2015 was our ninth consecutive year asking readers to donate to a number of charities for a chance to win the swag we’ve collected over the year. It was also our most successful charity fundraising year by a good margin.
All told, Ars Technica readers collectively donated $38,861.06 to Child’s Play and the EFF as part of the 2015 campaign. That absolutely shatters last year’s charitable donation of $25,094.31 and surpasses the annual record of $28,713.52 which was achieved in 2012.
That record was not only set by a few extremely wealthy and generous readers. While a few $5,000 donations were made in 2012, the highest donation this year was $2,500. Instead, we set a new record in donations by getting 615 people to give what they could. That includes over 100 people who were able to give at least $100 each.
We’re still very early in the process of selecting and notifying winners of our swag giveaway, so don’t worry if you haven’t heard if you’re a winner yet. In the meantime, enjoy these quick stats from this year’s ride.
- 2015 fundraising total: $38,861.06
- Total given to Child’s Play: $23,031.06
- Total given to the EFF: $15,805.00
- Number of individual donations: 615
- Donations for Child’s Play: 411
- EVF donations: 203
- Average donation: $63.19
- Child’s Play average donation: $77.86
- EFF average donation: $56.04
- Median donation: $25
- Median Child’s Play donation: $23.68
- Median EFF Donation: $25
- Best One Time Donation: $2,500 (to EVF)
- Donations of $1,000 or more: 4
- Donations of $100 or more: 109
- $1 donations: 10 (every little bit helps!)
- EFF donations made via Bitcoin: 1 (for 0.013791 BTC)
- Total charitable donations of Ars Technica drives since 2007 (approximate):$205,239.02
- 2014: $25,094.31
- 2013: $23,570.13
- 2012: $28,713.52
- 2011: ~$26,000
- 2010: ~$24,000
- 2009: ~$17,000
- 2008: ~$12,000
- 2007: ~$10,000