http://www.triathlete.com/2017/11/lifestyle/backlash-pros-gofundme-fierce-wrong_309208
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The previous thread not-withstanding, I don’t see this is any different than requesting sponsorship from companies or other entities. The approach is innovative and casts the athlete’s request to a much wider audience, as you can pull from corporate or private persons willing to help out.
Over the years we’ve done both when we can @FM. This past year for example our brand/athlete program manager went for junior or near-pro skiers and we are sponsoring them, like an investment on the future. If you are a company that is looking for entry-level representation, aligning with an athlete that has the willingness to reach out, has an active social profile is a great thing.
I think people got mixed message with the “Go-fund-me” title. How about “Go-Sponsor-Me”??. What if she had a film project she wanted funded? Is that any different? Crikey!
And she is now the most-talked about pro with no (pro) accomplishments to speak of. Looks like she accomplished something now-name recognition.
From the article:
And so did age groupers, with similar reasoning: Making it as a pro is rough for most pros, so it should be rough for Dingman, too.
Nope that’s not the reasoning. She’s raising money to fund her profession. She’s not raising money for a noble cause. She’s raising money so she can make more money. If tri is just a passion then why not remain an age grouper? Raising money to make money is called venture capital, or investing, and the investors want a return on their investment. It is never a charity. It’d be like me raising money to pay for a buss pass so I could commute to my office.
From the article:
And so did age groupers, with similar reasoning: Making it as a pro is rough for most pros, so it should be rough for Dingman, too.
Nope that’s not the reasoning. She’s raising money to fund her profession. She’s not raising money for a noble cause. She’s raising money so she can make more money. If tri is just a passion then why not remain an age grouper? Raising money to make money is called venture capital, or investing, and the investors want a return on their investment. It is never a charity. It’d be like me raising money to pay for a buss pass so I could commute to my office.
Spinning the story as fast as she possibly can to confuse the reader doesn’t really make it more better. Just enhances the notion of entitled and brash, selfish personalities.
That person is not raising money for a project, a groundbreaking new product or a risky business. She uses the Platform to beg for handouts for her own enjoyment.
Maybe if she sold some home-made lemonade, had a bake sale, or gave back to the community in return, that would earn some respect or even ‘count’ as a business venture.
I am not sure why “Go Fund me” actually allows that kind of “business” on their platform, but it’s in line with them going downhill as a serious venture soundboard pretty fast.
this is one way of seeing it .
personally if i was an sponsor ( an sponsor that dosnt have a lot of money to sponsor the worlds best- and needs to get them before they get good ) I would want to see that person and have a look what her swim is like at the moment , and if it makes sense to invest. chances are that in 2 years she could be quite good.
her approach was poor ( or maybe not so poor as she is currently the most talked triathlete, so it seems and i guess the worst news is no news) but nonetheless there is talent that if used correctly, could lead to long course success.
at the end its a bit glass half full or half empty and it depends what you want to see.
From the article:
And so did age groupers, with similar reasoning: Making it as a pro is rough for most pros, so it should be rough for Dingman, too.
Nope that’s not the reasoning. She’s raising money to fund her profession. She’s not raising money for a noble cause. She’s raising money so she can make more money. If tri is just a passion then why not remain an age grouper? Raising money to make money is called venture capital, or investing, and the investors want a return on their investment. It is never a charity. It’d be like me raising money to pay for a buss pass so I could commute to my office.
Spinning the story as fast as she possibly can to confuse the reader doesn’t really make it more better. Just enhances the notion of entitled and brash, selfish personalities.
That person is not raising money for a project, a groundbreaking new product or a risky business. She uses the Platform to beg for handouts for her own enjoyment.
Maybe if she sold some home-made lemonade, had a bake sale, or gave back to the community in return, that would earn some respect or even ‘count’ as a business venture.
I am not sure why “Go Fund me” actually allows that kind of “business” on their platform, but it’s in line with them going downhill as a serious venture soundboard pretty fast.
If she were poor and had to great sob story about going against all odds then I think people would bite…BUT she is married. Her husband has a good full time job. Look at the size of wedding ring. She isn’t poor. Annnddddd…She only needs like 20k, which is not a lot of money. Her and her husband couldn’t save up for a few months? She could literally make 20k so easily but she doesn’t want to do it, she wants a handout. Obviously they don’t care enough to sacrifice so WHY would anyone else? It makes no sense.
The author’s arguments are just sad and reflective of today’s entitled culture. That said, I am delighted that so many age groupers have expressed their thoughts against handouts for race travel. At least some people get it.
If she were poor and had to great sob story about going against all odds then I think people would bite…BUT she is married. Her husband has a good full time job. Look at the size of wedding ring. She isn’t poor. Annnddddd…She only needs like 20k, which is not a lot of money. Her and her husband couldn’t save up for a few months? She could literally make 20k so easily but she doesn’t want to do it, she wants a handout. Obviously they don’t care enough to sacrifice so WHY would anyone else? It makes no sense.
what she is doing is essentially starting her own business. as a homeowner with assets, a husband with a job, etc, she could easily get a loan. did she try that? did she look into re-financing her house or taking out a home equity loan (which is what we did to start my wife’s business years ago)? i dont think she went down all the avenues she could have. she could even go to companies like www.lendingclub.com or www.prosper.com to get a loan for reasonable interest rates (likely for less than she’s paying GoFundMe. maybe she should look into a kickstarter campaign and offer something like access to discounts from future sponsors.
personally, i think this was the mag’s attempt to take a stand on something and get web hits, and hopefully increase subscribers… i get it and not sure how much value i see in it anymore.
The author is being disingenuous. No one is out to make it “tough” on her. Her approach was simply way over the top, completely tone deaf. When you ask for “handouts”, have a story/reason that everyone will get behind, and yes people will get behind gofundme campaigns (and yes I think people will get behind even “pro’s” in those scenarios). But you dont come out asking for $20k and have the expenses you have, especially at the level she’s at. I just dont think you come out that strong asking for that type of money and not think/expect it to come off badly. To her credit, she quickly adjusted her financial needs from feedback earlier in the week.
If she were poor and had to great sob story about going against all odds then I think people would bite…BUT she is married. **Her husband has a good full time job. Look at the size of wedding ring. She isn’t poor. **Annnddddd…She only needs like 20k, which is not a lot of money. Her and her husband couldn’t save up for a few months? She could literally make 20k so easily but she doesn’t want to do it, she wants a handout. Obviously they don’t care enough to sacrifice so WHY would anyone else? It makes no sense.
I am sorry, this means nothing given how many people in this world live beyond their means. They may be broke.
I don’t think that’s going to help at all.
““The main reason I created the GoFundMe was for friends and family who requested it, and people in my community—I have a strong support system here—who asked how they could be a part of this journey,†says Dingman”
I think she may have overestimated how many folks wanted to support her financially.
After some thought about this though, I don’t see anything really wrong with her doing this. We are taught through school that if you need help, ask for it and if someone can/is willing to help they will.
If she truly wants to be a good pro, it isn’t like she isn’t going to have to work for it…
If she were poor and had to great sob story about going against all odds then I think people would bite…BUT she is married. **Her husband has a good full time job. Look at the size of wedding ring. She isn’t poor. **Annnddddd…She only needs like 20k, which is not a lot of money. Her and her husband couldn’t save up for a few months? She could literally make 20k so easily but she doesn’t want to do it, she wants a handout. Obviously they don’t care enough to sacrifice so WHY would anyone else? It makes no sense.
I am sorry, this means nothing given how many people in this world live beyond their means. They may be broke.
That would actually be worse…
This is the the new normal. Instead of going door to door and asking businesses for sponsorship, millennials use technology and pop up a go fund me account. People and business can choose to be a part of it, or not.