American Border Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, operates fundthewall dot com as a crowdfunding service to provide money to DHS to build a border wall.
We've been slowly working through gov't red tape since about July 2017.
We've been slowly working through gov't red tape since about July 2017.
There are three key elements, at the most basic level:
- How do we get money?
- How do we give it to the Gov't?
- How do we make sure they only spend it on the wall?
The first is simple, technically; but we knew it needed to be tax-deductible so that was key item #1.
- How do we get money?
- How do we give it to the Gov't?
- How do we make sure they only spend it on the wall?
The first is simple, technically; but we knew it needed to be tax-deductible so that was key item #1.
We inc'ed in September 2017 and applied for non-profit status in December 2017.
It took us until early August 2018 to get a determination back that we were approved.
So, the input side is done: donations are tax deductible on Federal returns and tech stack to donate is built.
It took us until early August 2018 to get a determination back that we were approved.
So, the input side is done: donations are tax deductible on Federal returns and tech stack to donate is built.
Next came giving the money to the Government. We knew we couldn't donate to the general treasury, that would still require an act of Congress to apportion to DHS. There had to be a way to get the money to DHS directly.
If we couldn't find a way, it was a show-stopper.
If we couldn't find a way, it was a show-stopper.
Thankfully, DHS has the directions on their website, so we just followed those.
dhs.gov/sites/default/…
It says we can give money to DHS and put conditions on what it can be used for, as long as the conditions for use are within the DHS' mission. So far, so good.
dhs.gov/sites/default/…
It says we can give money to DHS and put conditions on what it can be used for, as long as the conditions for use are within the DHS' mission. So far, so good.
In late November 2017, before we had even applied to the IRS, we sent the first letter to DHS offering the money with our condition it could only be used for a wall. We used email & told them we had money from Americans we wanted to donate. They were not prepared to hear from us.
Oops, was actually Dec. 5. They said in response that they were trying to figure out if they could comply with our conditions and they'd get back to us.
We had time to kill, because we knew we had to wait on the IRS. We figured DHS would send us some questions about our service.
We had time to kill, because we knew we had to wait on the IRS. We figured DHS would send us some questions about our service.
We never did get a list of questions, but did get a few more delaying messages, until we heard from IRS that we had a verbal approval so we followed up with DHS then, and got this back:
"we do not have the resources to process external donations at this time".
"we do not have the resources to process external donations at this time".
Well, to us this is the opposite of no.
It's a request for us to help them get the resources to receive the donations, isn't it?
We waited to hear back from the IRS with written confirmation of our non-profit status approval & put together a multi-mode escalation campaign.
It's a request for us to help them get the resources to receive the donations, isn't it?
We waited to hear back from the IRS with written confirmation of our non-profit status approval & put together a multi-mode escalation campaign.
So THIS is what you all find yourselves a part of; that escalation campaign. There are only two people who can allocate the resources required for DHS to process external donations, @realDonaldTrump and @SecNielsen . If we had their phone number, we'd be calling them directly.
Here's what we have done so far:
- Email President Trump directly
- Send mail to WH
- Tweet Trump & many other celebs
- Ramp social media messaging 10x
- Tweet at @45SuggestionBox
- DM many conservative influencers
Plus other things I'm probably forgetting.
- Email President Trump directly
- Send mail to WH
- Tweet Trump & many other celebs
- Ramp social media messaging 10x
- Tweet at @45SuggestionBox
- DM many conservative influencers
Plus other things I'm probably forgetting.
It's ludicrous for DHS to claim they can't receive a check, per their own published directive, and cash it. What resources could you possibly need to do that?
Each day we have ramped up the intensity of the campaign as more and more people become aware.
Each day we have ramped up the intensity of the campaign as more and more people become aware.
Oh, forgot the petition drive too.
Tomorrow the phone calls start, the rest of the pressure will remain in place & continue to ramp.
So: here's our ask. If you agree with our concept, we can talk about petitions and retweeting things & all, but this will come to relationships.
Tomorrow the phone calls start, the rest of the pressure will remain in place & continue to ramp.
So: here's our ask. If you agree with our concept, we can talk about petitions and retweeting things & all, but this will come to relationships.
So if you have a relationship that can help us get a message directly to President Trump or Secretary Nielsen, we believe with one or two conversations the resources will suddenly be available to receive external donations again.
No petitions required, no legislation either.
No petitions required, no legislation either.
All we have to do is finish this conversation with DHS. A simple yes is all it will take. We could make the first delivery of the funds we've received so far next week. I can drive the check to DHS office the same day. If you can help us drive that conversation, we thank you.
Otherwise, please stay tuned because over the next week or two you'll see us making a repeated plea as our audience continues to grow:
We have money!
When will DHS accept it?
Who can help us #FundTheWall?
We have money!
When will DHS accept it?
Who can help us #FundTheWall?
