acutepost: A Testing Ground for Nonprofit Ideas & A New Creative Space

Briana,

Back at the retreat in Colorado, Wildbear said something that stuck with me—about climate change, pollution, sustainability, protecting the earth, keeping indigenous wisdom alive. “We’re losing.” And I agree. But I also think the game isn’t over yet.

Then in Peru, I had a vision—“help this one.” And I think on this often and wonder how... I remembered you talking about writing—whales in the Pacific, going to New Zealand, standing alongside activists at the places that matter, like the Standing Rocks of the world. And talking about needing income sources.

At the same time, I’ve been trying to figure out how to run a nonprofit, how to build something that doesn’t just rely on donations but can sustain itself, how to experiment with new ways to fund the work. And I think—these things don’t have to be separate.

So here’s the idea:

I want to create a writing platform—an online magazine—that could grow into something more. Maybe someday it sells books, maybe it produces zines that sit in record shops and coffee houses, bringing stories to people offline. Maybe it funds documentaries or firsthand reporting from the front lines. Maybe it becomes a powerful media arm that doesn’t rely on corporate sponsorships or clickbait.

I’ve been calling it acutepost—a name that feels like a newspaper, something sharp and urgent. A Fourth Estate that isn’t filtered through corporate interests, doesn’t push clickbait, and that isn’t built around selling products that work against the environmental causes we care about.

And I want to start with you.

I remember us swinging on hammocks in Peru when you mentioned working at an online publisher—you know something about this world. And you have a community—Quakers, activists, people who believe in what you do and might want to help seed something new.

I wonder if your people would be willing to chip in, making tax deductible donations which are pooled together toward a writing grant for you? The Chamber of Us would issue it—our first experiment in writing grants, in funding creative work directly, in building something that could be the start of a media platform that actually matters. If it works, maybe others join—like my friend Charlie, an actor who’s anti-Broadway, pro-small theater. Maybe artists, poets, writers, activists all have a space here. Maybe, one day, acutepost grows into something like The New Yorker, Vice, Democracy Now—but built from the ground up, by people who align with the mission.

And long-term? Maybe acutepost isn’t just self-sustaining. Maybe it helps fund TCUS’s other work. Maybe it runs ads—but only from aligned organizations, like TCUS itself promoting a project, or the Quakers sharing their message.

For me, this is about learning by doing—figuring out how to issue grants, how to build an ecosystem where people support each other’s work, how to create sustainable funding models that actually make an impact.

Because if we’re going to start winning, we need money. And we need to be open to every creative way to make it happen.

What This Means for You

  • You keep 100% of what you earn – Every dollar that comes in, whether through direct donations, sponsorships, or eventual memberships, goes directly to you during this initial test phase.

  • TCUS will host and manage the platform – You focus on creating; we handle the infrastructure and administration.

  • Donations will be routed through a dedicated acutepost fund – We’ll tie this into TCUS’s donor system like our other projects to ensure transparency and easy tracking.

  • The initial test phase could be like 3-6 months – This is an experiment in sustainable creative independence. If it works, we expand and refine. If not, we iterate and find a better way.

What is acutepost?

  • A conceptual, creative platform owned by a nonprofit - The Chamber of Us (TCUS), supporting thought-provoking content that bridges art, activism, and newsy-ish insights.

  • A place where writers, artists, and contributors publish freely, with full creative control over their work.

  • An evolving space where readers don’t just consume—but explore, interpret, and uncover meaning in unexpected ways.

How the Early Days Work

  • Donations Are Tax-Deductible – Because acutepost is a project of TCUS, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, contributions made to support the platform are legally tax-deductible in the U.S.

  • Support Briana & Build a Movement – Donors can directly help fund your work while also creating a space where other artists, activists, and thinkers can also be paid in the future.

  • Every Contribution Lays the Foundation – The more funding acutepost receives early on, the faster we can expand to include more voices, ensuring fair pay for creatives who bring important perspectives to the world.

  • Community-Funded Creative Grant – To launch this experiment, Briana’s community will help raise an initial grant goal (e.g., $600) to fairly compensate and motivate for this first phase. Donations will go through TCUS’s Givebutter system, making them tax-deductible and ensuring transparency.

  • A Learning Opportunity for TCUS – This grant gives TCUS a chance to practice writing grants, managing funding for creators, and even forming a small volunteer oversight committee from Briana’s community to help review progress and provide structured support.

Potential Long-term Funding & Payment Structure

  • Aligned Sponsorships & Grants: Ethical, values-aligned groups (e.g., community or activist networks) may sponsor sections of the site to support contributors and help share their work.

  • Donations & Memberships: Readers can directly fund acutepost, supporting contributors in a way that respects the independence of their work.

  • Limited Edition Print Releases: Select pieces may be turned into physical art, books, or prints, with revenue split between contributors and the sustainability of acutepost.

  • Revenue Share Model (Long-Term Goal): As acutepost grows, contributors will receive a share. Revenue could be distributed based on engagement metrics such as readership, interaction, and contribution frequency. This model ensures that those who bring consistent, high-quality work to acutepost benefit proportionally from the platform’s success. The exact structure will be developed transparently with contributor input.

  • No Ads, No Clickbait, No Exploitation – Unlike traditional platforms that monetize engagement, acutepost is about substance.

How This Aligns with TCUS’s Mission

  • A Platform for Advocacy & Awareness – Whether through activism, environmental reporting, or cultural storytelling, acutepost serves as an educational tool that informs and engages communities—meeting IRS compliance for 501(c)(3) educational and charitable work.

  • Long-Term Sustainability – If acutepost proves viable, it becomes a self-sustaining media arm of TCUS, helping fund future nonprofit initiatives while providing a home for creatives committed to systemic change.

Why acutepost?

  • Freedom to Write & Build Your Vision – Whether you want to create books, long-form pieces, or in-depth essays, acutepost is a home where you can publish freely without outside influence.

  • Get Paid While Exploring & Protesting – Use your writing to sustain your work while traveling, researching, and being on the ground in places like New Zealand or protest sites like the Standing Rocks of the world.

  • A Community Built Around Ideas – Not passive readers, but engaged thinkers who appreciate deep, meaningful work.

  • A Space to Define Your Voice – You publish on your terms, in ways that truly represent your perspective.

This is a chance to create something that doesn’t exist anywhere else—a truly independent creative platform built around the people who contribute to it. If this sounds like something you want to be part of, let’s make it happen.