COVID-19 MFC Crowdfunding

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

Hi All,

I thought I'd start a seperate topic for this, even there there is existing thread on Corona and its effect of AFL and the MFC.

I have been thinking a lot lately about how the MFC will survive financially if this season is a bust. I know the AFL will assist in some way, but does anyone else think that starting a crowdfunding campaign could be a worthwhile idea. Some will say that they are a big organisation and small businesses would be a more worthy recipient of the money, and I can understand that argument.

However, if things get dire, would 'Landers support a crowdfunding campaign to help make up the shortfalls our club would experience if the season is cancelled. Memberships are great and all, but I am thinking beyond that. Would the MFC meet the requirements of https://www.mycause.com.au/about-us for example?

Just a spitball idea, but keen to see whether others have thought about this. 

[Demonland 72,176]

What about GoFundMe?

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

6 minutes ago, Demonland said:

What about GoFundMe?

Yeah, that's an option. I am just looking at all the platforms now. I am keen to get the ball rolling on this, but want to gauge what people's feeling are towards it. I can understand that there will be people for and against. 

 

Also, I don't want to jump the gun. We need to hear from the AFL. 

[Demonland 72,176]

I'm happy to contribute financially and provide a platform on Demonland (and via our social media) to get the word out.

[58er 6,432]

Go Fund Me would be fine IMO 

[rjay 24,919]

I think it might be a bit early to call on this.

There may be many family members & close friends in need of assistance as this all plays out.

In that case the footy club won't be a priority.

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

I'd really appreciate your support Demonland. We need to spread this via social media and do what we can. I don't think anyone grasps the financial impact this will have on our club. 

 

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

5 minutes ago, rjay said:

I think it might be a bit early to call on this.

There may be many family members & close friends in need of assistance as this all plays out.

In that case the footy club won't be a priority.

As I said, I am not trying to jump the gun. I am fortunate enough to be a full-time employee and will not be affected the same way as many. I can afford to help, some can't, and that is completely understandable. 

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

11 minutes ago, 58er said:

Go Fund Me would be fine IMO 

I am trying to find their rules on what sort of organisations qualify...I am not sure MFC would...

here are some of the current fundraisers for sport - https://au.gofundme.com/discover/sports-fundraiser

[george_on_the_outer 7,590]

15 minutes ago, 58er said:

Go Fund Me would be fine IMO 

Far better..if people are so inclined....is to donate directly to the club through the Red & Blue Foundation:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/support-the-club

no third party involved ...and it is tax deductible as well

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

The most basic level of fundraising is to not bother the club for a membership refund.

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

4 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

The most basic level of fundraising is to not bother the club for a membership refund.

wholeheartedly concur 

[Demonland 72,176]

5 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

The most basic level of fundraising is to not bother the club for a membership refund.

True but there are those of us that already take out a membership and might want to assist the club further (if fanancially viable).

What @george_on_the_outer mentioned above is a great option.

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

9 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Far better..if people are so inclined....is to donate directly to the club through the Red & Blue Foundation:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/support-the-club

no third party involved ...and it is tax deductible as well

It also asks you to click through about 5 windows before you donate and is project specific, which means the club has to put funds towards a particular aspect ...not sure if its  related to what is happening right now

 

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

Just now, Demonland said:

True but there are those of us that already take out a membership and might want to assist the club further (if fanancially viable).

What @george_on_the_outer mentioned above is a great option.

Could we not set up a form of crowdfunding through one of these GoFundMe type pages which raises money towards supporting the Red and Blue Foundation. 

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

The AFL have 120M dollar future fund and own Etihad stadium.

They also have a broadcast deal that pays them 450M a year when the seasons get back to normal.

Players share in about 12M for 40 people.

My point is the AFL can guarantee the short to medium term survival of clubs. 

Lets have a debt demolishion campaign at the end of all this when we can survey the damage and the interest payments kick in. In the mean time spend your money on family, friends and support local businesses. 

[george_on_the_outer 7,590]

1 minute ago, Leoncelli_36 said:

It also asks you to click through about 5 windows before you donate and is project specific, which means the club has to put funds towards a particular aspect ...not sure if its  related to what is happening right now

 

But it means the CLUB does not have to put its own operational ( week to week ) money into that project.  It can retain that to keep the club running.

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

1 minute ago, george_on_the_outer said:

But it means the CLUB does not have to put its own operational ( week to week ) money into that project.  It can retain that to keep the club running.

so who spreads the word, the Club? Starts asking for handouts? I don't think you get the point of this.. The club isn't about to ask fans for charity donations at this time. Crowdfunding is a different beast. Anyway, didn't want to get into an argument...was simply trying to help. 

[daisycutter 29,613]

i think this should be left to later when things settle down and we see the big picture and what the afl is doing to support the clubs. there will no doubt be a big reorganisation (financially) of the whole afl and this will probably be a good thing

i think it would be a bad look now to promote funding for a professional sport when we know a lot of businesses will go to the wall and possibly millions will be unemployed and many families really really struggling

so, just put it on the back burner for the time being and revisit it at a better time

[Demonland 72,176]

I'm thinking of donating 10 memberships on behalf of Demonland. I have an idea that I have floated to the club of something via social media. Just waiting to hear back from the club on a viable way to do this.

[chook fowler 19,458]

As much as i love the Club, I feel there are far more worthy causes for crowd funding.

[rjay 24,919]

2 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I'm thinking of donating 10 memberships on behalf of Demonland. I have an idea that I have floated to the club of something via social media. Just waiting to hear back on from the club on a viable way to do this.

I honestly think the club shouldn't be pushing any fundraising at the moment.

Clubs often talk about being family, they should be proactive in helping members & fans through this.

By being selfless at this time although it may seem counterintuitive, they can help lead the way in society.

The AFL could also get their heads out of their self important a..... and show real community leadership. 

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,823]

As a bit of a side issue, I do wounder how this will affect the wealth distribution between clubs.  I'm not sure that it will necessarily go the the big power clubs will be least hard hit, because they probably also have higher expenses and I suspect some like Geelong and perhaps Essendon also have big debts from facilities developments.  Pokies revenues may also be disproportionately relied on and affected.

I also wounder about the sponsorship revenue that we get from the NT govenment, the Hawks and Roos from Tassie and if it has contractual contingencies in them to pull it if games are not played their due to the absence of visiting supporters bringing money and exposure into those local economy?

Whatever the final outcomes the AFL needs to give serious consideration to financial equity between the clubs when dealing with the fallout as the competition would be the poorer for loosing teams at this point.  I could also see it putting the breaks on a Tassie team or alternatively providing the AFL leverage to relocate a team, depending on how bloody minded they were about it.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,823]

You would hope that if games can be played before crowds towards the back end of the year, that there may be some pent-up demand which delivers higher than average crowds and finacial returns once footy returns (obviously a best case scenario).

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,823]

5 minutes ago, rjay said:

I honestly think the club shouldn't be pushing any fundraising at the moment.

Clubs often talk about being family, they should be proactive in helping members & fans through this.

By being selfless at this time although it may seem counterintuitive, they can help lead the way in society.

The AFL could also get their heads out of their self important a..... and show real community leadership. 

Agreed.  On another note though, perhaps in the absence of actual crowds, perhaps something which would be of more immediate benift to the players would be some well delivered words of encouragement and support from us supporters to let them know we're behind them emotionally.  Should be delivered in a way the filters out all the negative crap.

I can imagine that this could be an important way to keep our players motivated and competitive in the absence of the normal stimulus.