The Bumper Stickers are Coming Friday.

Among other things, the Internet has radically altered the way people donate to causes they believe in. The Army of Good is at the fore of this revolution, inspired by new digital non-profit organizations like Kickstarter and Gofund me.

Traditionally, people gave money to non profits directly, and they decided how to distribute the funds. The Internet and social media made it possible for people to donate directly to people in need, the donor gets to decide who gets the money and what for. The money is transmitted instantly, or in a few weeks.

They call these new donor sites crowdsourcing, and so far, they have raised an estimated $5.5 billion for various causes, crowdsourcing donations are expected to reach $300 billion globally by 2025. You are part of a radical new movement for helping people. it is the anti-corporate way.

Overwhelming, people want to choose their own beneficiaries, they want to know where their money goes.

As I have learned, traditional non-profits operate differently. They want all of the money to go directly to needy people or entrepeneurs, and they decide over time where it goes. Movies are being made from crowdsourcing money, ( I got help buying a camera when I needed it on Kickstarter).

I started the idea of the Army Of Good from crowdsourcing platforms. I wanted to help refugees and the Mansion residents, I wanted to create a way through direct donations and online wish lists for people to decide who they wanted to help, and then see photographs and stories of the people they were helping.

Over, the Army Of Good raised more than $40,000 for RISSE, the refugee and immigrant center in Albany through direct and indirect donations and the RISSE Amazon Wish List.

Some RISSE officials were unhappy with my approach, they wanted all of the to come to RISSE directly, so they could decide how to dispense.

I balked at this.

When people send me money, I am responsible for seeing it goes exactly where they want it go, and quickly, without any bureaucratic or time-consuming process.

I still work with RISSE and fundraise for them, but mostly, I have veered off to find needy refugees and immigrants myself, and then document where the goes on the blog. I transfer the funds very quickly, there are no bureaucratic delays. Many of the refugees are in dire need of help, and much of it is help that they need right now.

I consider this my contract with the people who donate. You trust me with your money, I am pre-naturally obsessed with seeing that it go quickly to the right place.

Just about every gift or recipient is photographed, I want people to see what they have done. And it documents my work. Every donation is kept in a separate account which is checked and cross-checked every month by a bookkeeper and a CPA from New York City.

I am not really comfortable with the traditional non-profit way, people need to see where their money is going.

At the Mansion Assisted Care Facility, they get the idea of the Army Of Good, they have been wonderful to work with, and as we get to know the residents, they now have many friends out in the world to help them, they are no longer alone.

There is no interference of any kind, and wonderful support from Morgan Jones, the Mansion Director. Other than those caused by the labyrinth of state and federal regulations, I can really get to know people and help them when they need it. And right away, not in three months.  I don’t raise funds for the Mansion directly, I raise funds for specific residents and their needs.

They fully support my work and the way I am going it, we have raised well over $100,000 for the Mansion residents and the environment they live in – clothes, shoes, hats,  picnic facilities, games and art supplies, a van, reading programs, boat rides, outings, air conditioners, books, parties, fans, reclining lift chairs, garden flowers, soil and bulbs.

The Army Of Good is the perfect embodiment of this fund-raising revolution. People choose the projects and people who touch them, donate small amounts directly to me, and the money goes out almost immediately. They get to see the people they are helping and the things they have purchased for them.

So it’s fitting to have ordered some “Army Of Good” bumper stickers.  This is our celebration of the work we are doing, an affirmation.

They will be here on Friday, they cost $10 apiece, and if you want to pre-order one, you can send cash or a check to  The Gus Fund, c/o Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. I can’t take any e-mail or Paypal orders for the stickers.

We are not seeking to make a profit on the Bumper Stickers, if there is any overage it will go into the Gus Fund. They are high quality and laminated, 10″ by 3.”

Once they are here, Maria will offer them for sale on her new and hot etsy page. The cost is $10, we will pay the shipping, at least in the U.S.

So thanks, I have a lot of pre-orders and more are coming in daily to my post office box from all over the country.

I eagerly await the day I look up while driving and see one on a car.