B&P reader Dan N has created a website called Pixels For Troops where he’s selling pixels and says he’ll donate fifty cents out of every dollar he makes to the Wounded Warrior Project.
If you’re so inclined to participate check out Pixels For Troops.
…not that hot.
…oops…that was supposed to be for a different post. Sorry!
Dan’s thing he’s doing is actually pretty cool.
What an incredible rip-off!
How much would 5 years of hosting one website cost? It can not be anything close to the 1.215 million dollars he/she hopes to earn from that site.
The man/woman should be ashamed of himself, taking 50% of the income. While supporting troops is something I agree with (in principle), there are far, far better ways to help than paying some conman to host a minature advertisment on a webpage.
DJ Pigg:
I am not ashamed of myself ONE BIT. I am donating 50% of my gross income. How of your gross income do you donate? I am not misleading anyone .. I clearly state where the money is going. If I donate more then 50%, I will be taxed on it.
And bottom line, I would end up donating OVER A MILLION DOLLARS to the the troops!!
I don’t think that makes me a bad guy .. The people at the Wounded Warrior Project were extremely excited about the idea. This is a called a “Business for a Cause”.
If you read my about page I explain everything, I even promote donating DIRECTLY if you are not looking to advertise on a potentially VERY popular web site.
Did you honestly think i was trying to cover the cost of web hosting?!?! .. haha, dumb-ass.
Dan
Upon a little research, many donation-organizations give MUCH lesser percentages to the troops–often PENNIES on the dollar. Larger organizations take a much larger than 50% cut to keep their overhead down…so if one guy who does not run a non-for-profit organization charges less of a percentage for his time and effort than the big-leaguers that people donate to, I’m not that bothered by it…especially since he makes absolutely all of that information known.
His rates for helping people advertise their site are very reasonable, comparable to other such services (which is the main thing he seems to be selling here), but instead of putting all of the money in his own pocket, as most companies that help people put their site’s name out there, he’s giving half to the troops…which is virtually unprecedented. It’s actually a more than fair arrangement and is a lot more than most people do with the income from their webpage.
Dan,
I may be a dumbass but I can still see the disparity in what you stand to earn and the benefit gained by the 30,000+ American troops killed or injured in Iraq.
You’ll be able to spend your blood money million dollars on whatever takes your fancy while, on average, the troops (or families thereof) will get about $40!
How far will that get them? It won’t even fill their car with gas!
Please don’t make yourself out to be a hero about this. You’re profiting (greatly, potentially) as a direct result of Americans getting killed or injured and that makes you no better than the people who started this illegal, unjust war.
Pigg ..
Read Derek’s post above .. that SHOULD sum it up for you.
Do you suggest I shut down and then donate NOTHING? .. wow .. don’t hate man
Thanks,
Dan
PS: I Never argue with an idiot.
They bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
PPS: As an incorporated company filed as an S-Corp you can only make a maximum charitable donation of 50% or less, anything more then that will be taxed and go to fancy shoes for Uncle Sam. I am donating AS MUCH AS I LEGALLY CAN. Read up before you embarrass yourself.
Jonco, just a question? Does it cost you money for web hosting?!?!
One word from the father of a now USN disabled daughter = “ripoff”.
WTF is this scam!?
Why is this linked here? its a fucking Money machine. Look at the milliondollar page, it worked very well and spawned thousands of similar sites.
Also, its using patriotism, so it will probably work on those american people.
Bella, Yes it does. Maybe I should sell pixels. Oh wait… I have ads… kinda-sorta the same thing. Only there’s not a likely potential for me to make a million bucks, so I won’t be donating half of my profits to anyone.
In reality the ads bring in a little over $100 a month, which covers my web hosting and DSL charges and leaves me a few cents for my time. I haven’t done the calculations by I probably net about 37 cents an hour for the time I spend working on B&P.
That is pretty tasteless. I would encourage people to donate directly. Do we really need more people making money off the war?
lots of negativity.
Don’t you people get it?
If you buy a “Support Our Troops” t-shirt .. SOMEONE IS MAKING MONEY ON THAT!!
If you wear a rubber yellow “LIVESTRONG” bracelet .. SOMEONE MADE MONEY ON THAT! (weren’t they selling on eBay for a tons of money?)
When companies started selling MILLIONS of flags for your car windows after 9/11 .. do you think they did it for FREE?
and yes, if you have a yellow ribbon magnet on your car .. Someone made money on that!
Do you suggest that I shut the site down? Then they will get NOTHING .. Zero .. no money AT ALL.
Would you be happier with that? ..
—
Ramon: I’m sorry to hear about your daughter, you should visit the Wounded Warrior Project.org and see how they can help. O yea, that is who I plan on giving A MILLION DOLLARS TO! ..
——
Jason: “Tasteless” .. How much of your income are you donating? I’m giving half away. AND .. I encourage people to donate directly on my about page .. but I bet you didn’t read that.
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Tim: Your point is? If I can create a money machine that makes TONS of money that I can donate to our troops .. isn’t that a good thing?
—
Derek: .. Thank you.
I’m not a bad guy, I’m not deceitful, I was trying to do a good thing. So far I’ll donate about $1300 .. Money that I would not be donating without this site. Sooo .. as far as i’m concerned, i’m helping already!
To: Picelsfortroops
Get a real job you damn hippy bum.
The intention of the site is in itself misleading. Most people that donate to you do not read/understand the 50% caveat.
So Pixels for Troops gets the other 50-percent?!? Screw that! You pay for a tiny tiny ad and some web-page maker gets to make half a million dollars (assuming he’s succesful at finding suckers to buy his pixels.
Why not set himself up as a NON-PROFIT organization that hosts ads. He can then donate much more while making NO-PROFIT off of the troops.
Patriotism? Hardly. This is Capitalism meets Gullibility and Opportunity.
As someone who’s made the effort to organize non-profit organizations…it’s not quite that simple. I don’t have time to get into it, nor can I explain it clearly enough…but non-profit doesn’t mean that you can give away as much as you want or do what you wish with the profits you are non-getting. (Plus, under current laws, it can take YEARS to set up a new non-profit organization. It’s not just a form and a rubber-stamp…and it would be very difficult for just one person to justify himself as a non-profit organization.)
Now, I’m not saying I’m going to be buying ad space…but I will say that with my awareness of how non-profit organizations work, he’s still probably giving a higher percentage of his actual income than most. I would be interested to hear what he plans to do with the other 50%, as I am aware of some loopholes that would allow him to donte to more than one cause and give a much higher percentage than 50%…but right now, he’s actually playing it by the books as much as he can.
I’ll agree that I would rather see the money that’s going in his pocket go elsewhere, but under current laws, as an independant organization, this really is the best he can do, and it doesn’t matter what his motives are. If he’s looking to get rich – bad motive. If on the other hand, he’s looking to just do something nice, he’s doing all he can do under this arrangement. His actual motive doesn’t change the law. If he WANTED to give 100% to this organization, he couldn’t, so it’s really kind of a moot point to chide him for that.
…but yeah, I certainly hope the other 50% isn’t just buying him a nice house and a car. I trust Jonco’s judgement (after knowing the guy for 30 years) enough to give him, and in turn Dan the benefit of the doubt.
To Whom It May Concern:
Wounded Warrior Project is fully aware of Pixels For Troops and we indeed have an established fundraising agreement in place with them.
PixelsforTroops.com is a creative approach to raising awareness and support for our troops while also generating much needed donation revenue for our cause. We encourage and rely on such creativity to help us reach our fundraising and awareness goals.
If anyone has any questions whatsoever about our relationship with Pixels For Troops, feel free to contact our Resource Development department. All necessary contact information can be obtained at our website at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
Respectfully,
John Coogan
John Coogan
Program Manager – WWP Online
Wounded Warrior Project
7020 A.C. Skinner Parkway, Suite 100
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Telephone: 904-296-7350, 877-TEAMWWP
Fax: 904-296-7347
http://woundedwarriorproject.org
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) #11425
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a Tax-Exempt 501 ( c ) (3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. For more information, please visit http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
Sorry for the double-post (writing between work-things).
I’d just like to add that if he is primarily looking for a profit, I would prefer to see him say that clearly. Promote it as “I started this site to make enough money to quit my job, and I’m going to give half of it to the Troops, because I want to.” Something clearly stated like that would probably have a less controvercial vibe to it…y’know make it look like the troop-thing is just a side deal, rather than the focus.
…but again, for me this all hinges on what he had in mind for the other 50% all along…
I can beat that. I will donate 75% of every dollar you give me. No…80%!
I think its good.
whats the big deal?
In the end he is still doing something good.
if his site wasnt there, there would be no donation.
i don’t have a website to advertise for but i think
once this takes off, it gunna get tons of hits
someone should notify the news
Tim,
It’s here because I found it interesting…that’s why. I’m not endorsing it any more than I endorse putting lipstick on a pig. I’m just putting it out there. You do with it whatever you want.
Jason,
Start a website and see how far that gets you. (At least Dan’s giving you ad space.)
Derek,
Don’t put too much faith in me. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing half the time…. (and the other half I don’t care.) 🙂
Also, there is a response from the Wounded Warriors Project a few comments up. (It was in my spam que so I had to approve it’s view)
He’s getting more than 50% if you consider this:
He’ll be holding all donations for up to 3 months, earning and pocketing interest on 100% THEN giving away the 50% that was donated at the end of each quarter.
I wouldn’t support this guy simply because he lacks class to run this venture. His first post here proves that, especially when he refers to an objector as a “dumb-ass”. He’s in this primarily for his easy million that everyone wants to make from the internet. Donating to a charity is just his way to get there. He hypes his income more than the cause.
Scott:
I have to pay tax on the remaining 50%. So if the site make $100, $50 goes to the WWP(tax free), and the other $50 is taxed, leaving me with about $30.
So, I’m sorry, you are wrong, I’ll make less then 50%.
And sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade.
Besides, The WWP.org wants me to do this site .. Read the letter above from John Coogan.
—
I think the website is a fantastic idea. All of you people bad mouthing it or saying it is misleading, try reading the ‘about page’ before jumping to conclusions.
Correct me if I am wrong but it is very very straight forward. This guy spent ALOT of his time to make this ‘advertising’ website, in which he could of kept every penny but instead is donating 50% of HIS income to OUR TROOPS.
What exactly are you guys doing to help our troops??? Anything??? Did you donate anything all year to our troops???
Try building a website for starters and see how far you get.. Its not easy and very time consuming. He deserves the other 50% in my opinion. The people who clearly understand the website, no doubt in my mind would agree with me.
I congratulate you Dan for making such an effort, taking a chance, and donating as much as you legally can to our troops.
and as per John Coogan’s post, he obviously has their approval.
https://www.uso.org/donate/custom.aspx?id=875&
I don’t think the haters really get what the site is about. It’s a business that is set up to sell ad space and then just to be a good patriot the guy is going to donate to the WWP–right? I mean, seriously, my company makes a ton of money and I haven’t seen one report that says they do any donating with a dime of it. I’ve been following the site for a while and it seems to be a guy who wants to do something good–I agree with Dan, if you think otherwise you ARE a dumb-ass, and a stupid conspiracy theorist. DCL is right to ask how much the negative knuckleheads are giving to the troops–lighten up, it’s a good thing, good things still exist ya know.
It’s too bad people feel the need to trash a guy who is trying to do something good just because they disagree with the war. Yes, war is one of the most awful things, but unfortunately, for now, it is our reality; and if this guy can use his company to give a ton of money to an organization that helps our bravest when they come home hurt, then we should applaud him…..and maybe think about what we can do ourselves. I wish you all the luck in the world PFT, too bad you have to be distracted by the negativity of some. Keep on going, if your heart is in the right place than that’s awesome. God Bless ya
the other $50 is taxed, leaving me with about $30.
You are making this your income?? Do you have a job? or is this your main source of income?
You’re right, saying that you get more than 50% isn’t exactly correct. But you know what my point is. I just don’t like that you hold potentially huge donations for up to 3 months and can do anything you want with that money including earning interest (that you keep for yourself) on the portion that you will eventually give away. Depending on how you invest, including taxes, you certainly could end up with more than the amount you give away. Not that there is anything wrong with that, except you get to use the donated portion to get your additional income.
Come back in 5 years and tell us how much you donated and what your net income was, including the interest you earned and kept on the donated portion. If you know how to invest, you’re net income could be significantly higher than what you donate. Not likely, but still possible.
Ideally, you could invest, spend, etc. your 50% and pay the tax on that 50% with the interest earned from the other 50%. Hopefully you’ll put that 2nd 50% in an insured bank account before giving it away, if so, then interest will be too low to matter.
Smart investers don’t start with $50 and walk away with $30 especially when they can use ANOTHER free $50 loan before having to give it away.
I’ll be the first to say all of that doesn’t really matter, it’s your business, make money anyway you can and give half of what people give to the troops… It’s just silly and risky for anyone to buy a microscopic ad (like looking for a specific grain of sand on the beach with blurry glasses on) from an unknown individual, and if all goes well, end up with only half of the donation getting there while 1 anonymous person gets the rest and more.
If you lose half or more of what people give to you, are you obligated to donate the 50% and how?
And… I wonder if you even considered the remote possiblity if dj pigg was one of the troops before the dumb-ass and idiot remarks. Did your parents inspire that too? You still lack class if you stand by your remarks, regardless of who the objector is. A kid like you wanting to run a million dollar business needs to learn how to deal with enemies with nothing but courtesy. If you can’t do that, saying nothing is always better than an insult. In this post, all eyes are on you. Your defensive comments up there embarrass YOU and the rest is a me me me rant. For that more than anything, you get $0 from me. Too bad most people won’t know who they are donating to.
Good luck to you and anyone who donates and to the troops.