Funding the Project

Pre – Launch

You have received an emailed invitation to critique and to test drive our website before it is launched. Yours is an email address we have had from a supporter of Milestones, given to us in response to a request for ‘ trusted friends.’  Friends, perhaps involved or interested in family or other research, who might be curious about our Milestones project, and sufficiently attracted to investigate it, to give us their reaction to it and  possibly to test drive it. If you are intrigued, read on and please use the site confident that no fees or charges are sought.

If it does not appeal, our apologies for bothering you, but feel free to pass the invitation on to someone you think might find it of interest.

We are committed to our services being accessible free of charge. While not conceived to make a profit the project must generate income sufficient to cover costs. Namely those of setting up and running the website and offering payment to those presently volunteering.

Our plans for the long term funding of the project are presently along the lines below.  They will be influenced by the vews expressed by trusted friends and others in response to  this invitation.

Post – Launch

Advertising. We have approached  a number of organisations to point out the value of Milestones to them. Responses have been lukewarm, understandably. As the site expands, however, we are confident that they will come to recognise what Milestones can offer them, their members, staff, shareholders. We are confident that the site, once established, will become attractive to a range of niche advertisers. Our policy will be to keep advertising discreet.

We look to Patrons to fund improvements to our services suggested by them or customers, such as the capacity to deal with multiple photographs. See FAQ, Services.

Supporters. Obviously a belief in our objectives is shared by those involved in setting up and running the project who have shown their support by providing modest loans and occasional donations, and by becoming sustainers. We do not seek loans from members of the public but welcome customers and others willing to make a donation or to become a sustainer.

Donations. In  the registration forms which customers complete there is an option, not an obligation, to donate. Figures from £5 to £50 are suggested. A similar form is available for individuals and to organisations who support our objectives.

Given that there is no charge for entries we will encourage donations in recognition of help from team members. Particularly when it comes to Enhancing the Profile where a team member has assisted a customer perhaps with a lengthy Eulogy or Obituary or where the wording of an Appreciation has had to be moderated.

Sustainers. We have adapted and adopted the novel idea of sustaining the website. Sustaining might be a temporary expedient if, as we trust, once  well-established, the site attracts niche advertisers. Sustainers, customers of the site or simply supporters, are invited to make a regular annual payment to help maintain the site. We will encourage customers to offer an annual sustaining donation on a significant date of their choice. Our founding partners and supporters are all token sustainers.

Good Causes. Ever-optimistic we have made plans for the sharing of any profit in excess of running costs to be shared with Good Causes.