.In continuation with our discussion on undecidability, we are not going to introduce another problem known as tiling problem and so that this problem is also undecidable. Now, the tiling problem is like this given a finite set of tiles, that means finite set of types of tiles. The problem is a tile, the first quadrant of the x-ray plane satisfying the given constants. For example, suppose given a red and black tiles, so these types of tiles say this set is set of two elements r and b, r represents red tiles and b represents black tiles. So, in this case what we assume that tiles from of each type will be available infinitely. So, there are infinite numbers of tiles of each of the types either red or black. So, given this red and black tiles, we have to tile the first quadrant in such a way that no two adjacent tiles are the same color. So, these are constants. So, there will be some constants satisfying this constant, we need to tile, taking tiles from this kind this set. So, we need to tile the first quadrant of the x-ray plane. So, this is the problem, so in this example. Now, if you consider this example, so we can have this kind of tiling. Suppose the first quadrant is suppose it is filled up with r, that means red. Then according to condition, since the second one orientally, this one can be filled by only black tiles. So, next one can be tiled by a red tile and so on. That means, we can place alternate types of tiles orientally. Similarly, above r again we can have this b, there is only possibility, because we cannot have a same color. Then after b we can have this r vertically, so vertically we can fill up like that. So, once this b is fixed, we can fill the remaining tiles like this after b it is r, then b and so on and the condition is satisfied both orientally and vertically. So, therefore, this is tiling, that means that way we can style the whole first quadrant of the x-ray plane given infinite numbers of, numbers of red and black tiles. Now, if we insist that, the condition is that the left bottom center line is red, that means the first one in the quadrant, the left bottom center of this quadrant if it is fixed, suppose it is r red tile, then there are only one solution for this problem. Similarly, if it is say black, then also we have only one solution. Now, given this kind of problem, so what you can do is that, suppose just consider this particular tile. So, this particular tile can be identified as the coordinate say 3 3 is a left bottom corner, say is 3 3 left bottom corner, then right bottom corner is your 3 4 3, then the top left top corner is 4 3 4 and the right top corner is 4 4. So, you can identify this tile by giving the coordinate on the various corners, but simply if we give the coordinate of the left most left bottom corner, so this one, then so you can identify this tile. If we have the convention that, we will always give the coordinate of the left bottom corner, then if you suppose m n is the coordinate of the left bottom corner, then horizontally you can keep on increasing the x value, that means m plus 1 n will be the right bottom corner. Similarly, m n plus 1 will be the left top corner and m plus 1 n plus 1 will be the right top corner. So, that way if we give the coordinate of the left bottom corner, it is sufficient to identify a particular tile. So, you always identify a tile by giving the left bottom corner of the left bottom corner. Now, once you have that convention, formally we can define tiling system like this. So, formally a tiling system is a quadruple having four elements d, where d is a finite set of tiles, that means the type of types of tiles. Then d 0, it is called the initial tile, there is a condition which tile should be used to put the coordinate 0 0. Then h is subset of d cross g is called horizontal constants. So, it has to satisfy that constant and similarly v is also a subset of d cross g called vertical constants. So, once we have this tiling system, suppose the tiling system is d, a tiling by d is a function from n cross n to d, where d is the types of tiles such that f 0 0 is d 0, that is the first condition that means which tile should be used as a coordinate 0 0. Then this is the horizontal condition f m n and f m plus 1 n, that means once we fix consider this tile in the location coordinate m n, then the tile which should be there horizontally, the next one it must satisfy the constant given in this tiling system for all m n in n. Similarly, this represents a vertical condition, if we fix the tile m n and m n plus 1 it is a satisfying vertical condition given in v for all m n. So, given a tiling system, a tiling by d is a function satisfying all these constants. Now, the problem is that given a tiling system whether or not it has a tiling, so that is the problem. What you want to show is that the tiling problem is undecidable for any given tiling, the tiling problem that means given a tiling whether or not it has tiling, this problem is undecidable. To prove we use a reduction from a variant of the holding problem, we prove this by reducing the problem complement of h 1, we will define h 1 now, we reduce the complement of h 1 to the tiling problem. Since h 1 is undecidable, h 1 complement is undecidable and therefore, this tiling problem must also be undecidable according to the reduction. Now, how to define h 1 the variant, so h 1 is basically or the language of h 1 or simply h 1 is a set of all turing machines m such that turing machine starting with a blank tap. So, it starts with a starts at q 0 and it initially the tap is empty, it starts with a blank tap and eventually it enters in a halt state, this is a halting set h and there will be some content understanding and we can show that this problem h 1 is also undecidable that means given a turing machine if it starts with a blank tap whether it will eventually halt or not. So, if h 1 is undecidable then so is the complement of h 1 that means given a turing machine any arbitrary turing machine the turing machine does not halt, this is a problem. So, there is a h 1 complement, so we can show that h 1 is undecidable by reducing the halting problem to this variant of this halting problem and hence h 1 complement is also undecidable. So, we will leave this as an exercise to show that h 1 complement is undecidable. Now, we will use this problem complement of h 1 to prove that the turing problem is also undecidable, we will reduce this h 1 complement to the turing problem to prove this. Now, consider the following turing machine which is in h 1 complement that means this turing machine never halts which will start in a blank tap and it will never halt. So, what this turing machine does is that it has two states q 0 and q 1, q 0 is an initial state reading a blank symbol which is a hash blank is dependent by hash. So, it will enter in q 1 and prints a. So, this blank symbol will be converted to a and it will change its state to q 1. So, when it is in q 1 it simply goes to the right side whenever it sees an a and it changes its state to q 0. So, since towards the right side we have infinite numbers of blanks only again in q 0 looking at blank it will print a and sends state to q 1 and q 1 since the input is a it will go to the right side it will move to the right side and it will sends state to q 0. So, this will continue that means if the content is initially say all hash is all hash or blank so on. So, initially this situation is in q 0. So, this hash will be or blank will be modified to a and it will go to this hash will be modified to a it will be printed and it will sends state to q 1 and q 1 reading a symbol a it will simply go to right side and then it will sends state to q 0. q 0 again looking at hash or blank it will simply print a and it will go to state q 1 and q 1 since it is a it will again move to one side one side to right and this will continue. So, therefore, all is a it will be all is blanks will be convert to a and it will keep on going since we have infinitely many blanks towards the right side of the tap. So, therefore, competition distribution will never halt that means q 0 the tap is a head is reading blank it will enter in the state q 1. So, this next configuration q 1 a will be printed next configuration is that q 1 2 it will go to q 0 and it will go one cell towards the right side. So, a is always there and then next head is pointing to the next blank show this will continue. So, eventually q 1 a a a where head is pointing to a and so on. Just considering this Turing machine what you can do is that. So, the idea is that once a Turing machine is given. So, this Turing machine competition a successive configurations of the Turing machine can be used to fill up the first quadrant by filling the one row of the first quadrant by successive configurations of the Turing machine. That means. So, initially it is a q 0 has. So, initially all are blank. So, we put in the first quadrant and in first row of the first quadrant this q 0 indicates that this is a star state. So, q 0 has and then q 0 blank and all blank. So, this is the initial configuration and we have placed in the first row. Next q 0 on reading blank it enters first instead q 1 and prints a over here and remaining are same. So, therefore, we simply use the next configuration to fill up the second row next row. So, next q 1 on a will simply go to. So, the head will be moved towards the right side according to a rule q 1 on a will go the right side and send that to q 0. So, therefore, the next configuration will be q 1 on a. So, this a will remain same will be carried forward and then will enter in state q 0 and this is has blank. So, this state symbol is used in a cell to indicate that indicate a state and that it is reading that the corresponding symbol. So, the next configuration will have a will be there. So, q 0 has q 0 blank. So, this will convert to a and it will enter in state q 1 and then remaining are same all are blank. Again the next it will be a it will a. So, it will enter in state q 0 is blank blank blank. So, this way we can keep on filling up the rows of the first quadrant by successive configuration of the Turing machine. Since the Turing machine never holds. So, therefore, will be able to have a tiling of the first quadrant accordingly accordingly. So, this is what we use for tiling the first quadrant given a Turing machine. Now, let us prove this formally. So, given a Turing machine M which is a quadruple q sigma delta q 0 we define tilesing system from this Turing machine. So, it is D M we emphasize that this tiling system has been constructed from M the Turing machine given Turing machine M. So, our idea is that given a Turing machine M we need to have a tiling system such that the Turing machine never holds Turing machine does not hold if and only if it has a tiling. So, from M we have a constructed instance of tiling. So, that we can have a tiling of this instance if and only if the Turing machine never holds. So, it has again for given a Turing machine M we define tilesing corresponding Turing machine for this Turing machine D M which is a quadruple having four elements capital D D 0 H and V where capital D is the set of tiles and types of tiles. So, D 0 is the initial condition and H and V are horizontal and vertical conditions which has the following types of tiles. So, in this tiling system we will have the tiles according to the Turing machine corresponding to every Turing machine we will have some kinds of tiles. Now, for all a in sigma we will have this kind of tiles. So, what I say is that this kind of tile is used to simply communicate any unsensed symbol upwards from configuration to configuration. So, it has content A and on the A's on the top edge we have the symbol A. So, this simply communicates that there will be some symbol which are unsensed. For example, so in this case we have this A and here also we have this A. So, this is A. So, we just carry forward the symbol A. So, accordingly we will be using this kind of tiles and here we have used the dot over here to just to indicate that to use this kind of tile we must have some tile below it. If we want to use this tile some tiles below it must be already available. Then for all A B in sigma and for all P Q in the state of the Turing machine if we have a transition like this in a Turing machine delta P A equal to Q B it says that we have P A as a element. So, P A will be there in the tile as a content of tile and the top edge it is Q B communicates the head position upwards and also sends of the symbol and the state appropriately. That means from tile below tile upward the head position is sensed and the state is sent from P to Q and the symbol is sent from A to B. So, that happens whenever you have delta P A equal to Q B we have a state sense from P to Q and we print a new symbol instead of A and that is your B instead of A we print a B. So, that is what we communicate over here. Again to use this kind of tiles we need to have a tile below it that is indicate by this dot. Then again for all A B in sigma and P Q in Q if we have this kind of transition delta P A equal to Q R that means is a right move of the head if the Turing machine is in state P leading symbol A it will go to state Q and the head will be moved towards the right side by one cell. For this we will be using these two tiles it is simply communicate head movement one square from left to right. So, P A is a content of this tile P A and since head is moved towards the right side this A will be carried forward it goes towards the right side changing in state Q and it goes towards the right side. So, in the next case whatever may be the symbol it may be B. So, this B will be here, but the state will be this state Q and both the cases we must have some tile below it. So, this communicates the movement of the head one square to the right and sense of state appropriately. Similarly, for all A B and P Q A B in sigma and P Q in state Q if delta P Q equal to Q L. So, this type of tile types of tiles basically communicates the movement of the head towards the left side by one position. So, delta P A so P A is the content of this tile. So, A will be carried forward it will be communicated upwards. So, it changes state from P to Q and it goes towards the left side. So, therefore, from left side it comes Q whatever may be the content earlier content of this tile. So, next it will be Q B the state will be changed to Q and B will be carried forward and in both the cases we need to have some tiles below it. And then from the initial condition since the initial configuration will start in the state Q 0 and blank and towards the right side we have only blank. So, therefore, we will use this kind of tile to fill the first cell and for all the remaining cells initially we will be using say blank and towards the left side and right side we will have all blanks and these blanks will be carried forward. So, that is why we are using this blank. So, in both these cases we just know that there is no necessary to have any other tiles below these tiles. So, that is why we are not using any dots because those will be used for initial configuration. Now, we have constructed the tiling system. So, basically in this tiling system what we have done is that we have shown what are the types of tiles to be used. So, all these types of tiles and we have constructed those tiles from the corresponding moves, moves through the turing machine and at the same time what I have done is that we have said indicated here the vertical condition. For example, here from A this A will be carried forward. So, here again we will have P A and it will be Q B. So, this gives the vertical condition and in this case again we have this horizontal condition horizontal condition and so on. So, while constructing these tiles at the same time we have also indicated what should be the corresponding horizontal conditions and vertical conditions by giving the content of the tile and what should be the top of the tile or towards the right or towards the left. Now, when we show that given in turing machine M this belongs to H 1 complement even only if D M has a tiling. That means, this is a reduction from the complement of the tiling complement of this H 1 H 1 to the tiling problem. So, given turing machine M if it belongs to H 1 complement if it belongs to H 1 complement if and only if corresponding tiling system has a tiling. Let us prove the forward direction suppose M is a turing machine with the following elements Q is a set of states sigma is the set of symbols delta is a transition and Q naught is the start state. And this does not halt when started on a blank tab because this is an instance of H 1 complement. Since it is an instance of H 1 complement this M does not halt when it started on a blank tab. So, therefore, the first configuration will be like this C 0 Q 0 it starts on a blank tab therefore, the head is reading blank and towards the right side there are all blanks. Then, we will go to C 1 and C 2 and so on by computing according to transition of the tiling machine and eventually suppose that particular configuration C i will be of this form say Q y a 0 a 1 up to say a j i and up to a k i.  Just consider this configuration C i considering this any arbitrary configuration C i we will see the tiling we will give the tiling we give the tiling like this tiling function from n cross n to the set of tiles like this the types of tiles we have we already know how to construct from the types of from the construction that we have already described. So, for all i get run 0 f of n i that means, what should the tile for this coordinate n i it will be a n simply a n the tile with content a n if n is greater or equal to 0 and less than k i, but n not equal to j i. That means, it says that if it is within this other than this one it is not a j i it will retain the all our symbols will be cared for. So, a 0 will go to the next configuration a 1 golden next configuration up to a j i minus 1 will go to next configuration in the upward direction. Similarly, a j i plus 1 up to a k i will go upward in the next configuration the next row, but if n equal to j i then the correction tile will be q i a j i. So, because the current that is q i and a scan the symbol say a j i and if it is greater than k i then after k i that is all blank. Because, we have come up to a k i and we started with an an empty tip. So, therefore, all the cells towards the right most symbol will be all blank. Hence, if n is greater than k i will be using this kind of tiles. So, once we use this kind of tiles. So, corresponding to this theory machine will construct the tiling system and then if we consider the configurations start with c 0 we put in the first row of the first quadrant of the x y plant and then according to the most of the tiling machine we will get the next configuration and the tiles that will be using will be of the kind that we have already described according to the configuration construction tiling machine and so on. So, therefore, this gives a proper mapping what tile to be used for tiling the first quadrant. So, that way we will be able to tile since the theory machine never holds will be able to tile the first quadrant of the x y plant now consider a converse. Suppose the tiling system has a tiling say there is a mapping from n cross n to d. So, there is a tiling now note that as per the construction of the tiling system d m from the theory machine given theory machine m. The tile which can be accommodated in the first row are of the this kind q 0 blank and blank and there is no tile below it because there is a only possibility since we below it we do not have any other tiles and the respect in tiling must be q 0 blank then blank then blank and so on all blanks. Clearly this represents the initial configuration of the theory machine m when started with empty tap this must be the initial configuration. Therefore, c 0 is q 0 blank the head is reading the blank symbol then since we have constructed the tiling system from a given theory machine. So, what the next tile to be used above this will be defined or will be decided according to the transition of the theory machine. Since we have a tiling there must be some tiles to use above it in the first row and then in the next row and this will continue forever because there is a tiling that is what we have said because d m has a tiling. Since it is a tiling will be able to fill up all the rows like this, but in this case what we have used is that this tiling system constructed from the theory machine only that means it clearly says that theory machine has moves. Since the tiling is will continue infinitely. So, therefore, the computation of theory machine also will go on infinitely that means from c 0 it will go to c 1 c 1 to c 2 and so on from c i to c i plus 1 for all i. So, it will continue forever. So, that means if there is a tiling there must be the theory machine will never hold that is what we have got. So, therefore, this shows that for any given theory machine m if m belongs to h 1 complement if and only if d m has a tiling where d m is the corresponding tiling system. Now, we have already seen many problems that have been shown to be undecidable. For example, the halting problem we have seen defined and proved the war problem to be undecidable. We have simply defined PCP we didn't prove of course and now we have shown that defined the tiling problem and shown it to be undecidable. Similarly, you can keep on giving more and more problems to be undecidable. We will say that some variants of the halting problem for example, say h 0 and h 1 which are used in the context. For example, h 1 is used to show that halting problem is undecidable sorry tiling problem is undecidable. Similarly, h 0 was used to show that the war problem is undecidable. So, these variants of the halting problem h 0 and h 1 are also undecidable that we left as exercise. More such variants of the halting problem can be defined and proved to be undecidable. Similarly, we can give we have shown that PCP is undecidable and then PCP can be used to prove that some problems related to say especially context free languages to be undecidable. We have already shown that given grammar given a CFG whether G is ambiguous. So, this problem is basically for any arbitrary CFG is undecidable. We used PCP to show that the ambiguity problem of CFG is undecidable. Similarly, we can show that given a CFG G 1 and CFG G 2 whether L of G 1 intersection L of G 2 equal to phi. So, this problem is also undecidable. We can easily show it by using the same construction that was used in case of PCP in case of showing that ambiguity problem of CFG is undecidable. For example, just consider say there is an instance of PCP say it is x 1 y 1 x 2 y 2 have to say x n y n. So, from this instance of PCP we will construct grammars G 1 and G 2. We will construct conditional grammars such that that PCP instance P has a solution if and only if L of G 1 and L of G 2 is non-empty. Now, the constructions are similar that we have described in case of showing that a given arbitrary grammar is ambiguous or not is undecidable. For example, we introduce a new set of symbols a 1 a 2 up to say n as many symbols as their lists as their pairs of pairs in the PCP. And then in G 1 we have production likes S 1 goes to a i S 1 x i and a i x i for all i similarly in G 2 we have S 2 goes to a i S 2 y i and a i y i. So, we can now easily show that L of G 1 interaction L of G 2 is non-empty if and only if this PCP instance has a solution. So, if because if this instance of PCP has a solution so there must be some sequence say i 1 i 2 some i k which is solution to this PCP such that x i 1 x i 2 up to x i k equal to y i 1 y i 2 up to y i k. So, this two are must be same because there is a solution to the PCP this sequence solution to the PCP. So, according to definition of PCP so this two must be same, but in case of G 1 and G 2 we have seen that if we consider a i 1 or a i k a i k minus 1 up to a i 1 x i 1 x i 2 up to x i k. So, for this string there is a derivation in G 1 starting with S 1. So, S 1 derives this string similarly as to derives this string a i k a i k minus 1 up to a i 1 x sorry y i 1 y i 2 up to y i k. Now, since the first part is same a i k to a i 1 a i k to a i 1 and x i 1 to x i k this identical to y i 1 to y i k. So, these two strings must be identical is a same. So, therefore, this string and this string belongs to both since we started S 1 in G started S 2 in G some derivation we can always derived like this. So, therefore, interest in L 1 and G 1 is not empty. So, this string is common to both the language L of G 1 and L of G 2. Similarly, you can prove the converse. That means the PCP has solution if and only if L of G 1 and L of G 2 has some common element. Now, similarly we can define or give many other problems related to context free grammar and show that they are all undecidable by reducing PCP to those problems. Now, please note that the theory of undecidable is concerned with determining whether or not there exist algorithms for solving problems. So, that is what we want to know thus there exist an algorithm for solving any given problem if it exist and it is decidable otherwise it is not decidable. Now, people started giving algorithms or knowledgeable algorithms from known to people since long is only at the beginning of 20th century that means 1900 that people started about thinking whether there exist an algorithm or not for any given problem. They started with an address given by David Hilbert in 1900. So, he paused many problems to the community at the time. So, one of those problems was like this there is a 10th problem devise a process using which it can be determined by a finite number of operations where a polynomial has an integral root. That means devise a process devising a process using which it can be determined by a finite number of operations it means that he wanted to devise an algorithm that is the notion of algorithm that is known to us devise an algorithm to determine whether a polynomial has an integral root or not. That means if we have a polynomial like this say 13 x cube y j square minus 6 x y cube plus 7 say y square z minus 2 y plus 100 say this is a polynomial involving 3 variables x y and z. So, it will have a root if we have an assignment sum x equal to something some value of x y and z such that those values when you put here it satisfies to 0 it becomes equal to 0. So, it is a root. So, the question is whether we have an integral root whether some integers well we can put over here x y and z show that it becomes equal to 0. So, apparent assumption was that such an algorithm must exist. So, Hilbert assumption was that it was it exists and one need to simply devise this algorithm, but it took almost 70 years to prove that no such algorithm exists to determine whether a polynomial has an integral root. This is proved by Matias Sevis in 1970 it took long 70 years to show that no such algorithm actually exists to determine whether any given arbitrary polynomial has an integral root or not. Now, during that period a clear definition of algorithm was not available what is mean by an algorithm instead an intuitive notion of algorithm was only known, but the intuitive concept of algorithm may be sufficient to give algorithm for certain problems, but it is not enough to show that there exist no algorithms for any given problem. That means people were making that time a clear definition of algorithm. There is a long wait of almost 35 years for a clear definition of algorithm and eventually it was given via search during thesis. In 1936 Alain Zassard developed lambda calculus which is a notational system and Alain Thuring developed Thuring machine which is computing or abstract machine and it was shown that lambda calculus and Thuring machine these two notions are equivalent. An intuitive notion of algorithm is equivalent to Thuring machine algorithm this is basically known as search during thesis. So, that means we can define an algorithm by designing by giving a Thuring machine and undecidability of the halting problem was proved by Thuring in 1936. In case of Hilbertian problem we can define the corresponding language like this say L of p is a set of all polynomial p is a polynomial with an integral rule. So, the problem is given a polynomial p where are not p belongs to L p this language is undecidable. The problem is of course decidable for polynomials that have only one variable for example, if we have say variable involving only say x say suppose we have variable I mean polynomial say involving say 6 x to the power 7 minus 2 x to the power 5 plus and so on only x variable is only x. So, in such a case what a Thuring machine can do is that it can compute the polynomial for different values of x starting at 0 put x equal to 0 compute the value of the polynomial if it is 0 is fine will stop otherwise it will compute the polynomial for x equal to 1 and x equal to minus 1 if at any point it becomes 0 then will stop otherwise it will continue in both direction with 2 and minus 2 then minus 3 and 3. So, it will continue and so on until it finds a solution, but point is that such same thing can be used for multivariable problem also for x y z and so on. Suppose we have take different values of x y z and keep on evaluating the polynomial until it becomes 0, but that means we have Thuring machine to do this, but whether it is a decidable or not there is not known. We have single variable we need not go infinitely many steps. So, we can stop at some point whenever we do not find a solution and say that this has no integral root or if we find any we will stop the Thuring machine will stop saying that it has an integral root. So, up to what limit will go it can be say that it is plus minus k some c max by say c 1 where k is the number of terms in the polynomial how many terms are there and c max is the coefficient with largest absolute value and c 1 is basically the coefficient of the highest order term. So, we will keep on going like this until up to this limit until it finds a root if it does not find a root it will say that declare that there is no integral root for this polynomial. So, therefore, for single variable the problem is solvable, but for multivariable the problem is not solvable and it was proved by Mathias Evis in 1970 only that for multivariable case the problem is unsolvable.


Step to becoming a TEFL trainer, find a company to work for.  This is going to involve some legwork rather than simply applying via email. Visit the training schools with your CV and sell yourself. You may be fortunate to get a job as an EFL teacher, with a language school that also runs teacher training courses, then gradually become involved in various elements of the course, initially on a part-time basis. Networking can also help. The more people you know in the business, the higher the chance will be of finding out about any upcoming opportunities. Think about attending advertised conferences or seminars, and talking to as many people as possible whilst you're there. Thanks so much for watching. We are ITTT, the leading provider for TEFL and TESOL training courses. If you like this video, please subscribe by clicking the button down here, and click on any of the videos here on the left for more interesting teaching tips for getting certified to teach English abroad and online.


Good afternoon everybody we'll give it a couple more minutes and then we'll get started with our webinar for today. And as we're waiting just a couple of things. We are going to be. I'm excited because we're going to be joined today today with a guest speaker, but also if someone can just take a quick minute and either in the chat or the q amp a box can you let me know. You can see the mighty cause page of the webinar screen is up and also if you can hear me. Great. Thank you Todd so we I appreciate that. Okay, fantastic. So we'll be getting started in just a few minutes and while we're, we're waiting. The webinar will be recorded. So once everything is said and done, anyone who has registered for the webinar, we will send you an email with the recording and also with the slide deck.  And definitely if there's anyone you'd like to share the webinar with by all means, it's going to be on our website but you'll also have that slide deck and sometimes that's just a helpful, a helpful thing to have as well. We'll give it just another couple of minutes here. And what we'll also do just as a little note while we have a moment. We're going to do all questions at the end. So if any questions arise throughout the webinar, go ahead and jot those down in the q amp a box and just know that we won't answer anything during the presentation but for sure afterwards we'll make sure to get to all those questions. In a minute or so. And for those who have maybe just joined in the last 30 seconds or so we're giving it just another minute or so for people for everyone to jump on. And then we'll go ahead and get started. We are recording the webinar so that'll be available for you. We'll email it to everyone who's registered and then we'll also be sure to provide a slide deck. So just with any of our webinars you can always go on to our website we do have a free resource center. So that's available anytime where we have recordings of our past webinars. So whether it's this one or another one that you're interested in, you know, definitely feel free go ahead and check that out. We have a lot of things in that resource center so you know always always good to jump in from time to time to take a look. So let's go ahead it's, it's two o'clock let's go ahead and get started. It's a good day to learn how to make event fundraising easy. And I'm going to introduce today I'm very excited. We have a guest with us. So, I'm going to introduce Brad. He's our guest speaker today. Brad if you want to go ahead just take a quick moment and share a little bit about yourself and then we'll jump in. Thanks, Ashley. I'm also excited to be here. So just a little bit about me I'm husband and father of two girls and I am currently lead pastor at a church in the western suburbs of Chicago, but also do quite a bit of work with an organization of the Dominican Republic, the ministry's and so I'm on the board for go, and I've been on the board for that, not for profit that charity for about six years but for about 20 years, I've been serving with that organization, and it's an organization that has a heart for serving centers at risk and vulnerable in the Dominican Republic through sports outreach and medical outreach, some community development, feeding centers, education, that type of thing and so I've been over the last 20 years, had a chance to see that that organization grow. And just as, as I've become more and more passionate and connected with that organization. I transitioned into just as a volunteer helping to just raise awareness and support for what go is is doing in the Dominican. So, that's a little bit about me. And thank you Brad for sharing because I want to make sure that everyone knows you, you're definitely in the nonprofit space. This idea of fundraising the pros and cons of it but also the passion that comes with the work of nonprofits, whether it's in the United States or it's a broad wherever it is. You, you definitely can understand that so Brad's coming to us from a place of wisdom from all sides experience and a lot of different ways. So I think we're going to learn a lot. What we're going to take a look at first. We're going to just sort of learn a little bit more about go endurance that is the, it's actually a fiscally sponsored nonprofit that Brad sort of came about so that he could fundraise for go ministry so we'll take a look first we'll learn a little bit about who is go endurance and then we're going to learn how they took the Elkhart Lake triathlon event and made it into a super successful fundraiser so we're going to learn about the planning and the execution. And then we're going to learn how any nonprofit can do this. And that's, that's the exciting thing that's why you guys are all here. And then, just a couple of pro tips from Brad and what go endurance has learned and some things that they're going to implement coming up this year when they do some fundraising. So that's going to it's just going to be a packed half hour. Also, we'll finish everything with a question and answer time so I had a chance to mention to you all before we got started that we will have questions and answers at the end of the presentation. So if anything comes up while we're sharing, go ahead and enter those questions into the Q&A box, and then we'll be sure to cover all of those at the end. Also just real quick to remind everybody we are recording so if you need to jump off and you missed the question and answer time. Just check out the recording so you can get that kind of that personalized time. And real quick as we get started, mighty cause, we're hosting the webinar so just a real quick bit about us. We've been serving the medium to small nonprofit space since 2006. We also support some pretty big ones but primarily we're focused and designed specifically for the medium to small nonprofit and we offer everything that you're going to need for that year round fundraising. And who we are, but now on to making event fundraising easy. So, will you go ahead and share just about the endurance, who you are, how you got started specifically with the triathlon and just how this all came to be. Yes, absolutely. And I'll keep it brief just because we've got our 30 minutes and obviously if there's Q&A time and you want me to expand on it I can. But it really started with me. I was just personally trying to get healthier and I was participating in a triathlon every year in Wisconsin. So that kind of cross paths with my passion for go ministries and seeing development happen in the Dominican. And I was just asking how could I connect these two events, if I'm going to be training and doing this event every year. How could I use it, leverage that event to raise money and awareness for go ministries. And so that led to the start of a club that I now call go endurance. And at one time I had visions of it becoming its own not for profit but based on the the fiscal sponsor opportunity, I haven't had to go that direction but but could have. But anyway, so it's really three things. One is to be together. And the other is to be healthy. And the third is to be for for before. And that's before a cause we do good together so the the be together is the more we we are together. And the better will become in all areas and anything's more fun as a team to be healthy. We all have a we share a common interest of getting healthy together, and then we want to we want to do good and support a cause. And so we did it the first year would have been two years ago. And I didn't put a whole lot of effort into it, but had. There were five of us that participated in the triathlon. I think I was the only one that raised money, and I raised about $5,000 but that was when I was just first kind of starting to share the vision and then getting ahead of things did the event again, and I think that commitments, you know, a year, a year ahead of time and ended up with some of the notes you see there we we ended up with 15 people. And I will get into all the logistics quite yet. There might be some questions you have for to guide that Ashley but probably I'll just actually just stop there so go endurance as a club that we're committed to being together, being healthy and being for to support a cause. In every event, we leverage the event to raise money for go ministries. Thank you Brad and the great thing of what they do, and what we're hoping to share with you all today is Brad isn't creating an event every time he wants to do fundraising. The beauty of what he's doing is he's taking. In this case it was a triathlon that was already arranged. He's just joining in, and along with these other athletes, and that's what what makes it that much easier they just get to focus on fundraising they're not doing logistics, like you'll see the fundraisers or excuse me volunteers and all of that that goes into it, he's only doing the fundraising part. So we'll go ahead we're going to break that down into sort of how you, you brought this event together we're going to break that down into three parts. And because we're, we're talking about a triathlon there's three legs and a triathlon. And so there are our first leg. As far as kind of just sort of the real quick overview Brad can you give us a you found the event you already knew the cause you were going to do and the platform. How did that sort of come together for you. Yeah, that's a great question so the, the event that I was, I was already doing the event and it's, it's a, you know, small, little lake community in Wisconsin I spend some time in regularly so I started doing this event, but it could absolutely be any, any community and we're actually adding multiple events this year so we're expanding beyond this triathlon and so the, the event could be something that's local, or even in some of the research I've been talking to somebody who has been leading with. He actually founded Team World Vision if anybody's heard of that. They run for clean water and have 10s. I mean I have thousands of people that run every year for it. I think raised somewhere around $20 million a year for World Vision. And so they had some recommendations on community events that I can share later and some of the, the pro tips but the event could really be anything that's that's local or close to your heart and that is that is well run and it's something that's that's a draw. So, and to your point actually, I also want to find events that I have to do none of the logistical planning. That's something that I don't have time for. I'm not an expert in that area. And so, I would rather just join in on the event that's going to be run well with volunteers and have good marketing. That's going to promote itself. And then all I have to do is, is tell people about the event, and they join in on our team. And so that's the event side of it. Did you want me to talk about the cause in the platform or just that for now. Yeah, go ahead and jump into I know you shared sort of a little bit before of how you're connected to go ministries. Just take a quick minute if you want to with the platform. I mean it was a really simple way the way you found us. Yeah, what were you looking for before you found us. Yeah, that that's, that's great so that's for me was a super important part of the process I, because of our commitment to being together. I wanted to find a team platforming team fundraising platform. Not just for, for example we had 15 people participate last year. Not just for the 15 of us to be together but I also wanted to divide those 15 into smaller teams for smaller group training for accountability, but also to create a little healthy competition within the fundraisers. And so, same thing this this year we've got 17 athletes that are participating in the Elkhart Lake triathlon, and we're dividing them up into three different teams as well. I found Mighty Cause through a Google search of top fundraising platforms, and just in all my research it was Mighty Cause ended up being the platform that would allow me to do all of the things that I wanted so there were really three things for me one tracking individual fundraising to the teams fundraising, but then three, the overall fundraising and so now we get to do all three of those. And that's another thing for me in the same way that I did not want to plan a community event. I did not want to build a website, manage a website. And keep up with the day to day updating that a website demands and so Mighty Cause was such a perfect fit for what we were hoping to do. And that's what we, when we say we're Mighty Cause was built for that small to medium nonprofit part of our thought is nobody wants to do the technology side, nobody has time to do the technology side or very few. And so being able to offer that where we take care of also we process the donations we do the receipts for the donations. So sort of once you get your page set up.  So hopefully, as this is everybody else thinks about how they can do a fundraiser or do an event to kind of keep in mind what goes after the fact things you have to follow up on that we can provide the reporting we can provide the donor information. But all of that if you can let somebody else do it. By all means let somebody else do it. So that's what we want to be here for and I'm glad we were able to do that for you all and for your other fundraisers. Can you share as we go into and we look at the second leg of just sort of that preparation as a whole, you have your event, you know the triathlon, you know your cause you have your platform.  So, as far as recruiting the athletes, one of the things I like about the Elkhart Lake triathlon is that there are six different, or maybe even more now types of events you can do within the triathlon and so the way we did it last year was we did it as a relay so we had one person swim one person bike one person run. And so we made the event accessible and so, even though there, you know there's a challenge for each person to get healthy it also felt doable. And so that's how I began recruiting the athletes, and I did I talked about it from the three from our, I cast the vision around our three most important things be together be healthy before. I invited everyone into a 10 month journey where we were going to meet once a month, and it wasn't mandatory but we met every single month, just for connection for accountability in our training to encourage each other. So, I think that's where questions could be asked and answered around fundraising, and even training tips, that sort of thing. And so that's how I recruited. What I have found what's, what's actually kind of the opposite of what I thought is that the harder the easier it's been to recruit people. So I, well I chose the event. I like the event had multiple different options and in a relay could be easier. I've actually been gaining more traction, the harder, the harder it is and so September 17, we're doing Michigan 70.3 which the half Ironman, and we have 21 people doing that, which is so more than that. Those doing the relay and the try, and we're building to a full Ironman in 2024 and so I anticipate, you know, quite, quite a bit of interest in that as well so I recruited athletes by sharing our those three, those three things that's, you know, those are felt needs forever being and having community, being healthy, doing good, all three of those are things that will connect to a person's heart and so we just continued to lean into that. As far as the fundraising pages, I've been doing development. So fundraising for about 25 years now and so I've had a chance to probably because of that experience I've been able to help people with that. And so I prepared the event and team pages people then create their individual pages I've given. I just laid out the step by step how to do it, and then as well give people just some fundraising tips for for how to do it. And so I try to make it as people can be intimidated by fundraising. But where are you going to jump in. No, I just agree. A lot of people are intimidated by fundraising. Yeah. Yeah, super intimidated by fundraising and so to try to give people some easy wins is, you know, some tips for for how to do that. And so whether that's through finding matching gifts. If you have, you know, a goal of raising $1,000. I encourage people to ask one or two people to be a lead gift to come up with 25% of their total goal, because then that shows on their page. Wow, they're gaining some traction. And pretty much everybody has somebody that they're super close to that would be a lead giver to come up with about 25% of their goal. And so that's, that's part of it. One other thing that I've done on the the raising funds is that I set benchmarks. My benchmarks this year include a minimum fundraising goal that everybody has and, and just by raising that $500 everybody gets some some customized gear. If you raise $1,200, then I'll do something else if you raise $2,000 and you get something else and so those benchmarks could be whatever but they're just incentives for people to reach certain reach certain goals. And I also this year that the ad was to create team goals. So teams of five, and we do have a couple teams of six but if their team reaches a certain goal like $50,000 then that I'm doing something for them as well. So I've created some of those those fundraising incentives as well. So email templates, text templates, helping people with social media posts, all of those things are are helpful tools that we can put in people's hands and they've been encouraging for our different athletes. And I think you touched on a couple of big things that we can overlook at times, just to take a minute with as far as the fundraising. There's, there's always an array of people when it comes to the fundraising some people have done it before they're comfortable. Other people are willing to do it but they don't, they don't want to do a direct ask there's, and other people are willing they just have no idea what they're doing. And so there's all these different levels of fundraisers and being able to identify sort of who's who, but also having here's just some blanket tools but also blanket incentives shows you want to see their success to not just we want to raise more money, but I like you said we want to see the individual do well and hit some of those those benchmarks. And that goes a long way for repeat fundraisers, having people come back because they feel like they were supported the first time and and that energy of, hey, I did this and like you said I'm doing it for this cause I care about, and I was successful at it. Yeah, come back. And you also mentioned about your, your fundraising time or your preparation time, you've got about 10 months of training and things. Some organizations, you're going to have a four week time period from time people start donating to the event. Others, it can be a longer timeframe, there's no set in stone way to do it, especially depending on your event. You know there's a lot of options so being willing to to sort of think through just different out of the box opportunities that way. That's a good point we, and even though we are together for 10 months and training. The majority of the fundraising happens in the 66 to eight weeks leading up to the event, and even more so the final two weeks. Last year we raised $52,000 and the majority of that came in in the four weeks leading up to the event. And you're right you definitely want to connect their efforts also to to the cause and so even last year. At the end of it all, I was able to go to the headquarters of go and present them with a $52,000 check and so for people to be able to see that and it's a reminder of why we're doing it. And then one last thing I'll say is I did make a change this year to so with even within go, we chose go medical to focus on. And so we even in our language this year we're trying to show to the donors what their gift. The impact of their gifts so every $30 raise raises will support medical attention for one child for a month. So for just $30 you can support for, you know, it's providing medical care for a month. And then for every $1,200. And that allows go to do a mobile medical clinic which can serve, which would serve 180 people for $1,200 and so I'm more trying to be more clear on the impact of each type of gift. So, and that, and that goes a long way with that, that extra little boost, what maybe would have been a $25 gift might become a $30 or $35 gift. And then other things, as we sort of go through, there's things every year you learn something every year you you add or every event, if you do more than one a year. And as we, and to jump to the that third and final leg, it was, it's the actual event day. And like you said so much of that fundraising took place, just in those last couple of weeks, leading up to it. It was a busy time your, your training and your fundraising and your, you know, living the rest of your life as well. The day of what was that like when it was okay now it's go time and the sense of, we've raised the funds. And now we're here to compete. Yeah, it was. It was for sure yes the most rewarding time. So I did a couple of things that I knew would be a catalyst for future events because I didn't want this to be a one and done thing. And so I hired a professional outdoor photographer to do like a photo documentary of the whole weekend. It was, it was a lot of money was 700 bucks to have this person do that but it to have the photos and all that the candidates and the action photos from the entire weekend. It made a huge deal when people showed up to their, to their lodging to their rooms on in their rooms and on their bed I had, you know, custom embroidered gear for for go endurance sitting on their bed with, you know, different types of, you know, race nutrition stuff in it water bottles. So I tried to make that that experience feel special. And then, obviously, having all of the gear that we're racing in be custom go endurance gear matters. I've even improved that for this year. And some of the stuff that we're doing so. So anything that I can do to generate like a sense of community and team. And then also to show my thankfulness and gratitude for all the effort they put into raising the funds. And so, it's also giving me an opportunity this year. When I think about all of the costs involved in that. I'm actually I've added an underwriting effort to my funding and so, for example, I just had somebody gift $2,500 to underwrite the house that we stay in. And so, by asking for that, that person was like, absolutely because now the individual money that people are raising 100% goes to the need, not to those incremental costs that that occur by hosting, or by, you know, putting on the event. And something that that we'll get into just kind of one of the last things that we'll touch on is going to be how we, we steward our donors but also our fundraiser so we'll we'll revisit that as we as we go a little bit and as we just kind of as a quick recap of how you made everything easy. We, you started with, you're not doing any logistics you're not putting on an event. So then you were able, you're now free to focus on the fundraising, focus on the fundraisers, and the event itself like you said you know what's going to be professionally going to be well organized.  And then also, as you mentioned, you don't want to do technology. So I get it. So now, that's off your plate because you found a platform for nonprofits that especially anyone who's wearing that fundraising hat and about three other hats, you're able to see, not only are we saving money because we're not putting on an event, but we're also able to focus on our fundraisers and focus on those things of, you know, let's create the content, the emails and templates and those kinds of things, where you're putting your focus is different. And it's amazing how often when you're not in the minutiae of trying to create an event, you're able to enjoy again, what your fundraising for, and you're able to like, even as you said just the connection with amongst the athletes, but you took joy and being able to put out their gear and and having these different things. And you didn't do it all last minute. So throughout the process when you're getting things made and placing orders. It's a joy that comes with that that can get lost a lot of times when we're just trying to get through an event. So easy being able to eliminate those event logistics and being able to let someone else take care of the technology is it's going to take you a long way it's just having a good event for others to see, but also for you as the fundraiser being able to have a better experience. And, and with that, we're going to jump to how any nonprofit can do this. So we've had the chance to hear what Brad did and how go endurance came about but also how those individual fundraisers have made it their own to they've taken on the challenges. And they've also spread themselves when it comes to I might be okay with projects, but now I got a fundraise, and all of those things. So how do you bring that to your organization. And the, there's a couple of quick things, easy things, not necessarily quick but easy things. And the first is finding that local event. And fortunately we have the internet and most cities and affinity groups. And they're promoting different events that are coming up so just jumping online and looking through for example, running in the USA. It's a, they have their website and they provide a directory of races, and it's throughout the United States. So you can find one in your area, Brad, were you going to jump in. Oh no I was sorry just clear my throat. No problem. And then the other thing, when you're researching these activities. Think about your own organization. What is your mission. What do your donors or your supporters tend to be involved in what resonates with them. Focus on those events. So, for example, if your organization is more focused on preservation on just being outdoors different things of that nature, then maybe you're going to go towards an Earth Day event because it easily ties into who you are.  Tallahassee always does a jingle bell run, and that's a great place to get started, and you get your feet wet. And then the next year, you can build on that. And it doesn't have to be running, it doesn't have to be a triathlon. There's lots of workshops, there's baking bowling, other exercise events, music events. It, it's really unlimited when you start looking around and you can also just check in with your own staff and volunteers. What are they already doing. Brad was already doing the triathlon other athletes were already in the midst of this so to ask them to join in. So check to see what are the people who support your nonprofit, what are they already doing. And now you're also joining your community. So as Brad said, this is something that the Elkhart Lake community does it's not huge but now they get to be a part of it. They're not standing alone doing their thing for go ministries, they're in the community, and now it's that awareness. Also, well what is go endurance what is go ministries but what are you doing. So now you have another mouthpiece for who you are for what your organization does. And Brad mentioned this earlier as well. As far as thinking out of the box. He has people who aren't in his direct area. So you might have someone who's interested in supporting or being a part of this. So think through, okay, if we're going to do a 5k run on July 17. Can someone else join and also do a 5k run somewhere else in the country on July 17. So how can we bring those people in how can we, we promote that so there's a lot of a lot of ways that your organization can make this happen, and still bypass, creating the event, letting somebody else do it. So just got to got to find one in your area or find one in your niche. And also what you're going to be doing is focusing on organizing your fundraising, and Brad was able to touch on that a lot, 10 months, but there was some preparation before that, but it was, it was 10 months and now he's also, as he said he's encouraging his fundraisers along the way he's looking to see what they need. So you're going to take some time to set your fundraising goals, and those are going to be different for every nonprofit. You're going to set your goals you're also going to set your timeline, part of that's already based on the event, whenever the event is that's your that's your end date. So you're going to work backwards from that for your different deadlines. So if you're, you're working through this, you're going to prepare information. If you're going to be asking people to fundraise, you need to be able to provide them certain information. So, Brad have information as far as what the event, when it is what we're doing, but he also had the information, as far as this is how you're going to set up your page. So this is how you can do fundraising here your templates here your social media posts, things of that nature. So there's a lot of information that you're going to want to prepare for your fundraisers, but you're not creating an event. So if you have some time to do that, think through past events. What did you need, and then build on that. And also just be sure that when you're, however, you're presenting this information, whether it's your website or if you're doing individual one on one conversations. Just make sure you have all that information ready and available so it will take a little bit of prep time. So when you're ready to go, then you're ready to say okay now here are fundraisers. Now let's launch this thing. And there's, as we learned from bad there's no one set way to do it. And every year and every event that you do it you'll get, you'll get a little bit better. So what did you find as far as communicating with your fundraisers. Did you have a hub, like a Facebook page that you chatted with them, was it mostly through emails text messages, what worked best for you communicating with your fundraisers. Yeah, that's that's a really good question we've we've tried a couple different things. And where we landed was with group me. It's just a chat app, but there's things like WhatsApp, and those kind of, but we just created a group out there and created a group within the chat within the app that I'll take screenshots of like the main fundraising page. I'll take screenshots. If there's a team that takes the lead over another team I screenshot that when somebody gets their first fundraising gift.  So, like, but that all goes in that that chat, we've also tried text messages, which, which seems to work but sometimes people get a little overwhelmed with that because of, you know, work and the text can get a lot of hands sometimes. And that's one thing. And we also within the group of 17, each of our individual teams have their own thread as well where they're encouraging each other. But usually it's like like a group me or, or WhatsApp. You're keeping that communication going and that's our, that final step for nonprofits that you want to make sure when you're stewarding your supporters. Being in communication with your fundraisers and not just to say, are you raising funds but to to let them know we're in this together. Like we've been saying we want them to know that you want them to do well just for them. So having that communication is absolutely key. And also think about on the back end, how are you going to celebrate their accomplishment.  When you're doing, especially social media or, or things like a group chat, having a live, maybe not real time but a running report of what's going on. So you're celebrating the people who are doing well, you're encouraging some of those big gifts or somebody gets a matching grant something like that, so that your community starts to get excited as well for what's going on. So it's something that, when you're especially when you're using your website using social media, you're able to encourage and celebrate your fundraisers and your community at the same time. And then that's going to pour into your donors. So somebody makes a donation. They're a first time donor, but now they're following on your Facebook page because they want to see how well their friend does. And it starts to bring them into the fold where you're showing you care about your community. You're not just sending out a thank you message. Thanks for donating. And now everybody's off on their own, but you're building that that community. So you want to do that with your fundraisers. You definitely want to do it with your donors. What my calls will do, as soon as a donation is made, we take the donor straight to a thank you page. Kind of the donation confirmation slash thank you page, you can customize a thank you message there. You also can customize the donation receipt that they receive via email. So immediately, your donors are being thanked twice, specifically by you by a custom message. But we also, if you have different integrations, let's say a MailChimp or if you use constant contact, you can integrate Mighty Cause with those email journeys so that right away they're triggered into that thank you journey. Or if you're an organization that does thank you notes, thank you phone calls, all of those things. Now that you're not doing any of that event stuff, you have time to prepare and then to follow through with stewarding those donors. And just like any, any event you do want to have your debrief at the end to see okay how did it go. What do people like what can we do better what can we just do differently. So all of those things that you're still going to do, but now again you're not dealing with the minutiae of the event itself. And when you're, when you're with your supporters, you have a chance to hear how they're doing along the way. So just kind of to close things out real fast we had and then we'll get to our, our questions. We have some going towards pro tips. Most of them we we've already touched on, but just a few we Mighty Cause offers of fundraiser template. So as Brad created his event page and then he created the team pages. You can create a fundraiser template within those teams or those events. Let's say you don't want to do teams everybody's going to be an individual fundraiser. You can have a fundraiser template there too. And what that does is it just makes it easier for your fundraisers, especially for the fundraisers who are willing to donate or excuse me willing to fundraise, but they're afraid of technology. It's going to take care of their, their page. Everything will be set up. They just need to send it out to friends and family start asking for donations. So that's one thing makes it super easy. Also, as Brad mentioned, with making it clear what the impact is going to be. So he used on his fundraiser pages he explained X amount $30 is going to bring care for a month to the clinic. We also have our mobile clinic for $1,200 we can fund that for a day. They're going to take care of 180 people. When you can start putting some of that information to your donors. It doesn't feel like they're arbitrarily giving. They can see their impact. And you can also do that in the checkout flow, we have donations suggestion amounts. So you can have that throughout they see it on the fundraising page. They see it in the checkout flow. If you're having individual conversations, you're letting people know that impact that's going to go a long way. So that's one thing that that Brad learned and they, they saw throughout their fundraising, asking donors one on one for donations. Yes, you can do blast emails post on social media, but that personalized one to one ask and asking also as Brad alluded to asking for a specific donation amount makes a big difference. It can feel daunting, but if you can encourage your donors, excuse me encourage your fundraisers to ask donors for those specific donations that's going to go a long way. And also I thought was great that Brad mentioned he would text out the link to his fundraiser page. And as you can see on the presentation on the slide, it looks great in a text message. He just adds a quick ask, he's participating, join him in doing good. So the, the ways of going about fundraising can be fun. They can be easy. So here are a couple of things that go endurance came across. Brad, what would you add just any other before we jump into some questions, do you have any other suggestions or pro tips that you would suggest to organizations. So on the fundraising piece of it. You know, I, I don't think it's anything new than what's in your notes other than to, to emphasize the, the specific dollar amounts and the one on one up. You know, our, those of our fundraisers who they'll throw something out on social media and they'll be like hey guys I'm not getting any traction. A bunch of people are liking it and seeing it but I'm not. You know the blanket is good for awareness, but the specific ask generates the, the action to give. So that's what I that's what I found, and then the dollar amounts is is key to. I've had a lot of success in asking for $50 for $100, you know send it to somebody said hey I'm trying to find 10 people who can each give 100 bucks. And I tell you what I rarely get a no. If it's, if it's not the amount they'll give something different. So, you know just last week I asked a friend of mine, who who raced with us and he personally gave $5,000. He said, Hey, I'm not racing this year.  I know you're not in this year but would you consider giving, you know to the same level to allow us to do, you know, A B and C. And this response that I can't do 5,000 again, but I'm in for 2,500 I'll send a check. Like the specific ask. It's, it's now it's daunting to ask that kind of that's a lot of money but the $50 asked there's not too many people that are that are offended by by that kind of an ask. So that I would just emphasize the specific ask. I'm willing that that understanding of a donor mentality that if I can't give, if I can't give $50. Okay. But you asked me specifically, I can give something. And I'm willing to give something. So there's, there's also that balance of when you're going to your friends and family. And I know you, you're not coming as a tyrant demanding anything. So, having that, going ahead and making that ask. And the other thing too is some organizations. Maybe your goal isn't a super huge dollar amount but maybe what you're going to ask your, your donors is hey, will you consider being a recurring donor. And at that point then we're going to lower our donation dollar amount request but we might say will you be willing to be a recurring donor $10. So there's different things that we can ask of our donors, and those are all bits that you can put into that donor or excuse me the fundraiser information that you're putting out beforehand. So that's there. What we'll do, let's go ahead and jump to some questions. I do see that we have one and just as asking for clarification with the individual participants and these athletic events that they run their own fundraiser. So he's what Brad did.  That's a great question so I created the fundraising templates and I probably spent a total of five hours. And that's it. And so that's your point Ashley I, I spent zero time on the platform website I spent zero time on planning the event, and I spent five hours on setting up the fundraising templates. And then I sent a step by step to each fundraiser for right here's how you can add to it so all they really had to do was choose their profile picture and set their personal fundraising goal. Last year I gave everybody a minimum $3500 and or $10,000 as a team, which was fine this year I let everybody pick their own and actually, I think. So last year was $50,000 this year by letting everybody pick their own I think we're at like $75,000 in in commitments to raise. And then they run, they run their own fundraiser they manage it. They do the asks and so they set their own target this year. And I just help along the way. And so Malina also to your question, their fundraiser page. It's a unique web page, they can customize their URL. But it's all going to be under that umbrella of what brag created. Now there's going to be times that he he chose to use teams. So each of his individual fundraisers was within a team. Sometimes organizations it's just easier not to do teams, which is totally fine. And so in that case, everybody's going to be under the same event event campaign. And within that you'll have those individual fundraisers and the, the pages that we have, it's unlimited. So this time, Brad had 15 fundraisers, you could have 125 fundraisers. There's no limit it just depends on on what you have set up and what works best for your organization. And also just as a quick note, someone also did ask the, there is a recording, we don't, we don't have a camera, not this is not a recording of me or Brad, but we do. We do record it and then you'll receive the slide duck and the recording, just a few days, that'll come and Malina you are very welcome. Did anybody else have any any questions either about the mighty cause platform, or anything for Brad and what he did specifically or what he has coming up for this year. And this is everybody's thinking I also want to thank everybody for joining us. Again, we've, I've been excited about this, I got to see from the start, as Brad was getting pages figured out, and then moving forward so it's been fun to watch his progress. Kim, you are very welcome and glad that you were able to to attend. So I'm glad that that was was helpful and informative. We'll give it just another moment to see if anybody has questions. So, Crystal asked the cost for the platform. So what we have for the advanced subscription that we have and that's what Brad uses it has the full events teams and individual fundraisers. For that, we have a month to month offer it's 119 a month if you're doing just a short term, but we also have a year round option and that comes to 99 a month. And with that, because there's a lot more going on than just the events and the team and fundraiser pages. So there's everything from the integrations with different donor management tools we also offer a CRM we offer text messaging so text to give that kind of thing so there's a lot that goes into it. So that's the 99 a month and Kim that is that's the nonprofit rate. We just do nonprofits and then the fiscally sponsored organizations the 501 C threes. So those are the two rates the 119 and the, the 99 a month. Let me give me just a moment while I read through here. And so Louise asked, what kind of fundraiser do we suggest for people in their later years. So, along those lines, as far as kind of something to that you can do. There's like an event type. Anything that's a 5k anything is not going to require running or hardcore so there's it's really really anything in the community. There's also organizations some of what they'll do is, if there's something that's happening in the community. Let's say that there's a 5k event that's going on. And there's not about running, but some people want to run. Not everybody has to do the same thing. So some people are running some people are walking. So that's a one thing that you could do. Also, just from a technology standpoint, because of what we offer and evil get to you in just a minute with the fundraising templates and that kind of thing. It's pretty easy to set up so if someone's in their later years or younger years and and like I said just not real big on the technology side. What some organizations will do is they just create the pages for them. So if they know someone is just listen I can't set up a page, but I can email, then the organizer of the event, you can create that page for them. You can link, let them send out the link, let them do those direct asks. So there's, there's a couple of things that you can do that way, and even asked, as far as just how to do those individual fundraising templates. So you're going to find that either on the, if you're just doing a general, not part of an event, just a general fundraising template, you can find that on your overall organization profile page. If you go to your fundraising tools, you'll see the event, or excuse me the fundraiser templates there. But if you're doing an event, or a team, you can go into the settings on the team page or the event page. And if you do see your name, I apologize if I, if I missed your question I'm not, I'm not seeing a question for you Joe. You've got your, you're very welcome I'm glad that you asked. Oh, okay, yep, Joe, I see you, no worries. We have just a few more, few more minutes. So Roy asked about a copy of the fundraising template. So that's already going to be on the organization webpage so you'll need to be an organizer, excuse me, you'll need to be an admin for your organization page. Once you're an admin you'll have access to the dashboard on the left hand side. And that's where you'll find fundraising tools. And then at the bottom of that list there'll be a secondary tab for the fundraiser templates. And then within the either a team or an event page, whoever created the team or the event page as long as you're an organizer, then you'll also have access to that dashboard on the team page or the event page. You'll have access to the settings, and that template is going to be there for you. Okay, so great, great question. Actually, let me reread it again, let me make sure I've got the whole thing from Mitchell. So, Brad, I'm going to actually let you answer this question so we have someone they have a contact person who has a small team of potential donors. And the question is, do you recommend a zoom session, where we present to everyone at once, or do you recommend reaching out to those individual givers. Do you have a thought on that. Oh, I think I might have lost. There we go. I think I'm. I don't know what happened I went to unmute and I did something. So, I would say that the zoom piece can could be a great way for vision and information. As long as it's a like a two step, I would for sure recommend a follow up so in moments where I've done like a vision to a larger group about our fundraising needs and opportunities to give. And when we ask for the gift in that moment, I usually will say, I'll follow up with you individually with a text or an email. And then I do a one on one, a follow up to generate the actual action to give. I found way more success in that than in the the large group actually making that the moment where you asked for that for the gift for the donation. Does that make sense. It does make sense to me I'm going to all will wait for a response here but also those individual conversations. They help to start building that relationship. So, oh good. Okay, good. They said is a perfect response. So it building those relationships for the long term that those conversations, even if it doesn't yield a super large donation the first time. And then through things you have an ear with each other and that's also, you know, it does a helpful piece there. So we've got about, we'll give it just maybe another two minutes because we want to be respectful of everybody's time. I definitely, Brad, I want to thank you for joining us today I know, I know you have you've got a lot going on, and you've carved out an hour for us today and previously as we've had times to chat so I really, really appreciate everything that you have to share with us and definitely appreciate your time. Thank you, Brad. Yeah, you're welcome. Happy to do it. And we've got, I think we've got time for one more question. Crystal asked, what would you say, as far as a timeline. What, what should we do for potential donors as far as following up. Brad, when you're doing your thank yous. What, how do you do I mean I have my own opinions but how do you do your things. I do my thank yous within 24 hours. That's me personally. So, I always will depending on the size of the gift be a phone call or a text message or an email right away. I didn't have I didn't do any like handwritten notes in the mail. Last year but it was always a 24 hour rule on anyone who donated to me personally. And that's something that we also we try to encourage at mighty cause we encourage that 24 hours and especially depending on the size of the gift. Brad for those who have been brought to your attention as far as a potential donor. So they haven't donated yet.  I call them again in three days. How do you feel that out with the potential donors. You know, it probably varies based on my level of relationship with them. And the amount that I'm asking them for. So, typically if it's somebody I'm asking for a larger amount it's because I know them fairly well. And I typically say hey, here's, here's what I'm thinking. Here's what I, if you could do this amount it'd be amazing. Think about I'll follow up with you in a couple days, or do you have some time for a phone call to talk more. I usually will kind of had that direction with the larger gifts. And then with the smaller amounts, if if I'm asking for 50 or 100. I didn't, I didn't find my, I didn't follow up with anybody who didn't respond to me. I just kind of left it. That's not typical fundraising. Good fundraising practice. I know it's typically don't say no for someone. And so just kind of keep asking if they haven't told you know, but I, you know, I typically just sent out a message and if I, if I didn't hear back I didn't hear back but you know, I've seen a lot of the ones and the ones where I asked a specific amount. I a lot of times did it in two parts. Hey, here's the need. I'll follow up in a couple days after some time to think about it. And real quick we actually have one more question but real quick to Brad's point with that to is a lot of things also are based on how much time you have. You know, a lot of times it, the priority is to follow up, but if it's a $25 gift, you might say, I don't have time because you can't do it all. So there, there is some balance there. You know the how low of a gift kind of have in your mind if it's this low I maybe I won't do a follow up, but like Brad said if you've got time, you know, you follow up till they say no. So real quick, this will definitely be the last question because we're already after three o'clock, but Viviana asked and Brad I think this is great for you. How do you suggest that we select our fundraiser team leaders. How did you find or select your leaders. That's a really good question I. I recruited. It was really I looked for a few different things. The people that naturally inspire. And who are people who are most closely connected with the cause that we're supporting those two things because they're passionate about the cause. And then they, they, they know how to inspire a team. So those are my, those are my three leaders this year, I leave one of them and then the other two. So that's how I chose them. And Viviana, I'm really glad you asked that question I think that's something that we don't think to ask until we're in it. And then we think, Oh, I should maybe have thought this out more so I'm really glad that you asked that. And call it a day. Thank you again, everyone for participating the question.


Time to take a look at the markets and joining us Melissa Armo who is the CEO of the Stock Swoosh Melissa welcome to the show and I guess since this is the first time we're talking with you Give us a sense of of where you think the economy and the markets are right now going through 2020 Well, good morning. Thanks for having me. I think the market's very very strong We started out at very strong in January We made brand-new all-time highs in the market yesterday even though we're down a little bit this morning because of the virus scares Honestly, the market and the economy have been so strong to start the year Tesla shares pulling back after the news of that common stock offering So I guess that puts a little uncertainty finally on the bottom line of Tesla for the first time in a while Well, I think even if even though it's down today slightly as well When you look at the the move that the stock had after the earnings again This is the end of January into the beginning of February. That was I've never seen a move like that That's gotta be honest with you. It went from six hundred to nine 68 in less than a week So I think if it falls off a little bit for whatever reason the common stock operating I don't think it's a big deal in fact right now the stock is rallying to dig up down this morning I think on the next earnings theme What effect takes place with doing this which is going to be April 22nd So we have a couple of months to go But I think that a thousand number is still out there for this stock and they just want the financial backing To be more solid and I don't think that's a bad thing So when you throw numbers around like that then I'll counter with are you starting to think about Dow? 30k and NASDAQ 10k Well, okay, let's look at the Dow I think the only possible drag that could happen on the Dow is Boeing because there's still some issues going on with that stock and that's such a big component of the Dow I remember there's only 30 stocks in the Dow, but Let me just pull this up here right now and look at this chart now I look at the diamonds, which is ETF for the Dow, but we made brand new all-time highs in that yesterday We did not get to that 30,000 number, but we got just shy of it So do I think that that's possible? Yes I can't tell you the exact second, but I will say Apple which is a leading component in the Dow and Also in the QQQs, which is another market in this that I watch Is nearing the highs and since the earnings on Apple it didn't really explode I'm expecting that to happen sometime soon Now remember Apple closed some of the stores in China because of the virus When they reopen their stores, they were set to do it Monday then they pushed it back It could be next week if they do that's probably going to create a list in the stock And I think that that Apple goes to 330 and again That's going to lift the market up and then we could see these big numbers that everybody's watching in the Dow So is the pullback today on Wall Street tied to the those change of numbers? coronavirus and how China kind of tweaked their their methodology in terms of collecting all of the potential cases I Think I think that the market sold off late last night because of the virus Concerns that there's more cases and the World Health Organization also came out. They're concerned about some Mutation so all of that isn't good Then there was the case that happened in California where there was a testing issue and somebody was released and they really had more Infected so I think there's a lot of things going on right now Which have to do with fear when there's fear when people are scared they tend to sell so they sell first ask questions later And so that's what you saw last night and that's what you saw this morning with the selling in the market But I've got to say 10 16 in the morning right now. We're not we're holding on I mean, we're still not that far off the high the market is not Reacting panicking today on the live day. We did in the morning early and we did last night late But the markets trying to hang on to these games I wanted to end up talking to you about a company in my industry in general McClatchy newspapers obviously the newspaper industry in the media industry going through quite a lot of ships right now But for McClatchy they filed for bankruptcy Maybe not necessarily a surprise with what has been going on in that part of the media world It's not a surprise and and they're using the bankruptcy should be used for for reasons that make sense And I think that's why they've decided to do it I think financial it makes sense for them to do it. It's the last resort option the stock is barely even moves anymore I mean, it's under a buck But I think the problem is that people don't want to pay anymore to buy newspapers and it's unfortunate I think it has to do with the age group of the people now They're getting all their news from social media people are getting their news from Instagram event And he said well, that's just the picture post and like one sentence I think as you start the industry itself like what you're talking about It's sad because real reporters real writers real investigative journalists are the people that work for papers and Like this paper and that is going by the wayside people that write a one-sentence blurb that goes in Instagram Are not what I consider real reporters and it's bad because people are getting Misinformation and part of that is the lack of real journalism that's happening because of the way that people don't want to pay for news When they can get it online for free. It's a story. We've been talking about a lot the last couple years Melissa Thanks very much for your time today all the best Thanks, Melissa Armo CEO of the stock swoosh having backdoor access to