Future Lotto Winner™ was founded by artist/designer D. Tristman, in Brooklyn, NY.
Future Lotto Winner is a phrase I started using back around 2009 during the big financial bust. Although I was buying lots of lottery tickets at the time, it really had very little to do with winning lotto. Throughout that period, whenever I was logged into any online platform or messaging app, etc, I would set my status to “future lotto winner” as a way of conveying a kind of extreme optimism in the face of hard times. Since then, I’ve continued to use that handle to represent a sort of naive but joyous positivity. It’s all about feeling lucky and making others feel lucky.
David Tristman is an art director and illustrator and photographer based in Brooklyn, NY. David’s passions include collecting all sorts of objects and images. His collections include such things as the ‘thank-you’ bags from delis, vintage kitschy objects, old toys and antiques. He has also amassed an ongoing collection of street photography of old and unrefined tattoos. Some of these photos have been made into zines which you can see on this site.
Because FLW is founded on the intention to make people feel lucky, and because so much of its inspiration comes from the streets of New York, a portion of all sales goes to charities that help shelter and feed the homeless and hungry of this city.
Donation amounts
All items in this shop give at least 10% of their sale price to charity. For items that give less than 100% of their total price to charity, the full per cent listed on that item is given to charity (i.e. no fee is taken out first). For example, if an item in this shop is listed as giving 10% to charity and its sale price is $20, the full $2 of that sale is given to charity. Items listed as giving 100% to charity will have the PayPal fees deducted from the donation amount first. For example, an item listed at $20 that gives 100% to charity, will donate $18.54 ($20 – 2.9% – $.30 PayPal fees).
Our Charities
While there are so many worthwhile causes that we believe in and would love to support, we have made the decision to limit our focus on giving to those charities that provide relief in the form of shelter, food, and bail funds to those in need in NYC.
The charities we choose to give to may vary from time to time. Those that we make donations to will be listed here.
FLW is currently giving to the following NYC charities:
- Brooklyn community refrigerators such as the one at Playground Coffee Shop. Free food for anyone in need in the community.
- Hungry Monk Rescue Truck – The Hungry Monk Rescue Truck is a New York City based Homeless Outreach and Community Response Vehicle (CRV).
- Brooklyn Bail Fund – Brooklyn Community Bail Fund is committed to challenging the racism, inequality, and injustice of a criminal legal system and immigration and deportation regime that disproportionately target and harm low-income communities of color.
- Coalition for the Homeless – The Coalition provides food, crisis services, housing to over 3,500 people each day.
- The Friendly Fridge – Free food in community-supported refrigerators.
- South Brooklyn Mutual Aid – Neighbors helping neighbors in need, mainly in the Sunset Park, Borough Park, and Bay Ridge areas of Brooklyn.
- Bushwick Ayuda Mutua – Serving Bushwick community through neighbor-to-neighbor and mass bulk deliveries of food and other necessities to those in need.
- Bowery Mission – Serving New Yorkers in need since 1879 by meeting immediate needs (meals, shelter & other care) and transforming lives from poverty & hopelessness to hope.
- More to come. We are in the process of adding charities to this list and it will continue to grow.
- Food Bank for NYC – Provides free meals for NYers in need.
- City Meals on Wheels – Prepares and delivers meals to elderly NYers who are in need or are less mobile.
- Bowery Mission – Collects food from donors and provides free food and meals to NYC residents in need.
More to come…
If you would like to suggest a charity, please use our contact form and let us know.