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Freecycle.org
Voting Summary (Elevator Pitch):
By empowering globally local social networking, we have created a gift economy/community. The magic: it’s easier to give something away than throw it away & keeps it out of landfills; a cyber-curbside; a digital segue from commodity to community.
Supporting organization:
The Freecycle Network
URL:
http://freecycle.org
City:
Tucson
State/Region:
Arizona
Country:
USA
Give and Take: Describe your project's top three needs
Type of expertise needed:
Other
Funding support to complete phase two of our new website. We will be showing off phase one at the conference. We just got our 501c3 in 11/06 so timing is tight for finding the right foundations with the right interests.
Type of expertise needed:
Management Expertise Are there existing global nonprofits with such a vast volunteer network in over 75 countries? How to empower the organization to grow with the proper organizational / legal structure in each country so that we don't collapse under our own success?
Type of expertise needed:
Technical Expertise Are we on the right "social networking" path? We need to hook up our project manager with Silicon Valley folks who speak the same sort of language as him as much as possible during his brief visit here in the US from Birmingham, UK.
Project Vision Statement & Potential Social Impact:
By empowering globally local social networking, our vision is to create a global gift economy in an entirely nonprofit online community at Freecycle.org. We make it easier --and funner-- to give something away than to throw it away, thus keeping good stuff out of landfills. Freecycle represents a local community-based cyber-curbside: a digital segue from commodity to community in an effort to reduce waste and its impact on our environment.
It represents a global "paying it forward" in which each individual gives away their items which were otherwise destined to fill local landfills. Membership is free and anyone may give or receive in this free cycle of giving.
The Freecycle Network was launched with one email about 3 1/2 years ago and is now active in over 75 countries with millions of grassroots members and thousands of volunteers moderating local groups. We are keeping over 300 tons a day out of landfills as a result which amounts to four times the height of Mt. Everest in the past year alone when stacked in garbage trucks.
Reuse is the new recycling. 2% of all waste is our own. The rest is industrial waste generated in making new products. As a consumer the only way you can reduce that 98% is through reuse. Reuse a 200 pound sofa and you not only keep 200 lbs out of a landfill you keep twenty times that amount in raw materials from being industrially used to produce a new sofa. Net gain for the environment: 2200 lbs. -- over a ton!
If we are to save our planet, we will need to become inspired reusers. Freecycle empowers individuals directly to reuse.
Sustainability (financial) model:
We aspire to a nonprofit, community-based model much like PBS with grants, underwriting and donations where use of the tools and site are entirely free and nonprofit. Because the model is volunteer driven, the costs are minimized and potential maximized. We have since become the largest recycling / reuse website in the world. Local groups are available in 18 languages (that we are aware of). We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Site operational expenses to be covered by a Google Bar and 12 million eyeballs a month. Staff: one, volunteers: 10,000. Must overcome the design hump up front. $150k 1st Year Project Budget.
Technology Vision:
They have come, so build it already! For the first time an organization has succeeded in combining social networking with the environmental movement, with over 3.5 million members in 75 countries demanding social networking tools on our site.
Potential obstacles:
We are huge in English-speaking countries but still growing slowly elsewhere. We need to acquire funds to redesign the site for language and country compatibility in order to further empower non-English speaking members and enable their growth.
Resource Needs:
We have a strong local volunteer moderator base of nearly 10,000 individuals. Our greatest need is for funding for a website redesign to accommodate growth in non-English speaking countries.
Key Milestones:
5/1/03: First email sent announcing founding of The Freecycle Network in Tucson, AZ to 30-40 friends and a handful of nonprofits.
2004: Major press coverage in New York Times, People Magazine, CNN, Newsweek, PC Magazine. One Year Anniversary, 5/04: 100,000 members.
Millionth member: March 15, 2005
3 millionth member: 1/15/07
PC Mag's Top 101 Sites List: 2005, Time Magazine's Top 50 List: 2004. EPA Enviro Award, 2005, e-town e-chievement Award,
2006: Referenced in "An Inconvenient Truth"
April, 2007: Top environmental site over Earth Day, Friends of the Earth and the EPA;
Launch Phase one of new site end of June, '07;
End of 2007: Workable system for new groups;
In 18 months: all the bells and whistles
Project Summary:
We are creaing a global gift economy in an entirely nonprofit online community at Freecycle.org. Our goal is to make it easier to give something away than to throw it away on a globally local scale with each local community having their own microsite on Freecycle.org which hooks up givers with potential recipients in their local community. Freecycle is a sort of free eBay or cyber curbside.
It represents a global "paying it forward" in which each individual gives away their items which were otherwise destined to fill local landfills. Membership is free and anyone may give or receive in this free cycle of giving.
The Freecycle Network was launched with one email about 3 1/2 years ago and is now active in over 75 countries with millions of grassroots members and thousands of volunteers moderating local groups. We are keeping over 300 tons a day out of landfills as a result which amounts to four times the height of Mt. Everest in the past year alone when stacked in garbage trucks.
If we are to save our planet, we will need to become inspired reusers. Freecycle.org empowers individuals directly to reuse.
Comments
Freecycle is saving trash from the dumps all over the world
Freecycle has saved almost 100 tons of trash from being dumped over the years. Deron Beal does not take much of the money but travels to the sites to train new countries how to help the environment. I don't understand the implication of the previous commentor. He must have a bone to pick with Mr. Beal because of a personal problem of his own making.
Freecycle has done wonders for the world, starting out just in Tucson but spreading like wildfire all over the world to people who want to save the environment. It's a big job and Mr. Beal truly cares about Freecycle and the trash it saves from the dumps. Plus, some people who can't afford to buy items can get them free thru Freecycle and help the environment at the same time. I've given many items away instead of trashing them.
This man from I-Recycle needs to get a life and quit complaining about someone like Deron Beal who is helping the environment all over the world.
Deron Beal takes A LOT and keeps on asking all the time
>>"Deron Beal does not take much money" you say.
He took some $52,000 in personal wages and benefits back in 2006. How much do you think he is paying himself now in 2008??
Mr. Beal took an idea that already existed, named it something new and started it in his area. Then he told others who asked if they could do similar to do the same - go ahead and start their own networks in their cities.
Then, once it went International, he realized what he'd gifted out to folks. He realized the potential for him to make $$, so he tried to take it back. That is what we call an Indian Giver where I am from.
Deron Beal has done good for the earth and the environment, that I do not dismiss; however, the method in which he is running the Corporation will cause his own downfall. Deron Beal, his wife and his best friend, can not be trusted to be the Board of Directors. They have mismanged the funds already given to them and they have destroyed all that was good about the network.
Have you not wondered why hundreds of groups and millions of members have left?
I always suggest researching before defending someone. You can't always take someone at their word.
Deron Beal lost all rights to the logo in a lawsuit. He gifted it away and therefore, the courts deemed it Naked Licensing. He won't get a Registered Trademark on a logo that was naked Licensed, and on top of that, was made with previously Trademarked pictures.
And to top it off, Deron Beal won an award from this very company last year with the funds "supposedly" going to the website. Yet here we are a year later - no website. And now, even though it's not been discussed in the OIDG group (the group that is supposed to discuss organizational issues), he is here claiming that he needs more funds to do a cell phone based posting method. He doesn't have the website yet to post the postings to, and here he wants more $$ to supposedly do the next step.
Yet at the OIDG group he is begging folks to vote for Freecycle as "Vote for Freecycle, pretty please...." , "The first prize is basically about $20,000 and lots of coding support.", and "This is very important and every vote counts."
Deron Beal is not the CEO that Freecycle needs if it is to succeed. He has already caused it much harm and will continue to until he is replaced. But good luck with that given it would take him stepping down, or his best friend and wife turning on him. And the chances of that happening are slim to none.
Technical Expertise
I-recycle is a website that has already implemented the technical solution. Why recreate the wheel when it is already implemented.
Surely, using the I-recycle platform for Freecycle is making sense. Why waste more money? It seems that it is a recurrent theme on this page. Why do Freecycle needs more money when people can contribute for free.
I-recycle has already offered their services and we are still prepare to help if required.
What happened to the rest of the money?
I was wondering why Mr. eeal needs yet more funding?
He was given $140,000 the first year by Waste Management, one of the worst offendors of illegal dumping. Then the following year, 2005, he got I believe another $100,000.
Then this year, some was it $50,000 from an org in California, yet still has yet to file any tax returns that are visible, except one, 990 from 2004. So lots of money, and after 3 years, no website but still out begging for more.
http://www.freecycle.org/form990/pages/freecycle990-1.html
It's now 2007, yet his only board of directors consists of himself, his Wife, and their close friend. Quote from his site about that: As a start-up nonprofit, we realize fully that the below is, by necessity, a start-up board. We are committed to adding to the talent which this board offers in the coming year as we grow to meet The Freecycle Network's™ growing needs. (Side note: our bylaws restrict the board size to a maximum of fifteen members.)
Yet another batch of his volunteers jumped ship over Memorial Day weekend, it seems to come in batches, or call it an exodus if you will.
The word and logo of freecycle have yet to be trademarked after a 3 year uphill battle, and several court cases currently ongoing in California, where Mr. Beal is being sued. http://freesharing.org/gr/files/2006-01-18_FreecycleComplaint.pdf
Before you give away another few hundred thousand, to this person, please look into what has happened prior to today.
You'll find items and articles of interest here:
http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2005/08/whats_u...
http://www,gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/7/26/111526/801
Why Deron Beal needs yet more money??
Correct url for Grist article should read:
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/7/26/111526/801
Most real non profits file taxes, and are transparent with their funds: Ask Mr. Beal what he did with the money> He's been asked over and over yet has skirted this question.
GIving him yet more money is a huge mistake. The last 1/2 Million went in his pocket.
Ask for his tax records.
TFN TAX RECORDS
The Freecycle Network's externally audited tax records / IRS 990 may be viewed on the freecycle.org website under "About Us" in the category "Sources and Uses of Funds" as well as under the independent website guidestar.org. The Freecycle Network is a nonprofit 501c3 organization in good standing with annual audits. The executive director, Deron Beal, has an annual salary of $45,000 and the entire organization has an annual budget of roughly $100,000 at this point for servers bandwidth, wages, coding, etc. We're proud of our volunteer base of some 10,000 members that make this possible.
IRS 990 is old news
You fail to mention Mr. Beal that your 990 is from 2004, this is now 2007, and you have not shown where you spent all that money. If you are truly transparent, then show where the years of money you put in your pocket went to? ? It did not build this website you're so fond of touting. In fact this website is years and years in the promise of it coming to fruition. Now that you are in alpha testing, your Mods are jumping ship in increasing numbers. They aren't as dumb as you thought. Realizing that your new site, would take away the grassroots part of the whole thing. I am lucky, I left in 2005, seeing you for what you were. You've hurt more people in the name of recycling and yet still you attempt to sit on this throne of trash. You forget, I am your old volunteer who ran the entire database for the website, not some flunky. I know where the bodies are buried and look forward to seeing you in court.
If you do own the word Freecycle, why have you not been able to take away my domains? Answer, because you have no trademark even after 3 years. You did not make up the word, you did not make this network what it is today. The Moderators and Owners of the local groups did that, and you'll discard them like yesterdays garbage. Get a real board of directors, step down and let someone qualified run this organization before you destroy it completely. You are not qualified, and your spending of all these funds without telling the Mods where it all went is criminal.
Char Hess
BrevardFreecycle.org
http://www.brevardfreecycle.org
http://www.melbournefreecycle.org
Not sure if this is where to
Not sure if this is where to vote, but I vote for Freecycle.org! It has done wonders for our community and the world!!
The Freecycle Network,
The Freecycle Network, referred to as Freecycle due to their demand for the US Patent Office to award them ownership of a word in the English language, is a great thing, but only if you like being a member of an organization that tells you how to run your allegedly independent, but approved and affiliated group.
You are expected to follow the words of the leader (the Executive Director), one of a board of three, composed of him, his wife, and a family friend since the Corporation's founding, even when he contradicts himself or removes statements from the group archives that prove he has contradicted himself.
You got my vote and a place in my blog!
michael gibbons
buttons of hope
In Transparency is the new black, I wrote...
OK I am a garage sale junkie! And yes I admit I tripped my Mom in a yard of one particularly good sale -- but I mean it was a really good sale!!
Freecycle is one of those why didn't I think of it projects! "keeping over 300 tons a day out of landfills as a result" one man's junk another man's treasure -- Freecycle has the resourcefulness award sewn up!
You have my support -- hope you will check buttons of hope -- see you in San Jose!
Freecycle and web possibilities
Hi Suziweav,
Thanks for your well-written responses! That definitely clears up a few things. I agree that a karma ranking would be difficult under the circumstances you describe.
As far as making data available, however, I believe there's huge potential there. The future of the web (beyond the two-way conversations of Web 2.0) is multi-directional data flows, vertically between users and websites but also horizontally, user to user and site to site.
Data ownership is a fading paradigm. For example, envision a community portal that includes a block to one side, showing the latest Freecycle offers and wants. Similarly, an electronics recycling organization may want to post your block of recent wants and offers, and an eco-friendly nonprofit may want to do that as well.
In the end, a "member" of Freecycle is someone who uses the service to participate in the recycling process; this purpose is best-served if highly visible community portals can make your information available. It's like a live advertisement, with constantly updated data from Freecycle offerings and wants, and allows other community sites to support you.
You may have trouble with an influx of new members who just post their wants, but my experience with FreeCycle suggests that this is common to most new members; having greater visibility will amplify the problem, of course, but that's the price of growth.
I'm going to add Freecycle to our list of staff picks for NetSquared projects, and include it in the emails we'll be sending out this week. I look forward to continuing this discussion; there may be several tools we (Grassroots.org) can offer you for free, especially in terms of website design or redevelopment assistance. Our toolbox project for nonprofits is outlined here: Grassroots.org Nonprofit Toolbox.
Good luck!
Dave.
Freecycle is Fabulous in Reducing Landfill!
I am one of the moderators, and an active member of San Francisco Freecycle Network, one of the official chapters of the WORLDWIDE Freecycle Network. It has been so great to pass along to other people usable items that otherwise would be destined for landfill. Many of the items are not suitable for Salvation Army/Goodwill donations (partial containers of cleaning supplies/paint/propane; building salvage, clothes too worn or stained that make great pet rescue/cleaning rags/quilting pieces etc) . Many times I have been able to avoid purchasing a new plastic or chemical item because I have been able to get it off Freecycle Network! It differs from craigslist as all items are completely free- no barter or obligation.Plus, it builds a great sense of community.
Freecycle + CMS
Hi Freecycle,
Interesting to see this posted; I actually offered to develop a similar resource for Freecycle in Chicago (of which I was a member for a while) and was told that there was no interest in pursuing it; I even toyed with the idea of developing a similar site independently as a result.
I'd *love* to see the Freecycle project developed as a social networking website. Some of the features that would make this a strong proposal from the social networking side of things:
I work with Grassroots.org; we're working on a free nonprofit toolkit that might help with some of this: Grassroots.org Nonprofit Toolbox
Let's talk at some point...this is definitely a project I'm interested in, and would recommend, if it made use of the right web 2.0 technologies.
Freecycle details
Answer #1:
Yes, you can use freecyclefinder.org to get an email alert when your desired item becomes available in your area (you define the area). However, you do need to be a member of those individual chapters to claim the item.
If your question is more related to specific neighborhood; this is a posting format issue that the group moderator should enforce: each post should have Offer: Item Description (Specific Neighborhood or Zip) or Wanted: Item Description (Neighborhood/ zip code); but many posters forget to include their neighborhood.
You also can use the Search feature of the Message List to scan items in your neighborhood or zip code, *if* the poster has included it!
Answer 2: We do not currently have "karma" ratings like ebay member ratings. However, you can search the message list by member name and a list will pop up - you quickly can scan to see the number and quality of Offers versus Wanted posts.
Data re: items claimed or received is not available because this transaction is private between offeror and recipient- the offeror does not report back to admin which member got it; the member receiving it does not need to report what items they picked up. The only tracking data would be the number of Wanted posts the person listed.
Our moderator team has discussed karma ratings but there are mnany drawbacks- how do we include the critical info re: person claiming an item but being a no-show to pick up? It's one member's word against another re: what went wrong with pickup arangements. How do we account for those in great need, who have little to offer? That isn't bad karma, just poverty. Currently, this issue is handled casually by individual members recognizing other members' name as a frequent offereror, or one who has gifted you with items before; versus respondants who have flaked out on you before or who post a lot of requests and no offers.
Answer #3: List of Events. Our member posts are limited to tangible items; otherwise we would be overwhelmed by members posting every school yard sale, church clothing swap, lodge white-elephant sale and art event regardless of environmental connection. The political nature of some of these events (eg antiwar march) can upset members who do not share that ideology, so it distracts from our main goal of landfill-reduction.
However, the moderators accept proposed event listings from members and if the event is strongly environmental; we will post it to the list as an ADMIN posting. Examples include the monthly Really Free Market in a local park, the regular Electronics Recycling events sponsored by the city, etc. We also include a list of Links on the homepage to direct members to places that accept certain types of goods.
Answer #4: I do not have the tech knowledge to answer fully but my feeling is we would not *want* the data cross-posted to other lists, because items can be offered or claimed only by members. We already have difficulty with new members used to the rules of other lists/sites who attempt to buy, sell or barter; or who leave items curbside with an address publically posted (meaning 6000 members all may show up to claim= a lot of wasted gas and 5999 disappointed folk!)
Members are, of course, free to cross-post their Offer or Wanted to craigslist- many do.
Freecycle chapters are very local and work best when they stay more tightly knit, with members who are aware of posting guidelines and the enviro nature of the org; versus widespread through the 'Net to folk who think it is all about Getting Stuff Free.
A terrific foundation to build on...
In a past life I was deeply involved in "recycling" good food that was otherwise destined for landfill. So it won't be surprising that I love the idea behind this project, and couldn't be more supportive of what you've done. It has lots of potential to counteract the darker side of consumerism.
Starting from a point of strong support for the idea, I have some basic questions about the proposal. It seems light on substance that would help convince me that this will be a successful and sustaianble venture. What's the case for becoming a 501(c)(3)? I've worked for nonprofits for many years, but there are pluses and minuses. It's not immediately obvious why a grant-funded revenue model is better that others, such as selling advertising on the site. I'm not convinced that a nonprofit model is the right one for this venture -- a socially responsible business could be a viable alternative, and I'd like to see some analysis of the options. Also, it would help me to know more about what website changes are planned, and how they would impact site use and other organizational goals. What outcomes do you expect, and how will you measure them? A more specific plan would make for a stronger proposal to my eyes.
Good luck, and keep up this important work.
Scott
Pay no attention to the technology behind the curtain
I am a big fan of Freecycle (I've used it in two cities now) and I had no idea it originated in my home state! Go Tucson.
As the other commenters have noted, I think it would be a stronger proposal with a little more investigation (in the resources needed) of the potential for social networking and community-building through the site. Freecycle is at least as interesting a success story as the community-supported site Craigslist. I think you need to focus on that power of the many, many people who are participating and figure out how to further leverage it. The technology is only one piece -- and really, the least important piece.
What's interesting to most NetSquared folks, I think, is the potential for creating a "social web" for good. Right now Freecycle is essentially a P2P site for physical items -- instead of downloading the latest MP3, I find who has that Barcalounger I really want. It is decentralized by design, and I think that's important. But I think there's also the potential for building stronger bonds. An integrated website that doesn't rely on Yahoo Groups is certainly part of that, but there needs to be a visioning of what is possible and how the technology helps you get there.
--ivan (quixotic1.com/Genocide Intervention Network)
A comment from Jennifer Brandon
Idea is indeed a good one,
Idea is indeed a good one, and your results speak for themselves. Clearly the project has significant social impact, but your site could use a more visual/interactive approach( In addtion to new languages) and a new toolset including an Ebay style listing of available stuff would perhaps help to move the product along more quickly? Also not sure how sustainable the model is as an all volunteer project? While your volunteers have done a great job to date, how well are they being managed, are you taking full advantage of potential volunteer contributions (by mining their interests and more active involvement), and can you continue to grow signifantly under the current model?
Freecycle is a great idea
Freecycle is a great idea but it is in need of technical help. One thing would be transitioning away from a predominantly e-mail format. I see that has happened with the freecycle finder to a certain degree, but opening it up beyond a mailing list could allow it to grow and be much more manageable.
The Next Evolution of FreeCycle
I agree. FreeCycle is a great concept, but poorly executed.
Enter FreeSwapper.org
Several years ago I emailed the founder of FreeCycle and proposed a solution that would eliminate the email and execute the concept of FreeCycle so much cleaner. He didn't get it, and he wasn't interested.
I decided to move forward anway with the project. I've create a site that embodies the spirit of FreeCycle, but eliminates the things that make it frustrating. FreeSwapper has a reputation system (karma) that is used to determine who will receive something. Currently item awarding is handled by the website, but I'm adding the feature to allow FreeSwappers to choose the recipient also.
I've eliminated moderates and adopted a community-moderated model. It works great on Craigs List, why not here.
And I've given greater power to charities and organizations that serve those in need.
Check it out. www.freeswapper.org
I launched it a week ago, but the users are loving it.