Arts Rescue Mission - RESTORE & SOS Program Overview:

🎭 ARTS SOS EMOJI, A Simple System of Support (Subject line in emails begin with this little emoji to differentiate for normal business communications)

The EMOJI system allows businesses, organizations, and individuals with established networks to occasionally share a brief message about someone in the arts who needs short-term financial help.No one gives away their list. The sender keeps control of the message. This is not about fundraising as a business—it's about cultural continuity, trust, and human-scale response.

How It Works
- Include a small tag in your subject line: [🎭 ARTS SOS]
- Write a short, factual message about someone in need (accident, illness, short-term recovery)
- Link to a donation page (Spotfund or another trusted platform)
- Send it to your existing list—people who know and trust you
- Recipients decide whether or not to contribute

What It’s For
- Direct financial support after medical issues, recovery periods, or loss of income
- Artists and cultural workers: visual, performing, literary, culinary
- Particularly useful for older artists or those who don’t qualify for traditional assistance

Why It Works
- Trust-based: message comes from someone the reader already knows
- Respectful: infrequent, opt-in, no pressure
- Effective: 10% of a 3,000-person list giving $25–100 can yield $7,500–30,000 quickly
- Democratic: everyone can help, not just big donors

"RESTORE"
“You can restore a painting, a guitar, or a person.”
The Restore initiative provides rapid, human-scale support for artists and cultural workers facing sudden hardship—medical, financial, or otherwise. It is about action, not paperwork.

Through trusted networks, ARTS SOS signals are sent sparingly but meaningfully. Each one is an opportunity to step in and keep someone standing—so they can return to their craft, their community, and their life.
 

We believe one of the most important things we can do is spark a greater awareness not only regarding Crowdsourcing, . An awareness that, when traditional institutions fall short, there are still other ways. Ways that empower creators to move forward with their visions in a rapidly evolving world.

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Dan Allison
artsrescue2025@gmail.com
 

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THIS ISN’T CHARITY. IT’S CULTURAL MAINTENANCE.

Philosophy
The internet doesn’t make us far apart, it puts us in the same room. Arts Rescue Mission uses tools like email, Zoom, and direct donor platforms not to scale but to reconnect. Whether you’re in a small town or a big city, you’re just down the street in the same human neighborhood.

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The people we help might be Visual, Performing, or in the Literary Arts, and anyone whose work supports the living culture we all share. This is a model for quiet, localized action—with global reach. Crowdsourced funding, often referred to as crowdfunding, is a method of raising money by collecting small contributions from a large number of people, typically via online platforms. It’s widely used by non-profits and businesses, but in slightly different ways. For Non-profits the use crowdfunding could support charitable projects, cover operating costs, respond to emergencies, or launch new programs.

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•    Approach: Campaigns usually appeal to emotions, tell compelling stories, and emphasize social impact.

•    Platforms: Spot Fund, Go Fund Me, Zeffy, Mighty Cause, and Fundly are common platforms.

•    Incentives: Donations are often tax-deductible, and donors might receive thank-you notes or small tokens of appreciation.

 

Are there any outstanding non-profits charities that use crowdsource funding to repair schools, hospitals, health issues, the elderly need support? Yes several outstanding non-profit organizations use crowdsourced funding to directly support causes like school repairs, hospital needs, healthcare access, and elder care. These groups often leverage platforms like GoFundMe, Global Giving, or their own websites to raise funds from individuals. Here are a few notable examples.

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Non-Profit Examples of Crowdfunding:

 
“Direct Relief” Has a focus on Healthcare and emergency medical aid worldwide. Funds are raised for medical supplies, hospital support, disaster response, and essential care.  They supply hospitals and clinics in underserved areas, especially during crises (e.g., COVID-19, earthquakes, war zones). They have a unique donation system, utilizing both crowdsourcing and sometimes using peer-to-peer campaigns.

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“Donors Choose”
Focus: U.S. public school classrooms.
Crowdfunding Use: Teachers post specific classroom needs (books, tech, repairs), and donors choose which projects to support.

Impact: Thousands of schools funded; high transparency—donors see exactly where their money goes.

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“Global Giving”
Focus: International development projects.
Crowdfunding Use: Hosts hundreds of vetted grassroots nonprofits from around the world seeking funds for education, healthcare, infrastructure, elderly support, etc.
Impact: Used to rebuild schools, repair clinics, and fund elder support programs in both crisis and stable conditions.

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“Give Directly”
Focus: Direct cash transfers to people in extreme poverty.
Crowdfunding Use: Donors fund transfers to individuals for whatever needs are most urgent—often healthcare, home repair, or elder care.
Impact: Known for transparency and data-driven effectiveness. Helps families in Africa and the U.S.

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List of Non-Profits that use Crowdfunding

 

🎨 Arts & Education
• DonorsChoose – U.S. public school classrooms
• Givebutter – Youth programs, school fundraisers, arts nonprofits
• Fundly – Used by arts orgs for local event and project funding
• Mightycause – Supports small arts nonprofits and creative community projects
🏥 Health & Emergency Aid
• Direct Relief – Medical aid in crisis zones
• GiveDirectly – Cash aid for urgent needs (medical, housing, etc.)
• GoFundMe.org – Disaster relief, medical emergencies
• One Day’s Wages – Health & sanitation in global poverty zones
🌍 Global Development & Poverty Relief
• GlobalGiving – Hundreds of grassroots development projects worldwide
• Kiva – Microloans for global entrepreneurs
• GiveDirectly – Direct cash to people in poverty
• One Day’s Wages – Targeted giving for global equality
🏠 Housing & Community Support
• GoFundMe.org – Rent relief, homelessness prevention
• Mightycause – Local housing and shelter projects
• Fundly – Community housing initiatives
🌿 Environment & Sustainability
• GlobalGiving – Environmental projects (reforestation, clean water)
• Givebutter – Used by green and conservation nonprofits
• Fundly – Environmental awareness and local clean-up projects