Fundraising & Crowd Funding - Pitfalls, Issues, & Change
- Tar Heel Feedlot
- Jul 7, 2019
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 8, 2019
The broken record - I know we've covered this repeatedly on our social media but this is important and in light of recent National headlines, we're going to repeat it again! This will be long - I'm long-winded to begin with but this is important and multi-faceted.
Fundraising has gone hand in hand with Feedlots & Kill Pens for years. Sometimes, it is used as it is intended and should be - to offset SOME expenses associated with rehabbing a horse. Unfortunately, MANY times, it is NOT used appropriately or judiciously and then.....well then we see the downfall of what should be a good thing born from good intentions go horribly, horribly wrong. Now I'm going to type something that may astound some of you reading but please stay with me on this - the effort on the part of a group on Facebook to "shut down" kill pens - a lot of that motivation on their part began with this very issue and (again, stay with me here)......THEY'RE NOT WRONG in their logic about the dangers of mass bailing/blind fundraising. Yup, there.....I said it. Do I agree with the current "Shut them down!" charge - no, no I do not. Do I think that they have some very valid points? Yes, yes I do. A person doesn't have to agree with everything another says or stands for but there is great value in LISTENING OBJECTIVELY, learning, digesting the information, and trying to see all sides.
Tar Heel Feedlot's Position on Fundraising and Changes
Our fundraising policies have evolved over time but have been fairly consistent. We're not suggesting our way is the only way by any means, just clarifying how it has been for those who don't know.
1) Fundraising should be utilized on horses priced over $500. I've said it a million times and at the risk of offending folks, I'm going to say it again because, offensive or not, it is the truth. If the cost of a feedlot horse is not manageable for a home without fundraising assistance, horse ownership is not a good idea at this time. The purchase price is the cheapest part of owning any horse. Is fundraising nice to offset some of the expenses? Yes. But if it is absolutely necessary and cannot happen without fundraising assistance, not a good plan.....at all.
2) Fundraising here has limits that scale with the cost of the horse and generally max out at $300 with no availability on auction bound horses who are generally priced higher (those animals are in ZERO danger of shipping and we're pretty clear about that). Why? Because we expect a home to be financially invested in obtaining their horse. Because contrary to popular belief, there are not wealthy benefactors just waiting to fund horse ownership for people. Fundraising is primarily carried out by "everyday people" with jobs, families, budgets, etc and every dollar they part with is money diverted from their families, non-profits that they would be donating to, etc. Limits are very very necessary.
3) Fundraising needs to be actively engaged in by the person or organization obtaining the horse. It is NOT something that you sit back and wait for others to do for you. Why on earth would it be expected for total strangers to network and raise funds for someone who won't share with family/friends and engage on their own? Remember that phrase from Jerry Maguire? Yeah, that sums it up!
4) ACCOUNTABILITY for funds sent is NECESSARY! We have long utilized invoices for fundraising. Why? Because you may click on it, pay $x amount, and then immediately SEE your contribution come off the total. It is largely hands free and gives people the ability to see that their funds were applied instantly. Here at Tar Heel, we do have some folks who have difficulty navigating the invoices and who elect to send to our general PayPal address. In those cases, we account for the funds on the invoice and it is manually adjusted downward. The folks opposing kill pens on Facebook - a big part of their objection is blindly throwing money at a PayPal address and this is a JUSTIFIABLE OBJECTION! If $400 is being raised and there is no spreadsheet, invoice, or organized fundraiser showing each contribution, how do you know if $400 or $1000 was raised? You don't! Pay attention because this applies to anytime you just send funds to anything for any reason, not just kill pens!
5) Yes there are grey areas. In a perfect world, things are black and white. We are not so fortunate. Have we had fundraisers that well exceeded our established limits? Yes. Sometimes a horse is clearly hard to place but we have either a) a vetted well established non-profit rescue willing to step up on placement or b) a private individual well known to us or long-time page members who are properly equipped to handle said horse. These situations have not been taken on lightly and in every case, a conversation is had between those of us here at the lot and our core network of page members who we have networked with for years. Does that mean we always get it right? NO! Sadly no, we have had largely fundraised for horses end up in bad situations. Out of the 1000s who have come through these barns, it is a small number but it has happened and we would be lying if we said "Not us" Yes us - despite all the discussions, research, etc, it has happened. THIS is why we probably come off like real jerks when people or organizations we don't know approach us for full fundraising. Yes we really do care, yes we are LIVID when it happens, no it is never ok. On the flip side, we have SO MANY amazing stories of horses that were placed this way with the right people & organizations. Bottom line - due diligence and even then, sometimes it goes wrong.
6) There MUST be an appropriate place for the horse to go! Too often, we will get down to the final day and panic sets in. Funds are feverishly raised by very well meaning people with no plan for placement. This is NOT the way to go about things! Pressuring overburdened legitimate rescue organizations to "take this horse" week in and week out is not the solution. The well-established and wiser organizations know their limits well and will (rightly) decline. Others who are doing well and trying so hard to do right will crumble and accept a horse and may well find themselves in way over their heads in a few months' time. Then there are the "sham organizations" and individuals who will stick their hand in the air eagerly to "offer placement" with intentions to just "get a free horse" and flip it (we can usually sniff those out pretty darned fast but it sure doesn't stop the inquiries) An appropriate place is VITAL!
7) Fundraising policy changes here at the lot Despite our best efforts, fundraising is still something we grapple with daily and it is exhausting, not just for us but for the core group of ladies who work so very hard to network and place horses. The demands seem endless while paying it forward is largely nonexistent. As with everything, a small group carries the masses and it is utter insanity to us to continue this way. We have effectively eliminated most fundraising at this time, at least through official channels here at the lot. Yes, we still have some amazing members who will assist (assist - NOT fund for while you sit back) those who they deem will do right and could benefit from some cost offset. We still have some really awesome 501c3 Non-Profits who have done great work with the horses and of course, fundraising is available on horses going to them and we prefer it go directly to them (added bonus there - those contributions are tax deductible versus funds sent here which are not!) We'll still maintain the "General Fund" which is held by the lot and used to offer some help on a case by case basis after discussions with our core group of page members. But truly, at this point in time, folks need to plan on purchasing their horse themselves. People are welcome to fundraise on their own through their own connections but we will be backing away from "on page fundraising"
But WHY?!?!?
You may or may not be familiar with the term "mass bailing" This refers to individuals raising money for groups of horses in a kill pen or feedlot to "get them safe" with the process being to feverishly raise funds and worry about what to do with the horses later. NO NO NO! Absolutely not! Nothing good comes from this! THIS is how those horses nobody wanted to take but were willing to pay for too often end up. We have NEVER promoted mass bailing but honestly, this happens when single horses are bailed and foisted off on whomever is willing. Here's an example and I'll warn you before you click on it, it is unsettling.
Key Points to Take Home From This
If you've made it this far, congratulations - I warned you this would be long! I promise, some feel good blog entries are coming but at this moment in time, we feel this MUST be addressed and so, we have addressed it.
Horses are expensive! That means Feedlot horses too! Transport, quarantine, veterinarian because more often than not, you WILL be dealing with a respiratory infection, farrier, feed, etc. If you are struggling with the purchase price, PLEASE step back and rethink this!
NO horse is "free" Please don't waste the keystrokes messaging or commenting that you'll "take this horse if bail is paid" then wait for the horse purchasing Gods to drop the horse in your lap. It isn't happening here and God willing, it isn't happening anywhere else either!
Feedlot Horses can be AMAZING! You may have got this far and wondered if a feedlot horse is worth it at all. YES! Yes, yes, yes they are! We have people who have rehabbed and now have incredible horses and mules they trail ride and show! We here at the lot have a few we've kept of our own over the years and no amount of money could buy them! We have people who have a great eye and purchase knowing they can put some training on and resell down the road then invest in another giving these horses great new opportunities (side note, these are people who purchased on their own, not fundraised and flipped - big big difference)
KNOW where your money is going and who it is going to! It is perfectly fine to assist someone in life financially but please don't do so blindly! Check them out! Organizations too! You could be supporting one like the article above OR you could be supporting an AMAZING organization that does great things! Need a list of fabulous 501c3 rescues - we've got one! Are they posting updates? Is there regular accountability of what is going on?
FINALLY, let's make that shift from funding private individuals in their purchase of a personal horse to supporting the legitimate non-profits and individuals out there who have taken in so many horrific or costly cases and are forgotten. Everyone is happy to help a reputable rescue - organization or individual - obtain the purchase price of a feedlot horse but then they are forgotten and it is on to the next. This mentality is what must change. Maybe you know someone who does do some rehab and rehome work on their own and sure wouldn't mind a little help with upkeep. I promise that those doing it right aren't "getting rich" and would appreciate it. That awesome rescue that just took in the sad case from a feedlot, seizure, or surrender - that horse STILL needs you so consider doing a monthly donation. It is OK to still help financially - we just would like to see that help largely redirected where it truly should be. There are times when feedlot fundraising may be judiciously used but we have GOT to get away from the exhaustive overuse of it!
Yes, I just heard you groan - like this blog entry wasn't long enough here's a 7/8/19 amendment. I'm glad this post is being discussed - this is a conversation that needs to be had. It is one we've had for YEARS. Unfortunately, some of the conversation I'm seeing (from people who ironically have NEVER dealt with us or had a conversation with us) is implying that this is some "big change" to our stance due to the current Facebook climate. Sigh..... oh to be so self-important! So, for those of you who haven't ever bothered to actually KNOW what/who you are talking about, here are a few dated posts where we've discussed responsible and judicious fundraising. I'm fairly educated and intelligent but I'm not clairvoyant. These posts weren't made years ago because "I saw the future" Maybe, just maybe, you really don't know everything/anything about us!
There are but a few - if I didn't have anything else to do I'd pull up more but the point is made with these. Go ahead and spin that!
Thank you so much for this well-thought-out and well-written explanation of how it works - and especially, how it doesn't. There has been so much fiery debate about this issue, and sadly, people tend to jump on one "side" or the other. It's important to see both sides and make informed decisions.