BELIEVE in Scotland (BiS) has smashed its initial crowdfunding target after more than £60,000 was raised in just nine days.
The grassroots campaign holds an annual fundraiser which goes directly towards campaign spending, such as on leaflets, rallies, billboards and social media adverts.
Last year’s fundraiser raised £88k, with donations from the public being matched by donations from pro-Yes group Business for Scotland (BfS).
BiS is hoping to beat last year’s fundraiser and has increased its initial target of £60k to £88k, after raising £62,220 a month ahead of schedule.
There are different rewards depending on how much people donate, including a bottle of BiS whisky, Still Yes posters, car stickers and t-shirts, as well as raffle ticket entries to win a Gerard Burns artwork, worth £3750, and a long weekend stay on Islay.
‘Pushing the politicians to get their act together’
Speaking to The National, Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp (below), founder of BiS and chief executive of BfS, said he was “deeply humbled” that so many independence supporters had “continued to put their trust in BiS to keep pushing for independence”.
He added: “I guess there are three key reasons for how well our fundraising is going: First of all, we campaign whilst others only complain. We keep it positive and avoid fights within the movement as infighting just costs support and credibility.
“Secondly, openness, governance and political-party neutrality. All of our members get to join a Zoom call every month (sometimes with hundreds of attendees) and question me directly as well as add ideas, many of which are acted upon.
“We have more than 30 people elected in our national campaign steering group who set our strategy and they can count every penny in and every penny out (to be spent only on campaigning activities) of a separate bank account that holds the crowdfunder monies.
“Finally, we deliver. Year after year we spend every penny we raise from public crowdfunder donations on campaigning and keeping independence relevant against a backdrop of constant negativity, constitutional log jams, soul destroying infighting and lack of focus amongst the political arm of the movement.
“The more we can raise the more chance we have of getting the grassroots campaign more on the front foot, pushing the politicians and rest of the movement to get their act together, cut the negativity and infighting and help put us back on the road to independence.”
To find out more about the fundraiser and to donate, click here.
