with fiscal, logistical, and technical headaches, but I believe, and still believe, that The Wild Hunt's mission to provide news, information, context, and unique perspectives about our interconnected religious communities needed to grow and exist as something outside the confines of its previous host.
In taking that step, I also did something unprecedented in my history running this site: I brought on staff writers and columnists, and decided to pay them for their high-quality contributions. I wanted The Wild Hunt to stop simply being about me and my perspectives, for it to become a true Pagan news magazine and daily destination for Pagans, Heathens, polytheists, pantheists, and the many other branches of our ever-expanding religious communities. One year later, I think we have made important steps down that road, and I'm incredibly proud of the work we've done. Now, as we get ready to start another year, we need our community, our readership, more than ever if The Wild Hunt is going to thrive and continue its mission.
Today is the beginning of a new Fall Funding Drive, and we're asking for a base budget of $10,000 dollars to run for another year, and we're hoping that you will help us not only meet this goal, but surpass it and allow us to do even more. The more we raise, the more we can do. Want to see more regular columnists? Want to see more staff writers? Would you like to see that I actually receive a salary from The Wild Hunt in 2013? Then I would love to see us push well past that base goal in the coming month. I know that there are many thousands of readers out there, and I know it would only take a fraction donating to not only fund us, but help us greatly expanding the coming year.
What We Need & What You Get
Here's what $10,000 dollars will do:
$2,490 - Professional-level hosting with WP Engine.
$3,600 - Annual Budget for Current Staff (1) & Columnists (4)
$700 - IndieGogo Percentage (assuming full funding)
$110 - Estimated Credit Card Processing Fees
$2,700 - Paying the editor and primary contributor (Jason), guest columnists, and other fees associated with running the site.
What I'd like to do if we surpass the goal:
Pay myself a base salary of $5000 per year (an additional $2000).
Double staff editor/contributor Heather Greene's salary (and additional 1,200)
Add more columnists, and another weekly news writer (additional 2,400)
We could do all that if we raise 5,600 over our goal.
The more we raise, the more we can do. The level of support you, our community, collectively gives, will dictate our next year.
This year, for perks, we're expanding! More advertising options, and everyone who donates at least $5 will get enrolled into an exclusive email list where I and the other staff members will send updates, pictures from events, early announcements, and other special exclusive goodies!
The Impact
The Wild Hunt has a proven track record that stretches over nearly 10 years, and over those years we've become an essential news source and inspired many to create their own media. We've interviewed big-name Pagans like Margot Adler and Starhawk, reported on controversies and inspirational moments that have affected our community deeply, and acted as a watchdog when the mainstream media reports on modern Pagans and other minority faith traditions. However, the commitment, time, and energy needed to make this sustainable can only happen if you are willing to step forward and help us fund it.
Over the years many have said our community has a hard time supporting institutions and services that benefit them. I don't believe that. I think we can come together if something is worthwhile, and goes to the trouble to ask. I believe The Wild Hunt is giving something unique to our community, and I am asking you, please help us expand and grow into an independent institution that can serve your daily news and information needs. Our success won't just be for us, it will be for you, and for those who follow us.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't contribute now, you can still help! Just share this campaign on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, on your favorite Pagan email list, and let them know why this is important to you. The more people speak out, the better we can do!
