Frequently asked questions
Where does the money go?
To the creator behind The Happiness Project — and from there, to whatever life requires: bills, books, tacos, rent. Every reporting period, the public ledger shows the aggregated totals and the happiness report says what it actually bought.
Who receives it?
The anonymous creator behind The Happiness Project — that's all anyone gets. The brand is the whole public identity, by design.
Is this a charity?
No. Not a charity, not a nonprofit, not a cause. It's a personal creative project with a funny question attached.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
No. These are personal gifts, not gifts to a charity, so there's no deduction. (That's not tax advice — the creator reports receipts as income.)
Can I get a refund?
No voluntary refunds are offered — a gift is a gift, and gifts don't come back. The only exceptions are where the law or the payment network requires one.
Is this real research?
No. It's a completely unofficial study: one person's subjective happiness score, published for fun. Treat it as philosophy-flavored entertainment, not science. There is no lab, no methodology section, and no peer review — just honesty and a spreadsheet.
Why should I believe the reports?
You shouldn't, blindly. That's why the ledger is public and the format never changes — same four questions every time, so you can watch for spin. Skepticism is welcome here; it's kind of the point.