Founding Philosophy

The primary goal and function of the Impact Archive is to celebrate and amplify the impact of any individual who could reasonably be referred to as an addict or that experienced some period of deleterious substance abuse during their lifetime, and whose life was cut short as a direct or indirect consequence.

The guiding principal in all matters related to the foundation should be to serve the dignity, respect and interests of the deceased.

We fully believe in and wholeheartedly support the talents and interests of the living, and encourage them to avail themselves of every platform and resource available to make their voices heard; however, our focus is on the collective interests of those silenced in death.  In this way our cause or its support must never be an instrument of anyone seeking personal fame, financial gain or power. 

Similarly, recognizing that addiction lies at the crossroads of many issues; social, political, economic, etc., we acknowledge the reality of there being potentially as many pathways out of addiction as there are inroads.  We do not, as an organization, officially support, proscribe or become entangled with any specific methodology, organization, entity or business in the realm of “Recovery”.  However, as individuals we retain our personal freedom of thought and expression in this area.

We do not wish to whitewash the past or to excuse any wrongs or harms done by anyone while under the influence of, in seeking to obtain, or otherwise as a consequence or byproduct of any mood or mind altering substances.  Yet, we do not moralize, rank or grade substances either. Where one religious group or an individual may draw the line at caffeine as being across the line, others may make exceptions for what they deem as being permissible. Such distinctions are not relevant to our mission or goals. The value of a human life should never be appraised based on what substance(s) or manner of administration that individual did or didn’t use.

Substance Abuse, broadly speaking, is an unmanageable, unsustainable, wildly consequential, coping mechanism for deeply felt, strongly entrenched, extremely personal and individualized pain.  The fleeting illusion of relief an addict experiences can be immediate and total. A practical evaluation of addiction supports its categorization as a prospective investment in the business of suicide, functionally unconcerned with the efficacy of its methodology.

If the whole of society and the issues it faces could be seen as a single individual walking around with aches and pains, trying to ignore them, hoping they will get better on their own, we might accept that.  That may not be the best long term health plan, but, it isn’t beyond the realm of experience.  However, can you imagine an individual walking around as entire pieces of their body, chunks of their flesh, just fell off?  What if as that were happening that individual took up an attitude detached from the seriousness of the situation, perhaps saying, “That part was gross, I’m glad it’s gone.”  Or, “Those parts falling off aren’t me; I’m fine without those bits.”  For that individual to simply discard that flesh and  keep on going with business as usual, untroubled or concerned as more and more sloughed off, or, if they were to have anger or disgust towards what once was a part of the self, happier without it, or if they were indignant and blamed whatever fell off for not staying connected, or worse even still, if they were to feel joy or satisfaction about the weight they had lost,  we would declare that person incapable of making decisions about their own health.  It would be our responsibility to say, “You’re in trouble, you have to take care of this!” And yet, this scenario is very much analogous to what is happening with society at large in response to the death toll of addiction.  It is in the interest of each and every person to pause, take a close look at what we have lost and are continuing to lose, to seriously take in the significance of it, and to be changed by that knowledge,

Furthermore, we define success for our mission as when all people everywhere recognize addiction as our shared crisis, when the lives of addicts are no longer seen as disposable, and the stigma and prejudice so often fomented against those with the disease of addiction are erased.

Projected Budget Overview 

Phase I – Fundraising Goal and anticipated budget needs $1500.00

·   Establish Board and fill offices of President, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer

·   Legally create nonprofit organization

·   Develop website and investigate App

·   Officially announce our existence and mission in a strategic launch

·   Explore opportunity for media releases or other platforms for broadening reach

Phase II – Fundraising Goal and anticipated budget needs $2,000 - $5,000

·   Create app

·   Solicit for submission of creative works

·   Seek grants or other funding options

·   Social Media and cultural awareness campaign – podcast?

·   Develop strategies for advancing the reach and efficacy of the mission

Phase III – Annual budget minimum $50,000 to $75,000

·   Hire an Executive Director to conduct daily business and advance its goals full time

·   Launch Impact Archive art gallery project

Stretch  Goals:

Publish collections of creative works, Physical location, Music division, Fund for funeral expenses of addicts without means