The Bad Idea Desk

Small Grants · Poor Judgment

We give money to ideas that should not exist.

Twenty-five to fifty dollars. Real money, sent to strangers, for objects the world did not ask for.

Send an idea Fund a grant
Dale
Acting Deputy Director

How this works

  1. You send us an idea for something useless. Eighty words, takes a minute.
  2. If it is useless enough, we send you $25 to $50. No strings. It is a gift.
  3. Approved ideas are published here under a file number. Tips from strangers pay for all of it.

What gets funded

No grant has been issued yet. The files below are specimens the Desk wrote for itself, to show the standard. File 001 is unassigned.

Specimen 011
A footstool built to exactly the same height as the floor it stands on.
Would approve · $40
Specimen 010
A label maker whose only output is the word LABEL.
Would approve · $25
Specimen 020
A chair fitted with two armrests, both on the same side.
Would approve · $35
Specimen 004
A recurring calendar reminder that repeats one time.
Would approve · $25

Specimens are not awards. No money has been sent and no member of the public has applied. Yours would be the first.

The commendation

At irregular intervals, on no schedule the Desk is willing to commit to, one approved file is named the worst of its period. That applicant is sent a second twenty-five dollars. There is no entry, no vote, and no way to improve your chances except by having a worse idea.

Fund the Desk

Almost nobody sends strangers money for a stupid idea. The Desk does. Tips are the only reason it can.

The Desk has no budget, no staff, and no income. Grants come out of tips and nothing else. When the fund is empty, nothing gets funded.

Grant fund, current balance $0.00
Required for the next award $25.00
Grants issued to date 0

The fund is empty. This has been noted and filed.

$3A piece of a grant $7A quarter of a grant $15Over half a grant $40One entire grant, start to finish

Contributors of record

Every funded file names the people who paid for it. Leave a name with your tip and it goes on the file and on the grant letter. Leave nothing and the Desk will write ANONYMOUS, which is also a fine thing to be.

A tip is a gift. It buys nothing, enters you in nothing, and improves no one's odds. Your name on a file is bookkeeping, not a reward, and the Desk will remove it on request. Anyone may apply. It is free and it always will be. Tipping and applying are separate systems and they do not touch. The Desk does not offer refunds on gifts, because a gift is not a purchase, but if you sent one by mistake write to us and we will sort it out.

Send an idea

Eighty words. One idea. No attachments.

Can be a handle. It appears if the idea is featured.

Used to tell you yes. Nothing else.

0 / 80 words

Eighty words. The Desk stops reading at eighty words.

0 / 40 words

Do not attach Form 12-A. Form 12-A is not a form.

Rules

What gets funded Ideas that are useless, harmless, and specific. The Desk likes an object it can picture.
Too useful is a rejection If the Desk can imagine someone being glad they own it, the application fails. This is the most common reason for denial and it is not a compliment.
What does not get funded Anything dangerous, illegal, medical, or financial advice. Anything aimed at a real person, company, or place. Anything involving anyone under eighteen. Anything cruel.
The Desk does not do drawings There is no raffle, ticket, entry, prize, or sweepstakes. Tipping does not enter you into anything and does not improve your odds.
The Desk does not take equity No share, no royalty, no profit split, no claim on anything you make later. You keep your idea. The Desk keeps the letter.
Decisions are final Dale abstained.

Contact

desk@badideadesk.com

That is the only address. There is no phone. There is a phone, but it is not connected to anything.