Image found online after Hatchfund Google Search I have to say, after all the great things Hatchfund said about itself in many online posts, as a facilitator for artist fundraising, they turned out to be the most unprofessional Mickey-Mouse organization I've ever encountered as an artist. I actually wrote my concerns to the only contact there I ever managed to speak with, but the guy just sort of dumped me after berating me on my Twitter page in front of fans and friends of mine (anonymously at first instead of contacting me privately), didn't keep a scheduled appointment, didn't return emails, wouldn't respond as to why he had not kept an appointment, and finally in the end he just let the campaign whither away without so much as a "thanks for trying". So in an effort to at least register my complaints, I wrote an email to every single executive board member of their parent company, AIM, and not one of those folks returned any reply. Not a one of them. At this point, I'm not convinced they're a legit operation, based only on my personal experience with these clumsy hacks.
The expert advice I received from my contact after an unknown mystery group of people first "approved" me, vetting me and deciding that yes, my project had artistic merit, was pretty much this: "Have you tried asking your friends for money? Have you asked for money on social media? Did you ask family members and friends for money?" I mean I admit that's some kind of genius advice. But I expected so much more.
They claim 75% of their dupes actually make all their money. While that may be true, I wonder how much Hatchfund actually has to do with it, or whether they simply provide their goofy interface and let the chips fall where they may. Look at this guy. His goal was 75-grand and he made nothing with their expert advice. Like, not one dollar. http://www.hatchfund.org/project/affidavit/updates
So here is a copy of the letter I sent for which nobody replied, about the experience I had engaging with Hatchfund (an organization that helps you to raise money for your project--an organization for which, if you don't reach your goal, you don't get any money and the people who donated to your cause don't get a refund--), a non-profit organization for which it's parent organization AIM has explicitly said was purchased to provide revenue to their brand, I think this outfit should be investigated.
* "Swope sees Hatchfund as a future source of revenue for AIM, which announced this year an effort to expand nationwide."
SOURCE: http://www.omaha.com/money/tech-nonprofit-aim-finds-a-fit-with-a-crowdfunding-operation/article_99241637-1166-5df3-b1f9-a8c84a0d9f60.html
At least, Hatchfund was of some value in the sense that they agreed that my project, "Nothing", was art. I was curious who exactly makes the decision what is art or not. So I went to the Hatchfund Site and found that question on their FAQ page here: http://help.hatchfund.org/
QUESTION: Who are the experts that approve and review projects?
ANSWER: "All artist projects are vetted and approved by Hatchfund programming staff. Projects are reviewed for viability and appropriateness of the scale of the project."
Okay, so one asks oneself, "Who is the Hatchfund Programming Staff?"
I go to this page: hand take a look--there's only two people on the staff; Dillon again, and Kandace R. Miller (no relation) with drawings of their faces to represent them.
By the way, Kandace R. Miller is the President and CEO of parent company, AIM. She also received one of my emails and responded...not. Two people on the staff! Let that sink in. You need at least three board members just when you apply and get approved as a 501(c)(3). You think they're this huge operation based on all their self-posts on the net...who's the third? Is there a third? No idea.
Here's the email I sent to every member of the board I could find of AIM, including Kandace R. Miller, with absolutely no reply from ANYBODY:
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Hatchfund - Strange Treatment?
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2016 18:45:32 -0400
Dear _______________,
Forgive me for contacting you with this matter, but as I understand it, Hatchfund is a subsidiary of AIM.
I am an artist and was approved to begin a Hatchfund fundraiser, and had a nice initial chat with Dillon Nicholson. After hearing some concern from friends and fans about the all-or-nothing platform, I provided an additional way for fans to contribute which would make them feel more comfortable. My intent was to simply add those funds into the Hatchfund arrangement.
Well, as soon as I mentioned this on Twitter, it was not more than an hour when I had a bizarre exchange coming from 'Hatchfund'. It seemed very spontaneous and I though it unprofessional to take issue with me on the fly in front of my friends and fans on Twitter, who were audience to a discussion that should have been privately initiated. I wrote Dillon to express my concerns about it as follows:
May 16, 2016
I posted another way to contribute to the event (from which I would apply funds into the Hatchfund) because some were expressing concerns that if we didn't reach the goal, they would have no say about money for which they intended funding for my project--how, under the Hatchfund model, their money would be absorbed for other purposes should the goal not be reached. I have no issue with it and agreed with it, but I have heard this from a number of folks who would like to donate.
Anyway, I mentioned this on Twitter, and an unknown representative sort of publicly implied we should simply end our relationship. I was surprised at this, and at the anonymity of someone posting on behalf of Hatchfund in public in a way that was not entirely supportive of our relationship. I mean, we've only just begun the process.
Went something like this:
Tom Miller @millerworks
For those not comfortable with the Hatchfund system, I do have a vehicle for
direct contributions as well. I just... http://fb.me/13FsCyQbF
Hatchfund @aimhatchfund May 12
@millerworks Should we cancel the campaign then?
0 retweets 0 likes
Tom Miller @millerworks May 12
@aimhatchfund of course not. I'm simply sharing feedback from potential users.
We've only just started.
0 retweets 0 likes
Hatchfund @aimhatchfund May 12
@millerworks Funds are redistributed to campaigns that are hitting their fundraising goals.
0 retweets 0 likes
Tom Miller @millerworks May 12
@aimhatchfund Understood. Fans who contribute to the artist they like don't like the
idea that their money potentially could go elsewhere.
0 retweets 0 likes
Hatchfund @aimhatchfund May 12
@millerworks What issues do people have?
0 retweets 0 likes
Tom Miller @millerworks May 12
@aimhatchfund Fans would like influence as to where their money goes if the
goal is not reached and the campaign is not 100% successful.
0 retweets 0 likes
Hatchfund @aimhatchfund May 13
@millerworks OK - thanks.
As much as I hate to sound cautious, I felt like the comments were a little threatening (should we end our relationship then?) and a touch insulting (funds go to those reaching their goals, clearly I had just begun and only had my first small contribution). And because I had no idea who I was hearing this from, and it was in my public forum before my friends and fans, I figured I'd consult with you about it. I thought you all worked committee style, but that may be my misunderstanding? Anyway, keep me posted. As far as I'm concerned, things are moving forward, I'm in good spirits, and a buzz is beginning. In my experience, the drips come in, then the stream, and then the dam breaks. Let's see what happens.
___________, you can imagine my surprise when Dillon informed me it was he who was speaking on behalf of Hatchfund in the following email:
5/17/16
Hey Tom,
That was me on twitter. I have an issue with accepting donations from outside of Hatchfund and an even bigger issue with broadcasting it on TW and FB. As you can imagine, it really dilutes your efforts and because we operate on an all or nothing model, you're putting your campaign at risk of being unfunded.
Sorry to have missed you last night. If you'd like to continue on Hatchfund, please reschedule our meeting.
www.aimhatchfund.setmore.com
Thanks,
Dillon
Dillon Nicholson
Program Director
AIM Hatchfund
When Dillon in the above email mentions, "Sorry to have missed you last night," that refers to the fact that we had a scheduled call which I set up with the Hatchfund Interface and which he subsequently missed. So within days after being approved, I've been called out on my Twitter page, not received a scheduled phone call, received a rather terse follow-up email in which Dillon says he was acting on behalf of Hatchfund to berate me on Twitter...and we've only just begun the campaign.
At this point, I was absolutely not confident I was dealing with any manner of professionalism. I attempted no further contact and interestingly enough, I also received no further contact from anyone at Hatchfund for the entire length of the campaign. Nothing. No phone call, no inquiry, no follow up, and this lack of activity is pretty much the opposite of what Hatchfund claims to provide for it's approved artist-partners.
Looking into the matter, I discovered another person who was displeased with the all-or-nothing platform (I am aware this is mentioned on the front line), but what is important is that he also was unable to receive any return calls from Dillon regarding his concerns either.
He notes his experience as follows:
"All donors receive a tax receipt IMMEDIATELY after they make their donation online. If your project does not successfully fund, donors will not receive refunds. However, please be assured that they have already received their tax receipt. Also, remember that only 5% of donations go to unfunded projects.
This is not a fair practice, and I cannot support it. So please do not give Hatchfund any money.
I will work with Drachman Montessori to find out how you can donate directly to them in support of their arch construction. I am putting my other marketing fundraising goals on hold.
I apologize for not catching this detail sooner. Repeated calls to the Hatchfund representative, Dillon Nicholson, have not been returned.
Sincerely,
Michael Ray"
SOURCE: https://nursetreedesign.com/2015/10/29/designing-the-entry-arch-campaign-on-hatchfund-encounters-a-policy-problem/
It seems when the smallest possibility of an issue arises, Dillon goes awol. I am disappointed in the difference between what was promised and what was delivered. Other than Dillon, I have not heard anything from, nor was I ever made aware of, any other individual in the organization. The purpose of my message is simply to communicate the experience from the end-user in regards to my experience.
I would like to simply hear back that you received this message and that my concerns are noted. If this was happening in a company I was a parent of, I would be seriously concerned.
Sincerely,
Tom Miller
P.S. As you can see from the financial results, just about none of my supporters were confident with Hatchfund.
http://www.hatchfund.org/project/instillation_of_nothing_downtown_plaza_2016_gainesville_florida
For comparison, I had absolutely no issues and raised easily over five-thousand dollars for recently passed performance which you can see here: https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/e10FWd
Hey clearly, some folks have made their projects work using the Hatchfund system and interface. This is simply my experience and opinion, and I will be continuing to try to understand how such a supposedly great operation could be such a rinky-dink non-responsive combative experience for me, the polar opposite of what they promise will be their supportive attitude.
# # #
The expert advice I received from my contact after an unknown mystery group of people first "approved" me, vetting me and deciding that yes, my project had artistic merit, was pretty much this: "Have you tried asking your friends for money? Have you asked for money on social media? Did you ask family members and friends for money?" I mean I admit that's some kind of genius advice. But I expected so much more.
They claim 75% of their dupes actually make all their money. While that may be true, I wonder how much Hatchfund actually has to do with it, or whether they simply provide their goofy interface and let the chips fall where they may. Look at this guy. His goal was 75-grand and he made nothing with their expert advice. Like, not one dollar. http://www.hatchfund.org/project/affidavit/updates
So here is a copy of the letter I sent for which nobody replied, about the experience I had engaging with Hatchfund (an organization that helps you to raise money for your project--an organization for which, if you don't reach your goal, you don't get any money and the people who donated to your cause don't get a refund--), a non-profit organization for which it's parent organization AIM has explicitly said was purchased to provide revenue to their brand, I think this outfit should be investigated.
* "Swope sees Hatchfund as a future source of revenue for AIM, which announced this year an effort to expand nationwide."
SOURCE: http://www.omaha.com/money/tech-nonprofit-aim-finds-a-fit-with-a-crowdfunding-operation/article_99241637-1166-5df3-b1f9-a8c84a0d9f60.html
At least, Hatchfund was of some value in the sense that they agreed that my project, "Nothing", was art. I was curious who exactly makes the decision what is art or not. So I went to the Hatchfund Site and found that question on their FAQ page here: http://help.hatchfund.org/
QUESTION: Who are the experts that approve and review projects?
ANSWER: "All artist projects are vetted and approved by Hatchfund programming staff. Projects are reviewed for viability and appropriateness of the scale of the project."
Okay, so one asks oneself, "Who is the Hatchfund Programming Staff?"
I go to this page: hand take a look--there's only two people on the staff; Dillon again, and Kandace R. Miller (no relation) with drawings of their faces to represent them.
By the way, Kandace R. Miller is the President and CEO of parent company, AIM. She also received one of my emails and responded...not. Two people on the staff! Let that sink in. You need at least three board members just when you apply and get approved as a 501(c)(3). You think they're this huge operation based on all their self-posts on the net...who's the third? Is there a third? No idea.
Here's the email I sent to every member of the board I could find of AIM, including Kandace R. Miller, with absolutely no reply from ANYBODY:
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Hatchfund - Strange Treatment?
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2016 18:45:32 -0400
Dear _______________,
Forgive me for contacting you with this matter, but as I understand it, Hatchfund is a subsidiary of AIM.
I am an artist and was approved to begin a Hatchfund fundraiser, and had a nice initial chat with Dillon Nicholson. After hearing some concern from friends and fans about the all-or-nothing platform, I provided an additional way for fans to contribute which would make them feel more comfortable. My intent was to simply add those funds into the Hatchfund arrangement.
Well, as soon as I mentioned this on Twitter, it was not more than an hour when I had a bizarre exchange coming from 'Hatchfund'. It seemed very spontaneous and I though it unprofessional to take issue with me on the fly in front of my friends and fans on Twitter, who were audience to a discussion that should have been privately initiated. I wrote Dillon to express my concerns about it as follows:
May 16, 2016
I posted another way to contribute to the event (from which I would apply funds into the Hatchfund) because some were expressing concerns that if we didn't reach the goal, they would have no say about money for which they intended funding for my project--how, under the Hatchfund model, their money would be absorbed for other purposes should the goal not be reached. I have no issue with it and agreed with it, but I have heard this from a number of folks who would like to donate.
Anyway, I mentioned this on Twitter, and an unknown representative sort of publicly implied we should simply end our relationship. I was surprised at this, and at the anonymity of someone posting on behalf of Hatchfund in public in a way that was not entirely supportive of our relationship. I mean, we've only just begun the process.
Went something like this:
Tom Miller @millerworks
For those not comfortable with the Hatchfund system, I do have a vehicle for
direct contributions as well. I just... http://fb.me/13FsCyQbF
Hatchfund @aimhatchfund May 12
@millerworks Should we cancel the campaign then?
0 retweets 0 likes
Tom Miller @millerworks May 12
@aimhatchfund of course not. I'm simply sharing feedback from potential users.
We've only just started.
0 retweets 0 likes
Hatchfund @aimhatchfund May 12
@millerworks Funds are redistributed to campaigns that are hitting their fundraising goals.
0 retweets 0 likes
Tom Miller @millerworks May 12
@aimhatchfund Understood. Fans who contribute to the artist they like don't like the
idea that their money potentially could go elsewhere.
0 retweets 0 likes
Hatchfund @aimhatchfund May 12
@millerworks What issues do people have?
0 retweets 0 likes
Tom Miller @millerworks May 12
@aimhatchfund Fans would like influence as to where their money goes if the
goal is not reached and the campaign is not 100% successful.
0 retweets 0 likes
Hatchfund @aimhatchfund May 13
@millerworks OK - thanks.
As much as I hate to sound cautious, I felt like the comments were a little threatening (should we end our relationship then?) and a touch insulting (funds go to those reaching their goals, clearly I had just begun and only had my first small contribution). And because I had no idea who I was hearing this from, and it was in my public forum before my friends and fans, I figured I'd consult with you about it. I thought you all worked committee style, but that may be my misunderstanding? Anyway, keep me posted. As far as I'm concerned, things are moving forward, I'm in good spirits, and a buzz is beginning. In my experience, the drips come in, then the stream, and then the dam breaks. Let's see what happens.
___________, you can imagine my surprise when Dillon informed me it was he who was speaking on behalf of Hatchfund in the following email:
5/17/16
Hey Tom,
That was me on twitter. I have an issue with accepting donations from outside of Hatchfund and an even bigger issue with broadcasting it on TW and FB. As you can imagine, it really dilutes your efforts and because we operate on an all or nothing model, you're putting your campaign at risk of being unfunded.
Sorry to have missed you last night. If you'd like to continue on Hatchfund, please reschedule our meeting.
www.aimhatchfund.setmore.com
Thanks,
Dillon
Dillon Nicholson
Program Director
AIM Hatchfund
When Dillon in the above email mentions, "Sorry to have missed you last night," that refers to the fact that we had a scheduled call which I set up with the Hatchfund Interface and which he subsequently missed. So within days after being approved, I've been called out on my Twitter page, not received a scheduled phone call, received a rather terse follow-up email in which Dillon says he was acting on behalf of Hatchfund to berate me on Twitter...and we've only just begun the campaign.
At this point, I was absolutely not confident I was dealing with any manner of professionalism. I attempted no further contact and interestingly enough, I also received no further contact from anyone at Hatchfund for the entire length of the campaign. Nothing. No phone call, no inquiry, no follow up, and this lack of activity is pretty much the opposite of what Hatchfund claims to provide for it's approved artist-partners.
Looking into the matter, I discovered another person who was displeased with the all-or-nothing platform (I am aware this is mentioned on the front line), but what is important is that he also was unable to receive any return calls from Dillon regarding his concerns either.
He notes his experience as follows:
"All donors receive a tax receipt IMMEDIATELY after they make their donation online. If your project does not successfully fund, donors will not receive refunds. However, please be assured that they have already received their tax receipt. Also, remember that only 5% of donations go to unfunded projects.
This is not a fair practice, and I cannot support it. So please do not give Hatchfund any money.
I will work with Drachman Montessori to find out how you can donate directly to them in support of their arch construction. I am putting my other marketing fundraising goals on hold.
I apologize for not catching this detail sooner. Repeated calls to the Hatchfund representative, Dillon Nicholson, have not been returned.
Sincerely,
Michael Ray"
SOURCE: https://nursetreedesign.com/2015/10/29/designing-the-entry-arch-campaign-on-hatchfund-encounters-a-policy-problem/
It seems when the smallest possibility of an issue arises, Dillon goes awol. I am disappointed in the difference between what was promised and what was delivered. Other than Dillon, I have not heard anything from, nor was I ever made aware of, any other individual in the organization. The purpose of my message is simply to communicate the experience from the end-user in regards to my experience.
I would like to simply hear back that you received this message and that my concerns are noted. If this was happening in a company I was a parent of, I would be seriously concerned.
Sincerely,
Tom Miller
P.S. As you can see from the financial results, just about none of my supporters were confident with Hatchfund.
http://www.hatchfund.org/project/instillation_of_nothing_downtown_plaza_2016_gainesville_florida
For comparison, I had absolutely no issues and raised easily over five-thousand dollars for recently passed performance which you can see here: https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/e10FWd
Hey clearly, some folks have made their projects work using the Hatchfund system and interface. This is simply my experience and opinion, and I will be continuing to try to understand how such a supposedly great operation could be such a rinky-dink non-responsive combative experience for me, the polar opposite of what they promise will be their supportive attitude.
# # #
 Image for Dillon Nicholson from the official Hatchfund Website |  Image for Kandace R. Miller from the official Hatchfund Website |
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