Anyone fancy a $25 chance to help a poor entrepreneur?

PasturesNew

michaels wrote: »

Zopa is a bit similar - people can write sob stories why they need a loan for a plasma and new iphone (or whatever else) and lenders can choose to lend to specific people rather than just offering funds at a certain rate.

If you join there may be a RAF bonus in which case I would be happy to oblige.

What's a RAF bonus? Do they send you a pilot?

PasturesNew

I've recently helped to fund a film entrepreneur in Las Vegas, I won't go into details as it'd get too personal/complex to explain here. Nobody'd understand it either and so let's leave it at that. Value was $1000 though, I took all the risk, there's nothing in it for me beyond getting my money back (or not, that's the risk).

PasturesNew

Oh and the other year I sent somebody a fistful of vouchers that could be used to buy groceries as they had no money/no food. I like 'direct action'

I just don't tell you guys about it, instead I bleat about being poor

vivatifosi

You is speshul in more ways than one Pastures;)

michaels

Is it only in my mind that this sounds dodgy

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've recently helped to fund a film entrepreneur in Las Vegas, I won't go into details as it'd get too personal/complex to explain here. Nobody'd understand it either and so let's leave it at that. Value was $1000 though, I took all the risk, there's nothing in it for me beyond getting my money back (or not, that's the risk).

PasturesNew

michaels wrote: »

Is it only in my mind that this sounds dodgy

Yes.

Go wash your mind out.

Legit, proper film maker, not smutty ones.

Snooze

PasturesNew wrote: »

Oh and the other year I sent somebody a fistful of vouchers that could be used to buy groceries as they had no money/no food. I like 'direct action'

I don't 'do' charities at all as the money always ends up in the MD pocket and not in the pockets of those who actually need it, so I always go for 'direct action' too. A few years ago I donated around £45 to a member on this very site who was going through a rough patch. I think it is far more rewarding to know that your money has got to the person in need and been used to help get themselves out of a hole when times are hard. :T

mostlycheerful

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've recently helped to fund a film entrepreneur in Las Vegas, I won't go into details as it'd get too personal/complex to explain here. Nobody'd understand it either and so let's leave it at that. Value was $1000 though, I took all the risk, there's nothing in it for me beyond getting my money back (or not, that's the risk).

Wow, that's very kind and caring of you, very philanthropic. Good on you.
And viva as well, well done.

1jim

I have just started with http://www.lendwithcare.org/ £15 minimum I think, you choose who you invest in, when they repay you get capital back to either reload on cash in, the interest is kept by the microfinance people in charges, this one is run by a charity so gave me some confidence before putting a little bit of money in. I chose a 3month lend so that the money can be recycled and used by others.

bendix

As with other posters, I prefer to give to known situations directly, rather than use intermediaries.

I bought loads of sporting and computer equipment for a school in North East Thailand a few years back, finance the salaries of two full-time teachers at that school and fund an annual scholarship competition to pay for the university costs of the brightest boy and girl from that school.

I do enough.