In the spring of 2023, the iconic Bay Lights – an art installation that ran the length of the San Francisco Bay Bridge – went dark. Shortly after, Ben Davis, the founder of Illuminate (which spearheaded the Bay Lights project) launched a fundraising project on Crowdfundr to raise the $11 million dollars they needed to bring back the Bay Lights. One of our very own WordPressers, Matt Mullenweg, is a huge supporter of the project.
With his encouragement, folks around the globe decided to help restore the bay lights and here at GiveWP, we worked to enhance Illuminate’s online fundraising by getting GiveWP up and running for the organization.
About the Cause
The Bay Lights project is a breathtaking light art installation on the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Created by artist Leo Villareal, it features 25,000 LED lights on the bridge’s western span. These lights are programmed to create captivating patterns and animations, turning the bridge into a dynamic light display. Premiering in 2013, the Bay Lights symbolize creativity and innovation, enhancing the beauty of the Bay Area and showcasing the transformative power of public art. It serves as an iconic representation of the fusion of technology, art, and urban landscapes, leaving a lasting impact on both residents and visitors.
Or it did until the lights went dark in March of 2023.
Mullenweg has been a strong supporter of the Bay Lights Project since the beginning; he was the first donor and gave the final $1.5 million necessary to fund the project fully.
“I’ve never shared this publicly, but when the Bay Lights wasn’t going to make it the first time, I mortgaged my apartment and used that money to get it over the line. My personal finances were messy for years after that,” Mullenweg shared in his birthday blog post.
For his birthday, Mullenweg wanted just one thing: to bring back the Bay Lights. So, he tweeted about it from the WordPress account, shared it on his personal blog, and shared the request across other communication channels. Mullenweg’s tweet was a call to action, emphasizing the importance of supporting initiatives that bring positive change to society.
Dear community, on behalf of @photomatt turning 40 (on 1/11), let's try to get the contributor number on this crowdfunding campaign as high as possible! Right now it's 1,111, the minimum donation is $10, if you can swing it, let's do it: https://t.co/9PUZ4P77KW
— WordPress (@WordPress) January 13, 2024
Since the Bay Lights closed temporarily, Illuminate has worked tirelessly to raise the funds necessary to bring them back better than ever. They needed $11 million to make that happen.
However, his long-standing relationship with the Bay Lights Project prompted another call-to-action from Mullenweg: would GiveWP help Illuminate modernize its online fundraising efforts and enhance its impact?
Before: Existing on Crowdfundr, a Third Party Platform
Of course, we said yes. Who tells Mullenweg no? Not us! The WordPress community reacted strongly to the Bay Lights Project living outside of WordPress. At the time, the project existed on Crowdfundr – meaning their fundraising efforts existed on a separate website. The fundraising page itself didn’t exactly align with the branding of the Illuminate organization, either.
The adoption of GiveWP was not just a technical upgrade; it symbolizes a collaborative effort between the WordPress community, an organization dedicated to creating a positive difference, and thousands of supporters across the globe.
After: The Bay Lights 360 Fundraiser with GiveWP
After we were approached by Mullenweg, our team knew we had to act. And quickly! With the help of Devin Walker, Jason Adams, and our team, we were able to get GiveWP up and running on the site in just a couple of days. Now, their fundraiser lives directly on their website and matches their branding.
Each aspect of the landing page is carefully designed to match the rest of the website. Including the form! The progress bar shows current and potential supporters how close they are to achieving their goal, encouraging supporters to help push the campaign to its full potential.
Any charitable project benefits from a little extra social proof and the GiveWP Donor Wall empowers the project with the perfect way to showcase how and why folks give. When potential supporters read the donor wall, they may be inspired to give. The donor wall is also a great way to immediately acknowledge supporters, giving them the recognition they deserve.
Illuminate.org’s upgraded online platform not only improves its fundraising capabilities but also reinforces its dedication to creating a lasting positive influence on a global scale.
Are You Still Fundraising on a Third-Party Platform?
Not only does the campaign look great and live on the Illuminate website, but they are also able to save more on their donation platform costs by avoiding Crowdfundr’s fees. Most third-party platforms have similar fees or ask your donors for tips, taking money out of your pocket.
GiveWP empowers your organization to maximize your fundraising, own your donor data, and ensure your donation forms match your organization’s branding.
Still existing on a third-party platform? Now’s the time to make the switch – try GiveWP for free!
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