Welcome to Something for Nothing

Today is Thanksgiving and so I think it’s more than appropriate to talk about a website that’s goal is to do good for other people. It’s called the Robin Hood Fund. The Robin Hood Fund lets people make a wish for something and then each week wishes are granted from all sorts of categories.

Since today’s Thanksgiving I have to point out my favorite category which is Help Me Help Others. This is a great category because you can request money so that you can do some good for someone else. I’ve even submitted my wish for my wife to get a new digital camera. I’m hoping the cute picture of my son will get some votes since my wife would really love the new camera and with the new baby coming money’s tight.

I’ll copy below how the Robin Hood Fund works from their website. Pretty neat concept I think. I like it so much I’m actually helping to develop some of it.

Step 1 Make a Wish

Tell us a story about what money is needed either for you or someone you feel is deserving. For the price of a latte, the Robinhood Fund community might make your wish come true. There are five catagories to choose for your story. The type of request will help you decide which catagory to put your wish under. Your wish will be voted on against other wishes in the same catagory. Every week the Robinhood Fund community votes for the wishes they feel should be granted.

Step 2 The Community Votes

No elite board of directors - you decide whose wishes to grant. Community members can vote in each of the five categories:

* Health and wellness - Need $ for exercise equipment, a spa to reduce mental stress, $ for a health membership? All are valid reasons that fall under this catagory.
* Help me help others - This catagory is for the true “giver” in you. Tell your story for a wish for someone else to benefit. A family in need, an organization you are passionate about, someone you know needs help but can’t or won’t ask for themselves…
* Me, myself and I - Tell us why you deserve your wish. If liked by the “merry men” of sherwood forest, your tale may well turn a wish into “granted”.
* Twist of fate - Sometimes there are events that hit us sideways, out of nowhere, a blue streak of bad luck. A tale of this type might turn luck toward you after all and make “lemonaide” out of lemons.
* Weekly Wish - Each week a wish is sponsored. 20% of the Robinhood Fund for that week goes toward the weekly topic. This week it is tech gadgets. Need a gadget to make life easier, tell us a tale about what you need and why. Maybe Robinhood and his merry men community will agree and give you your fee.

Step 3 Wishes are Granted

Each week, the coffers are emptied and the funds are distributed among the categories. The funds for the weekly amount are divided to each of the five catagories equally funding as many wishes as the fund will allow. If donations are made to the fund in general, those too will be distributed equally.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy getting your wishes granted.