'About' pages at Reform sites

First day of operation of this site: December 4, 2000.

Purpose of this site

My XML/XSLT hacking is moving along. It takes time to gather content for this database, as well as setting up the formatting. It takes time to just read the sites, too, as well as evaluating site design details.

Purposes of Reformnav.org:

Help the Reform site managers improve their existing pages to better utilize online resources, online donation channels and activism. Some resources here focus on that goal.
Help people with slow modems surf efficiently.
Enable people to bulk donate and bulk join the groups (membership & listservs).
Join the sites into a unified force, creating a metasite comprising this type of integration and all the Reform-related sites.
Establish online donating as an enlightened, fashionable, hip, socially responsible thing to do -- a natural part of being a supporter of drug policy reform.
Encourage including donations in one's budget and earning some money expressly for the purpose of donating it.
Make ongoing repeated donations trendy and empowering, a new shared meme that is ubiquitous in online Reform activity and at rallies.
Bring the hidden site structure and hidden pages and special features of each Reform site into the open.
Enable efficient, detailed comparisons of Reform sites to decide which to donate to.
Encourage cooperative competition between Reform sites to encourage continuous improvement (such as compelling Progress pages and Donation pages).
Change the 80% support that exists online (in polls) into 80% of people online funding the orgs which can effectively turn that funding into political change.
Encourage Reform orgs to make it easier to set up automatic controllable monthly contributions.
Show Reformers (supporters of Reform) how many ways there are to donate, and how to choose the approach to use.

The site will encourage the giving mentality as empowerment and won't shy from offering views. Should offer information and various perspectives without advocating any particular specific views that might alienate -- moderate and informed, focusing on maximizing donations and enabling online activism. The site only exists to join donors and orgs tightly, but as part of this focus, portrays the donor mentality as empowerment fit for all activists and even the most casual, noncommitted supporter. No more forcing people to join just to get a $10 donation from them; this site works to separate the welcome concept of easy online donations from the scary idea of officially joining an organization as a member.

[todo: link to hitdonate.net page on this topic]

Hitdonate.net

Excellent site about online fundraising. Must-read for Reform site managers and webmasters.

Home
Online fundraising today
Sites that work
The user experience
Establishing trust
Designing content
Asking for money
Encourage repeat visits
Streamlining the process
Donor relationship
Everything else

Links for online fundraising and design
Listserv for hitdonate.net
Contact hitdonate.net