BERWYN HEIGHTS, Md. — The free mobile app Quist has launched a $15,000 crowdfunding campaign to be able to expand its research, functionality and reach.
“To maintain and improve this free resource for the community takes funding” said Sarah Prager, 27, Quist’s founder and director. “We have depended on the community for support so far and I’m hopeful they will rally behind us again to improve the quality and scope of this app.” The donations will be used to hire professional historical researchers, make the app available for new platforms, add in the option for daily push notifications, advertise the app to potential users and more. The crowdfunding page can be accessed at http://igg.me/at/quist.
LGBTQ authors, artists, events, and companies are donating prizes to reward donors, such as Dan Savage and Terry Miller giving signed hardcover books away through the Quist fundraiser. The rewards come from:
- Matthew Shepard Foundation
- Dinah Shore Weekend
- It Gets Better Project
- Elixher
- Julie Anne Peters
- Matt Kailey
- Bella Books
- Out in the Vineyard’s Gay Wine Weekend
- Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler
- Jodi Sandler
- Xtra’s History Boys
- Jason Scalfano
- Point 5cc
- Dillan DiGiovanni
- LGBT History Month UK
- POZ Magazine
A new version of the app was released earlier this month with a new search feature that turns the app into a search engine for LGBTQ historical data. This improvement that used that last of Quist’s funding is an example of the potential for the app’s future. Prager adds, “I wanted to launch this fundraiser at the end of October to show that Quist is about LGBTQ history 365 days a year, not just during LGBT History Month. We’re celebrating these stories in November and beyond, too.”
Quist’s mission is to educate the world about the roots of the LGBTQ community, make LGBTQ history more engaging and relevant, let LGBTQ youth know that others have shared their struggle, and promote organizations that make LGBTQ history today and every day. The app is free for iOS and Android, and has been downloaded more than 14,000 times in 90 countries since July 24.
