Six months ago we launched Slatecard.com.

My co-founder, Sendhil Panchadsaram and I wanted to build a new kind of utility for activists on the Right. A platform built on pillars of innovation, fairness, openness, honesty, and transparency. A website platform that could finally counter the Left's ActBlue, and do even much more.

Today, we're pleased to announce that we've crossed the $300K milestone and have nearly 5,000 individual donors on our list.

* Total: $310,363.58
* Supporters: 4,942

To be sure, we've made great progress without any resources. Though some political operations have the luxury of being funded with millions of dollars from big donors or make a profit by charging ridiculous credit card processing fees, we've done things a little bit differently.

From day one, we have "charged" a flat 4.5% credit card processing fee -- and we've been honest with you and our candidates about that cost. We've never charged a monthly or set-up fee to candidates. And a majority of that processing fee goes to Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and our merchant account fees. We've relied on the Slatecard community for donations to keep the operation up-and-running.

And remember, our goal is to get this processing fee even lower. We're working on it.

On the financial side of things, we're pretty deep in debt. As you may imagine, running a comprehensive, 100 percent volunteer operation like Slatecard is tremendously expensive.

If you want to ensure our continuity and help our effort succeed, I'm hopeful you'll consider making a generous donation of $250, $100 or even just $25 to Slatecard.com PAC today.

We value the early adopter candidates who use Slatecard. In fact, 39 federal candidates are using Slatecard exclusively to process their online donations. They are a huge part of contributing to our early success and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude for believing in us. We will not let them down and we hope to double this number before the election is over.

And you can see how the Slatecard utility has empowered candidates themselves to use the Internet smarter through our top Slatecard: Iraq Veterans For Congress, who have collectively raised more than $12,000 for each other by working together as a team. Their effort is even getting noticed by media hubs like the Wall Street Journal.

Which leads me to what's in store through this election and how you can help impact our vision for 2009.

Through 2008, you may notice a few upgrades particularly with regard to the candidate's secure donation page. They've asked for changes and we're going to make them. There will be some other changes that we'll let you know about on the blog.

As always, we need your help to spread the word on a continuing base. Please consider forwarding our emails around to your friends and ask them to join up at Slatecard.

We have a vision for what Slatecard will be in 2009, but we need your help today to make it even better.

Consider this an open invitation for you to send your ideas -- no matter how big or small -- regarding what you hope Slatecard will be in 2009. We're planning a strategy session in the near future and we promise to review every single idea that comes in.

Want to add your picture and website to your Slatecard? How about a directory for Slatecards and a featured list of Slatecards? State and local candidates? Want to be able to completely remove candidates from your Slatecard? More widgets?

Look, I promise, we are listening. Send me an email and let me know your wish list. If possible, please try and flesh out your request as much as possible and put them all in one email. Take some time and think about it. Make a solid argument.

Today is the first day of the next six months, and we're glad that you're a part of this effort. Thank you for your continued support.

A few quick items:
 
1. Slatecard's record is now 1-1 with regard to supporting candidates in a Special Election. Republican underdog Jon Elrod was defeated on March 11 by a liberal Democrat whose biggest backer was Jack "Porker" Murtha. Sometimes the mountain is just a bit too steep. However, I'm proud of our efforts to raise $1,765 from 38 grassroots activists.
 
2. So far, we've raised a total of $277,536.49 from 4,468 supporters. Progress, slowly.
 
3. If you have a few minutes (and are a political junkie), we could really use your help to update the Slatecard directory. All you have to do is check out the directory, navigate to your state, and cross-reference our directory with a website like Politics1.com to ensure that we have every Republican currently seeking Federal office. Send updates to directory@slatecard.com.
 
Thanks for all you're doing to help us make a difference.

Back to work...

A mere 17 days ago, we announced on our blog that we had crossed the $150K mark.

Today, we're proud to announce that we've passed well beyond the $200K mark for Republican candidates, Causes, and committees and that donations are coming in at an extremely healthy clip.

Here's where we stand:

• Total: $214,883.23
• Number of Donors: 3,055
• Average Gift: $70.34

Part of the reason why donations are ticking up faster than ever is because 26 Candidates are now using Slatecard exclusively to process their online donations. It's clear that Candidates are finding that Slatecard is the most cost-effective solution for processing donations and are taking full advantage of the utility.

If you want to help us keep the lights on at Slatecard, please consider giving us a donation today. Even $10 or $25 will make an immediate difference.

Another milestone for the Slatecard community reached.

Today we're pleased to announce that we've raised more than $150K for Republican candidates, committees, and Causes.

Totals as of Noon (EST):

• $150,358.27
• 1,821 donors

If you want to help us expand this project and keep the lights on, please make a donation to the Slatecard.com PAC today. Even $10 each month will add up quickly and help us make a difference.

It's been a good year.
 
Today we are pleased to announce that we've raised more than $100K for Republican candidates and committees.
 
Here's where we stand:

• $102,373.69

• 907 donors

• $112.87 average donation

 
84 days ago, we launched Slatecard.com, a revolutionary utility to help the Right catch up with the Democrats with regard to online grassroots fundraising.
 
We kept it simple, focusing solely on providing a superior technology never before realized in Republican online politics. We provided a platform for the community that worked. (And then we got out of the way to let the community grow and take control.)
 
While we're pleased with what we've accomplished, we are not resting on our laurels.
 
We are dedicated to defeating Democrats at every turn and will continue to provide the technology Republicans need to compete on the modern campaign trail.
 
But, as you know, we can't do it alone.
 
Tell your friends about Slatecard. Ask your Congressman if he/she is using Slatecard to process donations (we're the most cost-effective solution on the market). Email your Slatecard link to your friends and ask them to contribute to your candidates. Add your Slatecard widget to your blog.

Together, we will continue to revolutionize Republican politics. Promise.

Happy New Year from all of us at Slatecard.com.

We're pleased to report that Slatecard has just crossed the $85K mark for GOP candidates and committees.

Total: $85,057.10
Number of Supporters: 656
Avg. Donation: $129.66

 

Regarding that $75,000 Challenge, you did it!

To be honest, we broke the goal yesterday. I sent a note out to our email list (which you can subscribe to at the homepage), but I wanted to make sure I announced this milestone on the blog too.

And the contributions haven't stopped. As of right now, here's where we stand:

• $75,649.30 
• 483 contributions

Your hard work is making a difference. And it's getting noticed. In fact, our efforts were highlighted yesterday by the National Republican Congressional Committee in a note it sends around called "The Radar." Readers of "The Radar" are our kind of people and we may have connected with a few of them that had previously never heard of Slatecard.

Thank you for your continued support. You are changing the game. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.

It started with an email at 4:17 PM EST on Friday. We asked, "Will you help Slatecard break the $75K mark by Sunday at Midnight?"

To be sure, we weren't too far away.

At that point we had already raised $72,672.80 from 356 contributions to Republican candidates and committees.

On Saturday, the ticker had moved up thanks to five contributions bringing our total to $72,815.30.

On Sunday afternoon, we reached out again, pushing the total to $72,976.30 from 370 contributors.

By Sunday at 9:32 PM EST our ticker had jumped almost $1K to $73,909.80 from 393 contributors.

Overnight, our friends from the West Coast and even places like Hawaii joined in, pushing the total to $74,504.55 from 429 contributors.

Which brings us to right now - 8:37 PM EST - nearly 24 hours after our deadline. The tally is short of our goal of $75K, but we're proud of what you've done:

• $74,884.65
  
• 457 contributors
• $163.86 average contribution

Over a weekend, 101 individuals contributed to Republican campaigns and committees. And that's something to be proud of.

In the end, we ended up short of our goal by a mere $115.35.

But through the process, we didn't fudge the numbers. We sought your help, and you stepped up to the challenge. 101 contributors joined the process or contributed more to campaigns and causes that they support.

Thank you.

Last night, five Slatecarders stepped up to the challenge to help nudge us closer to our goal of $75K by Midnight on Sunday. Thank you!

In many ways this Saturday is Game Day. Here's where we stand:
* Total Donations: $72,815.30
* Number of Supporters: 361

Only $2,184.70 to go.

Will you make a contribution to ANY candidate today to help us reach our goal by Midnight on Sunday?

Even $10 or $20 will make a difference.

Two House candidates in particular need your immediate support to win their December 11 Special Elections and hold these Republican seats:

1. Bob Latta, OH-5 (Seat formerly held by the late Paul Gillmor):

From the Rothenberg Political Report:

Ohio's 5th District gave President Bush over 60% in the 2004 election, and, though Democrats Ted Strickland and Sherrod Brown carried the district in 2006, Republicans start with a significant advantage.

2. Rob Wittman, VA-1 (Seat formerly held by the late Jo Ann Davis):

From CQ Politics:

On paper, Republicans are favored to retain the 1st, a conservative-leaning area that stretches from southeastern Virginia to the northern suburbs of Washington. Represented exclusively by Republicans in the House since 1977, the 1st in 2004 gave President Bush 60 percent of its votes. In 2006, Republican Sen. George Allen won 54 percent of the district vote even as he was losing statewide to Democratic challenger Jim Webb .

In Wittmann, Republicans are fielding a politically experienced candidate who served as a town councilman, mayor and county supervisor prior to his election to the state House in 2005. But he will face a serious challenger in Forgit, who ran for the state House in 2003 and lost to a Republican incumbent by the respectable margin of 54 percent to 46 percent.

“Virginia’s First Congressional District has performed well for Republicans in the past, but if the Massachusetts special election taught us anything, it is that both Democrats and Republicans should always be prepared to compete in this environment,” said Rep. Tom Cole , R-Okla., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Let's keep these seats Republican.

Since our launch on October 8, the Slatecard community has made tremendous progress toward our goal of being the most comprehensive and widely used directory of Republican politicians in existence.

What we're hearing is that Republican activists are finding out that Slatecard is not simply an “online shopping cart,” but is a vibrant hub for information and political activism in the modern world.

That progress is being realized through the only currency which matters in politics -- money.

In fact, one of Capitol Hill's most prominent newspapers which covers the political beat, Roll Call, reported on our progress in its November 15 issue of Shop Talk (sub. req.):

All for One and One for All. Slatecard.com, a political action committee founded by a GOP political consultant and a freelance software designer to support Republican candidates running for federal office, revealed this week that it has raised more $71,000 since its inception early last month.

$71,000 in a little over one month for Republican candidates and committees is impressive. You should be proud.

But since the article was printed, we've continued to raise money for the Right kind of candidate and committees. Here's where we stand right now:

• Total Donations: $72,672.80
• Number of Supporters: 356
• Average Donation:  $204.14

If you haven't already, I would urge you to pick a candidate or two from our directory -- anyone you think needs the support -- and give at least $10 or $20 to their campaign. There are far too many candidates without issue badges. They need to hear from you today.

And trust me when I tell you this: We are just getting started.

Early next week we're going to be making a major announcement about Slatecard which is what we've been working on over the past few weeks. Please stay tuned.

Revolution.