Donation Station

The Donation Station is the part of the NaNoWriMo Store where Wrimos, Screnziers, and supporters can donate to the NaNoWriMo non-profit. Wrimos have been asked to donate to NaNoWriMo's efforts since 2001, five years before the Office of Letters and Light existed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. (Media Alliance served as NaNoWriMo's nonprofit fiscal sponsor during those years.) While the early years have consisted of simple email requests and a donation link on the NaNoWriMo website, the web team eventually built an entire store on the NaNoWriMo website only open during the NaNoWriMo season. Because of requests for the ability to donate year-round and the formation of the non-profit, the current Donation Station was built.

Donors can choose from a variety of donor levels. Each level comes with a halo (or golden ticket in the case of Script Frenzy) and donor gifts. The donor gifts vary by level, and donors can choose not to receive them if they wish for their entire donation to go to NaNoWriMo. They may also choose whether they want to wear the halo or golden ticket next to their name. Donor gifts ship as immediately as possible for in-season donations, in October for off-season NaNoWriMo donations, and in March for Script Frenzy donations.

Supporters can also donate by mail via a check written in US dollars. Checks written in foreign currency are unfortunately not accepted. They should indicate which event they want to receive donor gifts for (if they want gifts), their username, along with other requested information that varies by donor level. Donating directly by PayPal is also an option for those who cannot donate the minimum amount of $10 in the Donation Station or want to bypass the Donation Station checkout. However, donating directly through PayPal also means not getting the donor goodies, if applicable.

In 2012 NaNoWriMo added two more ways to donate: Extra Noveling Karma and NaNoWriMo Monthly Donation.

During Camp NaNoWriMo 2013 the store added camp-themed donor levels.

The Fund-o-Meter on the NaNoWriMo website tracks the total amount of funds donated.

Donor levels and goodies

While the exact donor goodies change each year, a few have become donation mainstays.

• $10: Cherished Friends (Cherished Cabin Mates)

Cherished friends receive a halo or golden ticket, a thank you email, and excellent noveling karma.

• $25: Extraordinary Helpers (Extraordinary Campers)

Extraordinary Helpers receive a halo or golden ticket, a thank you email, excellent noveling karma, and some sort of thank you note from the NaNo staff in the mail.

• $50: Celebrated Benefactors (Celebrated Scouts)

All levels at or above this one receive all of the above and other goodies that change at every event.

• $100: Beloved Partners (Beloved Guides)

Donors at this level generally receive the NaNoWriMo poster for that year if they donate for NaNoWriMo. Posters from previous years are usually for sale at the NaNo store.

• $250: Mighty Catalysts for Literary Righteousness (Mighty Catalysts of Campsite Creativity)

Donors at this level and above can link to a site of their choice on the Brought To You By page, among other goodies. In 2012 NaNo added a Mighty Catalyst Bookstore that donors at this level and above can opt to have their books included in.

• $500: Office of Letters and Light Superheroes (Camp NaNoWriMo Trailblazers)

Donors at this level get to have pie with Chris Angotti and Grant Faulkner. (previously tacos with Chris Baty)

• $1000: Bringers of Life, Movers of Mountains, Shapers of Worlds (Lighters of Campfires, Builders of Cabins, Paddlers of Canoes)

Donors at this level receive a December phone call from Grant Faulkner (previously Chris Baty) about their novel and general mental health.

• $2500: Happily-Ever-Afters (no equivalent Camp NaNoWriMo level)

Donors at this level receive all of the above, a Viking helmet with the donor's name on it, and options for story consultation and revision.

• Any amount: Extra Noveling Karma (Camp Noveling Karma)

Donors at this level don't get a halo or donor goodies, but they do get extra noveling karma. Those questions are good for something!

• NaNoWriMo Monthly Donation (monthly: $10, $25, $50, $100, or $250)

Wrimos can donate one of the selected amounts every month for twelve months. They receive the donor goodies for the highest donor level of the total amount and a special profile badge showing their monthly donor support.

Past goodies have included taco lunches and phone conversations with Chris Baty, novel critiques from published Wrimos, writing software, and shoutouts on WrimoRadio (and later NaNoVideo).

External Links

Donation Station