Gecker Trust Fund
Financial Transparency for our ad-free, community-driven platform. Interest earned from our high-yield savings account keeps Gecker sustainable and privacy-focused.
Our Infrastructure Philosophy
Even our financial and operational infrastructure reflects Gecker's anti-VC, bootstrapped philosophy. Every choice we make prioritizes sustainability and community values over hyper-growth.
Banking & Financial Services
Grasshopper Bank - We chose them over VC-backed alternatives like Mercury because:
- Grasshopper supports sustainable businesses, not just hyper-growth startups
- They prioritize community and entrepreneurs over venture capital
- This aligns with Gecker's anti-VC, bootstrapped philosophy
- Even our financial infrastructure reflects our values
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Wave Pro - Professional accounting software for small businesses:
- Pro plan: $192/year ($16/month)
- Bank account imports and automatic transaction matching
- Receipt scanning and expense tracking
- Professional financial reporting
- Keeps our operational costs low while maintaining proper records
Email Services
Currently using InMotion SMTP for transactional emails during beta. We plan to evaluate SendGrid or alternatives for the public launch based on:
- Privacy practices
- Transparency
- Alignment with community values
Payment Processing
Stripe for payment processing because:
- Industry standard security and reliability
- Supports our donation model
- Transparent fee structure (2.9% + 30 cents per transaction)
- No vendor lock-in
Business Operations & Costs
ZenBusiness for LLC formation and ongoing compliance:
- Pro Plan: $199/year
- Registered Agent Service: $99/year
- Worry-Free Compliance: $49/year
- Total Annual Business Costs: $347 ($28.92/month)
Developer Salary Note: Currently paid by founder (Apotentia LLC) during beta phase. As the trust fund grows and reaches sustainability milestones, developer compensation will transition to being funded by the community through donations and interest income.
What We Promise
- ✓ No advertisements on the platform
- ✓ User data is not sold or shared with third parties
- ✓ Funded primarily through voluntary donations and trust fund interest
- ✓ Regular financial reporting and transparency updates
- ✓ Community-driven development priorities
- ✓ Privacy-focused infrastructure and practices
How We're Different
- • Transparency on funding situation, donations, and expenses (updated monthly or as needed)
- • No venture capital or investor pressure to maximize profits
- • Democratic moderation led by community members
- • Features unlocked by funding and user growth milestones
- • Focus on long-term sustainability over rapid growth
- • Users retain full copyright to their content
- • Monthly interest from our trust fund helps keep operations sustainable
Monthly Expenses
Recent Activity
Feature Milestones
As the Trust Fund grows and our community expands, we unlock new features that enhance the platform while maintaining our core values. More interest from the trust fund means more features we can develop!
VPS Migration
IN PROGRESSDedicated server for better performance
Image Uploads
IN PROGRESSUsers can upload images to posts and comments
Image Gallery Posts
IN PROGRESSMulti-image posts with gallery view
Video Posts
IN PROGRESSSupport for video content uploads
Mobile App
IN PROGRESSNative iOS and Android apps
How You Can Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Gecker donation-funded?
We believe that ad-supported platforms inevitably compromise user privacy and experience. By relying on voluntary donations, we can focus entirely on serving our community without external pressures to monetize user data or attention.
Are donations tax-deductible?
No. Gecker (Apotentia LLC) is not a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are voluntary contributions to support platform operations and are not tax-deductible.
What happens if the Trust Fund runs out?
We maintain a minimum 3-month runway buffer. If donations decline, we'll reduce expenses (hosting downgrades, feature pauses) before considering any revenue alternatives. We'll always be transparent with the community about our financial situation.
How often is this page updated?
The Trust Fund balance and user statistics are updated in real-time based on completed donations after Gecker staff transfer funds from the receiving account to the savings account. Expenses are updated monthly. We commit to publishing quarterly financial reports with detailed breakdowns.
Can I cancel my sponsor tier?
Sponsor tiers are granted for one year from the date of donation (except Founder tier, which is permanent). Donations are non-refundable, but tiers will naturally expire after one year unless renewed.