Here's the latest update on totals for our first election cycle:

• Total: $612,830.28
• Donations: 8,799
• Avg: $69.65
  

We're still $178K from reaching ActBlue's first election cycle haul of $790,900.

As of 10:53 AM EST, here's the latest update:

• Total: $529,208.20
• Donations: 7,693
• Avg: $68.79
  

We have a ways to go if we're going to beat ActBlue's first election cycle total of $790,900.

Despite all odds (early competitors, countless MSM stories overlooking Slatecard, John McCain accepting public funding so we can't raise money for him, no marketing resources other than word-of-mouth, sweat and tears), Slatecard appears to be on-track to reach our goal of raising more than the Left's ActBlue did in their first election cycle ($791,900 in 2004).

• Total: $516,911.70
• Donors: 7,594
• Avg: $68.07
  

Make no mistake -- if together we reach this goal -- it will be because of you.

I continue to believe. And I will not stop helping push this little engine up the peak.

Today was a very good day. Because today we broke $500,000 raised for Republican candidates, committees, and causes.

This may not seem like a lot of money given the fact that the Democratic counterpart, ActBlue, boldly notes on its website that it has raised more than $63M for their candidates.

However, it's important to remember that ActBlue raised about $790K in its first election cycle -- 2004. What that means is that we're within reach of beating or matching what they did in our first election cycle.

Here's a promise: We'll never, ever stop trying to beat the Democrats online. Sure, they had a head start but at least we're in their rearview mirror.

Here's where we stand:

• Total: $501,427.45
  
• Donors: 7,466
• Avg donation: $67.16 

Revolution.

At the request of one of our candidates, we've added an "Event Code" field to the secure donation page.

This field can be used by donors to earmark their donations for specific fundraising events established by the campaigns. The data in this field can be accessed by campaigns through the Slatecard Take Control Portal. If you're a campaign and need access to your Take Control account, email us at TEAM at Slatecard.com.

 

Running Slatecard is not easy, inexpensive, or fun. It's without a doubt one of the most time-consuming projects we have ever taken on.

It requires constant attention from a team of volunteers spread throughout the nation including:

• Co-founder and chief developer Sendhil Panchadsaram,
  
• Day-to-day management officer Joe Mansour,
• Slatecard issue badge designer Katie Harbath,
• A dozen Slatecard Captains who help us keep the directory up-to-date and keep us motivated,
• Interns who help Joe with management activities,
• Consistent feedback from developers, candidates, bloggers, and users on how to make the utility better, and
• Me.
  

If even one of these folks were to walk away from the effort, it would doubtless be a chore replacing them.

So with that being said, you may be wondering Why we do it?

That's an easy question for me to answer.

1. First and foremost, we do it because we believe that candidates and a community of grassroots activists have a right to know honestly and transparently that there is a credit card processing fee associated with making a donation online. We believe in it so much that we're the only folks helping shine sunlight on the issue noting that we have the lowest fee in the market at a flat 3.95%. 
2. We do it because we believe that bloggers and citizen activists -- from massive national efforts like Redstate.com, Iraq Veterans for Congress, DontGo Movement, or Right Wing News to state and local efforts like Conservatieve Thoughts out of Texas or First State Politics out of Deleware -- need the utility to help make a difference.
3. And most importantly, we do it for you -- the Slatecard community. We believe that supporters like Ron and Tami Meade who gave the "Drill Here. Drill Now." badge to Luke Puckett (IN - 02) and John D. Cattano who gave the Jobs & Economy badge to Virgil Goode (VA - 05) and the thousands of others who have used the utility want and need to send an important message of support to their favorite candidates.

Slatecard is a challenge and a heavy responsibility which we take on every single day and we promise to do so for as long as we need to do it. We remain dedicated to its success because we are sick and tired of Democrats beating Republicans on the Internet.

If you want to help us with this effort -- if you believe in the utility and us -- I hope you'll consider making a $10 donation today.

Your $10 donation will help fund this volunteer effort and pay the high costs associated with overhead administrative fees and servers.

We have a record of success with a roadmap to catch up to the Democrats online but we can't do it alone.

Please step-up to the plate and stand with us today with a $10 donation so that we can stand stronger together tomorrow.

Revolution.

With a little over two months to go before the General Election, we're still quite short of our goal of reaching $1 million in our first election cycle to beat what ActBlue raised in its first cycle ($790,900 in 2004).

However, these next two months are when campaigns and activists truly begin to focus on the election so we're hopeful we can reach that goal. Hopefully we can count on you to do your part.

• Total: $486,093.97

• Donors: 7,290

• Avg: $66.68

 

One of the challenges of running Slatecard is always having to be compared to a website on the Left, ActBlue, which has been operating four times longer than we have.

For example, even a good reporter like Matthew Mosk of the Washington Post makes the mistake of comparing the current standings/totals raised of ActBlue v. Slatecard. But doing so is like comparing apples to an apple seed. Trust me, I know the guys at ActBlue, they will be the first to tell you how hard it took them to get where they are today. 

Success does not happen overnight. There is no silverbullet.

Hopeful that we'll start seeing honest apples to apples comparisons, I left a comment on the post:

Matthew -

Indeed, ActBlue is a tremendous resource for the Left and no one would discount their current success. However, they will be the first to tell you that their success did not happen overnight. It takes dedication and time. You have to build the machine before it runs.

So I would respectfully note that this piece misinforms readers by comparing apples to an apple seed.

Let's try apples to apples for a go.

ActBlue's first election cycle (2004) they raised a total of either $791,900 or $890K depending on whether you want to source the Wall Street Journal or ActBlue. I blogged about it here. I still don't exactly know what they pulled in their first cycle except that it was less than $1M.

Slatecard, of which I'm a co-founder, hopes to raise more than a million this election cycle to beat ActBlue's first cycle. Yes, we have about half a million to go to meet our challenge.

Can we do it? I don't know. It is in the hands of the Republican community.

ActBlue has said it would pull in $100M this election cycle. How's that working out for them?

Look, we are working hard everyday on a volunteer basis to offer the most dynamic, cost-effective platform for Republican candidates.

And leaders like U.S. Senator Jim DeMint have embraced the platform because of its lowest-in-market processing fees and new tools it offers his campaign for FREE.

But at the end of the day -- successful at reaching our goal or not -- developing a tool that effectively empowers Republican grassroots activists and candidates is a win in our book.

I appreciate your focus on this space and I'm very hopeful that you'll better paint the picture for your readers by providing more historical analysis and context.

Revolution,

David All
Slatecard.com

Eighty-One days to go until the General Election and we're closing in on our goal of raising $1 million in our first election cycle to beat what the Dems did in their first cycle.

• Total: $467,922.47
• Total Donors: 7,047
• Avg. Donation: $66.40

To beat our goal, we need to raise at least $532,077.53 between now and election day which is an average of $6,568.86 / day.

The #dontgo Movement has sparked the Revolution we had been waiting and hoping for. Bloggers are blogging. Citizens are getting engaged. Leaders are emerging. You, me, we, us — have come together to make a difference.

And it’s working.

Signing petitions is one important way to help. Another way is to harness this energy and make a real difference by supporting the #dontgo Movement’s Slatecard of Congressional candidates with a financial contribution. These Republicans are both incumbents and challengers working hard to help lower energy prices in Washington and in their districts. They need the money and are making us proud.

By using Slatecard to make a $1, $2 or even $5 contribution to each candidate on this card we will be able to raise thousands of dollars collectively. (You can even make the donation recur automatically monthly through November.)

Imagine if 30,000 people donate $1 to every candidate on this Slatecard and then gave each candidate the “#dontgo Movement” issue badge. Our message — this Movement — will make a huge impact. The candidates will know EXACTLY why we support them.

But this movement goes beyond this website. You can also spread the word and increase your impact by adding this widget to your website (two different sizes) by grabbing the code. And email your friends — ask them to make a contribution.

The time is now. Please consider making a contribution today.

[Cross-posted from the dontgoMovement.com blog]