Below you can read FAQ's to fully help you understand the micro side of the campaign. Feel free to contact the campaign at penniesforsmiles@gmail.com if you have any questions that are not mentioned below. You can follow us on twitter or Facebook (penniesforsmiles for both).
FAQ's
Where your contribution would go?
Where will the online videos be uploaded too?
Depending on how successful the campaign goes, at first they will be on YouTube. Maybe a website down the road.
You stated "NO cash will be given away" what does that mean?
All purchases will be made with a credit card. The why, debit card purchases can be returned for cash, while credit card purchases require a credit card to credit back for returned items (in the case someone returned any items).
What assurances do I have that my funds will be going to people in true need of help?
The goal is not to try to judge someone upfront or to profile anyone. At the time we decide to help someone, we hope the best decision of a recipient will be made. Being human, there is always the possibility for a decision to wrong in hindsight. The campaign is asking you "trust in our goal and mission".
What do you mean by small purchases?
The goal is to stay underneath $150 per purchase on average. Giving people life changing amounts is great however unrealistic at our level. We want to reach out to a lot of people, not a few.
How often will you be uploading a video online? How long will this series run?
Our goal is to have a new video up every other week (bi-weekly) but could be faster depending on the success of the campaign and editing times. The length of videos we expect to keep it at minimum 3 minutes and maximum 15 minutes. The length/longevity of the series is dependent upon the funding success of the campaign. The more funds raised, the increased chance we can run the series for a while.
How do pennies play a factor into the campaign?
In the United States, it costs a little over 2 cents to make a penny worth a cent. Americans on average waste by either throwing away, losing, or polluting into the environment over $200 million dollars in pennies annually. That is on average $3.65 per hard working American or $7.77 per year since the cost to produce a penny is higher than it's worth.
Why $111,111 as your goal?
The goal is believed to insure longevity to this web series and not just a "fly by night" video series.
What are prohibited items from being purchased?
Alcohol, Lottery Tickets, Raffles, and any items viewed disruptive, destructive, or unhealthy to a recipient.
What geographical areas will you be recording/filming in?
Due to our location being half-way between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC we have ease to reach a lot of different areas of the country. Each area provides different demographics in which we can help. Depending on the success of the campaign we may be able to reach out past our current planned areas which are including but not limited too....
Greenville, SC, Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, Charleston, SC Myrtle Beach, SC, Athens, GA, Raleigh, NC and Knoxville, TN.
A lot of these locations are included because they allow the campaign to keep traveling costs down meaning more funds to help others with. If the campaign surpassed our goal tremendously we would make the campaign a nation wide tour when filming.
Why are you not telling what the surprise perk is for giving over $37?
You are funding this campaign in desire of seeing other's surprised, so we feel you should be surprised too. The ultimate perk with this campaign is the output of videos demonstrating smiles created from helping others.
Are you a non-profit organization?
We are NOT a non-profit organization. Our goal of the campaign is simple, we will work our hardest to demonstrate transparency in giving through our efforts to help others and generate a smile from them in the process while capturing those smiles. Please understand before giving there are NO potential tax benefits to giving to our campaign.