The site is just a promotional platform and money transfer service. You might as well just give your money directly to Tom. In fact, I’d encourage doing that instead if you feel comfortable because the site charges a 5% service fee deducted from each donation.

I hope that doesn’t come across as some sort of criticism. It’s a good idea and I’m just pointing out that the site is a sort of middle man for those in the public that are interested in the case, but are not a part of the online community who are in a better position to be more directly involved.

It is my understanding from the way these fund raising sites work that unless the goal of the dollar amount is met, the amount of your donation will not be deducted from your credit card or Paypal account. It is only when the goal is met that things are set into action. In this case the goal is $100,000 and that seems unattainable to me.

If anyone knows anything more about how these sites work, please post.

I think that on Kickstarter, no money changes hands unless the goal is met. But I think gofundme gives you each donation made by donors (even if your original goal is not met).

There is no way he will reach his $100,000 goal. He needs to supply some legal assurances that the money will be used appropriately. Why would potential donators trust him with that much money? It needs to go into some kind of trust fund or similarly secured account.

Otherwise, it just looks like some guy on the internet wants a lot of money for a vaguely defined purpose that donators have no control over.

I think that on Kickstarter, no money changes hands unless the goal is met. But I think gofundme gives you each donation made by donors (even if your original goal is not met).

There is no way he will reach his $100,000 goal. He needs to supply some legal assurances that the money will be used appropriately. Why would potential donators trust him with that much money? It needs to go into some kind of trust fund or similarly secured account.

Otherwise, it just looks like some guy on the internet wants a lot of money for a vaguely defined purpose that donators have no control over.

Perhaps, an attorney could set up an escrow, etc???

He probably could but then the attorney would end up with a good chunk of the cash, no doubt, unless you could get someone to do it pro bono.

It seems like it would have to go into some holding account.

I wouldn’t want my card charged at some random future date, ya know??

I don’t know how the nuts & bolts of this would work, but I think it’s a good cause.

Maybe asking for chunks of donations might be better? Ask for donations of $1000 from sponsors? Maybe sponsors like Bay area radio stations, newspapers, etc Getting donations from 100 sponsors of $1000 each, gets you to the same goal, and they get advertising in the process

I don’t see what it would hurt! I’ll for sure donate when I can to Tom’s main site. If I find out more about how this works, I will probably donate to it as well. I’m just not fond of not knowing when my card would be charged so I’ll wait a bit and see how it works out.

I think that on Kickstarter, no money changes hands unless the goal is met. But I think gofundme gives you each donation made by donors (even if your original goal is not met).

There is no way he will reach his $100,000 goal. He needs to supply some legal assurances that the money will be used appropriately. Why would potential donators trust him with that much money? It needs to go into some kind of trust fund or similarly secured account.

Otherwise, it just looks like some guy on the internet wants a lot of money for a vaguely defined purpose that donators have no control over.

And that’s exactly what it is, after all. Ha!

I don’t see what it would hurt! I’ll for sure donate when I can to Tom’s main site. If I find out more about how this works, I will probably donate to it as well. I’m just not fond of not knowing when my card would be charged so I’ll wait a bit and see how it works out.

I’m not positive, but from what I saw on the site I believe that you are charged to your account by a standard electronic transfer and the mo0ney goes into an account set up by the website until it is claimed by the recipient at which point it is transferred to him.

I assume that Tom would simply wait to cash out until the full asking amount was generated. If he did raise the money in the foreseeable future, having no certainty of a date in which the killer will be caught, he could always put it into an escrow bank account, as mentioned on here. Any bank should be able to do that, I doubt it would require a lawyer.

I think it would be more effective using that money to hire some more top class detectives.

Is there really someone out there waiting for the reward money to be upped in order to come forward with relevant information after 45 years? However well intentioned, I honestly think this would only serve as an invitation for folks to skip the laborious and time-consuming effort of writing a book about their amazing discoveries and go straight for the reward money. Zodiac Mystery Solved!!! Ka-ching!!!

Wasn’t there already a reward offered years ago? IIRC, Zodiac asked how much money was on his head.

What happens if all this money comes in? How does the fund get publicized? If anyone had any proof, they may be someone who isn’t computer savy and has no idea this site even exists. Just who would anyone with any information report it to? It seems any leads such as described by Sandy Betts have been ignored by any authority and any recollections by someone who remembered Z asking them to write various things for him on envelopes in a joking way (for example) and being asked to stamp and lick envelopes and deposit them in mailboxes would just be attacked and disregarded as others have been.

It may be too that any such person would then be accused of coming forth only to claim the money but in reality thought of reporting years ago and perhaps did and the information they had was just disregarded by LE.

Wouldn’t a family member or someone in LE be the ones to be asking for money for a reward fund? I still wonder if Bryan Hartnell is ever consulted about any of the developments or any of the books that have been written by those claiming to know who Z was. If he were to be involved, it should be very helpful in eliminating once and for all most of those who have been accused to date and would help narrow the field to any possibles among the group already named as poi’s.

I still wonder if Bryan Hartnell is ever consulted about any of the developments or any of the books that have been written by those claiming to know who Z was. If he were to be involved, it should be very helpful in eliminating once and for all most of those who have been accused to date and would help narrow the field to any possibles among the group already named as poi’s.

Bryan doesn’t normally entertain any Zodiac-related inquiries, on the grounds of having made his peace with things and wanting to put the incident behind him.