Photo Philanthropy: Giving Back with Prints

In the third installment of our photo philanthropy series (see 1st and 2nd editions), we feature an organization giving photographers a platform to sell prints in order to raise money for charities of their choosing. collect.give is another simple model making a big impact, $17,355 raised to date. It’s a great option for holiday (or any day) gifts.

On the eve of celebrating their 1 year anniversary*, I got a chance to ask founder Kevin Miyazaki a few questions about the project and share more details on the photographers, the prints, and the causes they have helped so far.

collect.give

Q: Where did the idea come from to put collect.give together?

Kevin: It started as a small idea: to sell a print on my blog, with all profits going to charity.  That led to the idea of a small scale, holiday-related sale with a few photographer friends.  Finally, the idea really gelled, with a website that would have greater potential and an ongoing structure.  The site was up and running in about a week, in time for people to buy prints for the holidays last year.

The other photographers involved at the launch all had active blogs and understood the possibilities of the website: John Loomis, Susana Raab, Dalton Rooney, Emily Shur and Allison V. Smith.  We’ll celebrate our one year anniversary on December 2nd!

Photographer: John Loomis
Title: World’s Largest Rocket, Kennedy Space Center, 2009
Edition Size: 40
Price: $40

Q: The non-profit sector has struggled in recent years with the struggling economy, but you started your non-profit in the thick of it (Dec 09). What made you take the leap and put it into action when you did?

Kevin: The process is intentionally simple and direct: The photographers pledge funds towards organizations they believe in; collectors purchase prints; and the photographers personally donate the funds.  We don’t operate with 501(c)3 status, and print purchases are not tax-deductible.

 
Q: How many people keep collect.give up and running? Do you have a full time staff or do people volunteer their time?

Kevin: It’s all volunteer work behind the scenes.  I select and work with the photographers, create content for the website, and do basic marketing via social media. Photographer Dalton Rooney handles any technical website issues we encounter.  And the individual photographers make the prints, take orders via PayPal, and ship the prints to the collectors.

 
Photographer: Annie Marie Musselman
Title: Angel in Blue, 2008
Edition Size: 20
Price: $50

Q: How do you find photographers to donate images?

Kevin: Photographers are invited to participate, so unfortunately we’re not seeking submissions for collect.give.

Q: You actually have more than a few PhotoShelter users as contributors on your site.

Kevin: Yes, Matt Eich, Kelly Shimoda, Susana Raab, John Loomis and Allison V. Smith are all PhotoShelter members and collect.give contributors!

Photographer: Matt Eich
Title: Elvis the Zebra (from the series, Carry Me Ohio)
Edition Size: 20
Price: $100

Q: What is your best selling image of all time? What about the fastest selling?

Kevin: Coincidently, [Matt’s] print has made the most money thus far – $1500.  As far as the fastest selling print, that was Ellen Rennard, who sold out her (10) 8×10 silver gelatin prints on the first day.

Q: How many prints total have been sold through collect.give?

Kevin: As of November 23, we’ve sold 357 prints by 29 photographers.  The total amount of funds raised comes to $17,355.

Photographer: David Wright
Title: Peter, 2009
Edition Size: 20
Price: $100
 

Q: How do you choose the causes that you give to? Are they topical, based on need? Are there any causes in particular that you tend to focus on ie., social programs, health, education, US/Abroad?

Kevin: It’s important that the photographer chooses the cause they donate to. As artists, most of us can’t afford to donate substantial sums to causes we believe it, but collect.give provides a way to give more.  Most photographer pledge $800-1000 to their chosen causes.

 

Photographer: Amy Eckert
Title: Shipwreck
Edition Size: 25
Price: $40

Q: You donate 100% of the sale to charity, who handles the printing costs?

Kevin: The photographers donate the cost of printing, and make prints in any media they like.  So far, we’ve sold digital c-prints, archival inkjet prints and silver gelatin. The buyers pay the cost of shipping.

Photographer: Kelly Shimoda
Title: Before lunch: Flaccanicco, Italy
Edition Size: 20
Price: $45
 

Q: How can people donate?

Kevin: We don’t raise money to support the project.  But if people purchase a print, they’re donating to the individual organization, by way of the photographer.

 
Q: How can people get involved?

Kevin: Purchase a print, buy one as a gift, or simply tell a friend about the website and Facebook page.

Photographer: Susana Raab
Title: Old Havana Street, Cuba, 2000
Edition Size: 20
Price: $50
 

Q: What’s does the future hold for collect.give?  Do you have plans to expand or take things in a new direction?

Kevin: The established model is working really well at this point, and we embrace our slow and steady pace. We will be redesigning the website at some point, so keep an eye out for that.


* collect.give is celebrating their 1 yr anniversary with a week of giveaway specials. And check out 2 new prints, just added!

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Do you have a charity using photography (or not) that you would like to see featured in our photo philanthropy series this holiday season? Post a link below and help us find worthy causes to highlight.