Crowdsourcing has become a staple tool for many types of projects, as well as a shorthand for funding a needy project by allowing many people to contribute a small amount of money to achieve a greater total amount.
The Citizen was started to create a ‘live” discussion format on local issues, but I was sitting here (eating bon bons) thinking that “if” we created a place on the site where locals could propose their project or need, Citizen readers could make donations or contributions if they felt it was of value? Maybe there is a project every month, or every week? This might be for a community kid fountain or an uninsured local with medical needs? Contributions would not have to be financial either.
Perhaps “project sponsors” makes their pitch and readers vote on whose project would get the month’s donations? I am just dreaming at this point, and perhaps we would need a PayPal account for these projects (simple). But, let me know your thoughts. We have had over 4000 page views this week. Think how much we could do?
-BD
Bill:
We live in BV, but that’s local! My husband launched a site as you describe, called skyfunder.com, last year. It hasn’t had a proper marketing launch yet, but it could certainly serve the purpose of getting projects in Chaffee County funded through crowdsourcing.
will review, thanks…
Another immediate idea is to organize what the internet is calling a “Cash Mob.” Imagine all readers committed spending $20 each at a local business in a span of a day. It could be a great little injection of cash for businesses. Dollar amounts don’t matter necessarily, but a spike in volume for a local shop could mean a lot!
Of course, this is only loosely related to the Crowd Sourcing idea. But it helps keep our happy little burg moving.