- Joined
- Jun 6, 2005
- Messages
- 10,237
The MLPTP has a long and rich history as the premier community for MLP fans and collectors. The mods and I are so happy to be able to provide everyone here with a safe place to buy, sell, trade, and celebrate your MLP collecting hobby, as well as our many games, contests, events, and other ways of interacting with all of you.
That said, running a website this large and maintaining MLPTP LLC comes at a considerable financial cost--one that we cannot bear alone.
Please bear in mind that these costs go up with every passing year.
How does the Fundraiser Work?
During the annual Fundraiser, MLPTP members will be invited to donate in $5 increments toward our massive site costs. For every $5 they donate, they will receive 1 entry into a list from which we will draw winners for approximately 50 different MLP prizes. Please check out the links at the top of this post to see how everything came together for any given past Fundraiser year and which prizes were offered.
With this plan, we have successfully supported the MLPTP for the past 4 years (since @MustBeJewel unexpectedly became the new owner).
How Can I Help?
Members are welcome to donate Fundraiser prizes at any time during the year. For every prize donated, they will receive 1 entry into the prize drawing during the Fundraiser.
Not sure what to donate? We are happy to accept any and all contributions. In terms of specific items, there are only a few specifics that we are actively seeking right now:
The MLPTP's Fundraiser and Event Prize Wish List
:Posty1: The MLPTP's Fundraiser and Event Prize Wish List :Posty2: Hi everyone! Below you will find a list of specific items we are seeking to complete some sets that we are very much looking forward to giving away to the community via the yearly Fundraiser and/or upcoming games, contests, and...
www.mlptp.net
Members are also welcome to donate via Paypal at any time during the year. For every $5 of donations made after January 1st and until the Fundraiser ends that year, they will receive 1 entry into the prize drawing during the Fundraiser:
12. How YOU can support the MLPTP
It is an honor to be able to continue to build, maintain, and move toward the future with the MLPTP. It is a job that could not be done without the help of site mods @BethMcBeth, @Gingerbread, @Skybreeze, and @Sassarazzmadazzles. We work together to keep the MLPTP forum updated with state of the...
www.mlptp.net
Do I Get Something in Return?
In addition to the prize giveaway entries you receive for the Fundraiser for donating a prize or through Paypal, you will also receive a Supporter banner and a trophy on your profile for all to see:
Trophies are cumulative and reflect the total you have ever donated!
What Do My Donations Help Pay For?
These are the various kinds of costs that we incur on a yearly basis:
- Website hosting: Since we are growing, we have needed to upgrade to a new hosting service that will allow all the features that a growing website requires, such as increased storage and memory, automated backups, top notch tech support, and more.
- Web Developer services: In order to move to our new host and new hosting package, I needed to source out a qualified web developer to ensure everything goes smoothly and as we need it to.
- State-of-the-art forum base software: This requires an annual license for usage and support.
- Forum software add-ons: The chat box, awards software, trader feedback software, donation widget, and many other separate pieces that work behind the scenes to keep the MLPTP secure, functional, and spam-free all come with licenses and fees.
- The MLPTP is now an LLC! This new development will make moving forward much easier on a financial front, and will allow us to provide more for the community in the future. However, LLC's come with legal fees as well as yearly fees.
- New artwork and graphics services
- Prize shipping and packing materials: We are preparing to ship out more than 50 prizes in total this year, to destinations that may be national or international, and postage rates are going up all the time!
What Were the Site Costs for 2023?
2023 MLPTP LLC COSTS
Web hosting: $1000
Forum software licenses: $60
LLC Registration: $300
Taxes: $500
Tax professional / accountant: $400
Financial bookkeeping programs: $360
Prizes: $200
Fundraiser shipping: $400
TOTAL: $3,220.00
It is ONLY with YOUR contributions that the MLPTP can continue to exist.
Thank You for Your Support!
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