Postsecret Proceeds

January 22, 2007 5:40 PM

How much of the revenue generated from the Postsecret books is donated to the Hopeline Network?

I would like to think that a significant portion of proceeds is donated but I can't find any information in regards to this.

The inside cover of the book reads:

A portion of the proceeds from this book go to support the National Hopeline Network (1-800-SUICIDE of 1-800-784-2433), a twenty-four-hour hotline for anyone who is thinking about suicide or knows someone who is considering it.

This could mean anywhere from 1% to 50% to 99%.

posted by ASM to computers & internet (4 comments total)

You could ask Frank, he seems relatively open about that sort of stuff.
posted by maxwelton at 5:45 PM on January 22, 2007

Emailing him was the first thing that came to mind.

I emailed him a couple days ago but I haven't heard back.
posted by ASM at 5:47 PM on January 22, 2007

Was it about six months ago he very briefly had a plea for funds on the site? I do recall a request for legal help (implying that there was a lot of money to fight a lawsuit with) that was up for less than a day--maybe that was it. I would guess that the margins are pretty thin if Postsecret was his living, so don't be too shocked if it's not "significant" in the context of total $$$ received.
posted by maxwelton at 10:27 PM on January 22, 2007

I would guess that the margins are pretty thin if Postsecret was his living

PostSecret isn't his living, it was an art project that turned popular.

Around $30,000 was donated to HopeLine in April during the big fundraising drive and this article comments "The Post Secret project ... has helped raise more than $75,000 for the suicide prevention organization." It's not mentioned whether that's through reader donations or book profits.

However, even a "significant portion" of the proceeds would be a tiny amount. Authors typically receive 10-15% of a book's price and some can receive as little as 5%. This is if a book sells well enough to make any profits beyond the advance (anything from $1000 to $5000) an author is given. If we assume that the book(s) did manage to generate further royalties then, with a list price of $20 Frank could be receiving anything from $1 to $3 a book. But then back to that "significant portion" element. Would you consider 40% to be a significant portion? 70%? Would you donate that much of your own earnings to charity?

Frank's never revealed the percentage he gives to the Hopeline and I doubt he ever will. He still seems to be giving more than the rest of us.
posted by hugsnkisses at 4:35 AM on January 23, 2007