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About Us
The Wave is a collective offering creatives funding, community, and events regardless of employment status.
Founded and independently operated by artist and entrepreneur Tee Kay, The Wave exists to help creatives stay inspired, access resources, test ideas, build skills, and so much more.
While we work toward our official launch, Tee Kay is volunteering her time to run a mutual-aid effort that provides direct financial assistance to creatives facing hardship.
Anyone seeking support fills out our interest form and specifies they need urgent help. You will then be contacted and added to our emergency list.
Why This Fundraiser Exists
The Wave typically connects donors directly with creatives so funds move straight from donor to recipient.
However, that system isn’t always consistent—sometimes donors want to give even when we don’t have an immediate match, or they prefer a simple, one-step way to contribute, including making small but meaningful donations.
With recent layoffs and ongoing SNAP challenges, we created this GoFundMe as a temporary and streamlined way to get support to people who have already reached out through our form.
This is Tee Kay’s first time running an effort like this and her goal is simple: to make sure the money goes directly to the people who need it most, and that donating is easy and accessible for anyone who wants to help.
At the same time, we’re laying the groundwork for a longer-term Community Fund. One where donors can contribute consistently and recipients can receive the exact amount of emergency support they need for up to three months. This fundraiser is a first step, helping us make an impact now while we build toward that future.
How Support Will Be Distributed
- We prioritize funding the six households on our emergency list first ($3,000 total).
- Every full $500 raised = one $500 payout to a household (in order from our emergency waitlist).
- We only send payments when a full $500 increment is reached.
- Fundraising will continue until all six households are supported, and then continue to support additional households on the emergency funding waitlist (also in $500 increments).
- Nothing is kept. All raised funds go to recipients in $500 increments.
- To be added to the waitlist you must fill out the interest form.
Please Note:
GoFundMe does not allow multiple recipients on a single fundraiser. Per GoFundMe’s guidance, funds must be withdrawn to Tee Kay’s personal account, and she will then distribute payments to each household following the distribution rules above. If our first $500 milestone isn't reached by February 1, 2026 we will refund all donations made to the fundraiser so far. Once the first milestone is reached we will dispense the first emergency payment and continue raising funds until we reach our initial $3,000 goal.
Please be mindful of this and the timing involved (which make take several business days). You can review GoFundMe's policy here.
We are not purchasing or providing physical goods. All funds go directly to individuals to help with essentials like groceries, bills, rent support, transportation, or basic creative tools (for example, Canva).
Timeline for Aid & Future Vision
We will begin sending $500 payments as soon as each $500 increment is reached. Our hope is as soon as the end of November 2025 / December 2025 but there is no fixed deadline, as distribution depends entirely on the pace of donations. As stated, once the first milestone is reached we will dispense the first emergency payment and continue raising funds until we reach our initial $3,000 goal only dispensing aid in $500 increments. Several individuals on our list have urgent needs, so moving quickly matters. This mutual-aid fundraiser is temporary while we work toward a permanent Community Fund that will offer ongoing, direct support for creatives facing hardship.
Contact
If you have questions or would like to make a direct donation, please reach out via email.
Organizer
