Join Us: Make The Local Crowd Monadnock Stronger
Campaign Introduction:
Leveraging the power of crowdfunding to make wonderful ideas happen — projects that support a local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock region.
- Our Story
- Contributors
- Updates
- Discussion
Campaign Story
We’re wrapping up the pilot phase of The Local Crowd Monadnock (TLC Monadnock), a locally based crowdfunding platform which raised over $90,000 for thirteen crowdfunding campaigns since the platform launched on March 15, 2017. We now have the opportunity to continue this program into 2019 and beyond!
The more support our community contributes, the more towns we’ll include in the program next year. We will use this funding to cover the platform fees for 2019 and jump start our efforts to transform TLC Monadnock into a pollinator enterprise, a self-funding enterprise committed to supporting local businesses.
Please join with others in our community to continue to leverage the power of crowdfunding to cultivate a stronger ecosystem of investors, service providers and local economy champions investing in a local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock region. Contribute to this campaign today!
Learn more from our campaign leaders
We reached out to past crowdfunding campaign leaders to hear about their project's progress and gather their opinions on the potential of continuing TLC Monadnock in our region. Here are insights from four of them.
Archway Farm Food Truck
Archway Farm in Keene, one of the first campaigns to launch on TLC Monadnock, used crowdfunding to purchase a food truck. Farmer Mark Florenz travels to various community events with this truck, introducing his pasture-raised pork to new people throughout our region. “This has definitely given us a good way to get out and meet more customers,” shared Mark.
In terms of TLC Monadnock’s broader impact, Mark said, “Having a local crowdfunding resource, I think, helps local groups be more effective in their campaigns and provides examples of what effective campaigns look like. I see a lot of hastily thrown together campaigns on other platforms that never go anywhere.”
Bicycle Mayor of Keene
Tiffany Mannion, the Bicycle Mayor of Keene, used TLC Monadnock to create an online hub that connects our community of riders to each other. The funds also allowed her to attend the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC. “It was really key to giving me the space to get the Bicycle Mayor program set up with a strong foundation,” said Tiffany. “The Bicycle Mayor position is not funded at all by the city.”
On TLC Monadnock’s potential to serve others, she shared, “Our community could benefit in countless ways for adopting TLC Monadnock as a permanent presence in our community. It offers the opportunity to move a community of ideas into a vehicle for change in our region. There are many people who can leverage their reputation into innovation and change.”
Montessori School's Outdoor Classroom
This spring, the Montessori School of Cheshire County crowdfunded to construct an outdoor classroom. Cuilin Sheridan, head of the school, was happy to report that they’ve already installed their walkway and a mud kitchen. On the way are a water cascade, tables and balance beams. “We really hope to be the school that can provide the perfect balance between academics, integrated arts and nature play,” said Cuilin. “The children are enjoying our outdoor space, and this is something we can provide for years to come.”
Village Roots Permaculture Farm's Barnraising
While Marty Castriotta of Village Roots Permaculture Farm completed his crowdfunding campaign in late April, he’s already used the funds to raise the roof of his barn.
“With the exception of a couple grants, the rule of our farm enterprise has been to pay as you go and invest back into the farm,” stated Marty. “With that said, when we started considering the potential completion date of a barn that we started building in 2013, it was hard to see an end in sight. TLC Monadnock made it possible for us to embrace the idea of asking our community to support our cause and our project. Within two weeks of launching our campaign, with the tremendous support of TLC, we raised the funds needed to complete our barn.”
Marty continued, “I would encourage other farmers in the Monadnock region to explore the potential of crowdfunding for needed infrastructure and new initiatives. TLC Monadnock is a valuable resource in our community and can help us build a more resilient food system by helping to build more resilient farms.”
Campaign Contributions
Name | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Marcia Kayser | Keene, NH | December 09, 2018 |
Diane Sontum | Laramie , WY | December 06, 2018 |
Lea Devlin | JAFFREY, NH, NH | December 04, 2018 |
Valerie Piedmont | Gilsum, NH | December 04, 2018 |
Robin Eichert | Jaffrey, NH | December 04, 2018 |
Emerald Levick | Harrisville, NH | December 04, 2018 |
Shannon Hundley | Keene, NH | December 03, 2018 |
Zach Luse | Keene, NH | December 03, 2018 |
Greg Pregent | Keene, NH | November 30, 2018 |
Nancy DuBosque | Keene, NH | November 29, 2018 |
Marcia Kayser | Keene, NH | November 27, 2018 |
Jamie White | Keene, NH | November 24, 2018 |
karen mackey | The Dalles, OR | November 19, 2018 |
Sharon Rousmaniere | Roxbury, NH | November 19, 2018 |
Kate Coon | Peterborough, NH | November 18, 2018 |
Anonymous | Antrim, NH | November 16, 2018 |
Jess Gerrior | Antrim, NH | November 16, 2018 |
Valerie RIcardi | Keene, NH | November 15, 2018 |
PeopleSense Consulting | , NH | November 14, 2018 |
Catharine Hickey | Brattleboro, VT | November 14, 2018 |
Paul Youngquist | Peterborough, NH | November 14, 2018 |
Judy Rogers | Keene, NH | November 14, 2018 |
Patti Powers | Winchester, NH | November 13, 2018 |
Judy Bosies | Swanzey , NH | November 10, 2018 |
John Dugan | Keene, NH | November 07, 2018 |
Melissa Stephenson | Peterborough, NH | November 05, 2018 |
Jen Risley | Keene, NH | November 04, 2018 |
Marcia Kayser | Keene, NH | November 03, 2018 |
Marcia Kayser | Keene, NH | November 03, 2018 |
Melissa Blanchard | Westmoreland, NH | November 02, 2018 |
Steven Ryder | Swanzey, NH | November 02, 2018 |
john kondos | Spofford, NH | November 01, 2018 |
Michael Faber | Hancock, NH | November 01, 2018 |
Heidi Stanclift | Keene, NH | November 01, 2018 |
Tiffany Mannion | East Swanzey, NH | November 01, 2018 |
Chris and Rod Heckaman | Beaufort, SC | October 31, 2018 |
Campaign Updates
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04-11-2018
And... We're Live: TLC Monadnock Crowdfunding Campaign
Today marks the public launch of our crowdfunding campaign for The Local Crowd Monadnock!
Thanks to all of you — we raised 30% of our goal. Together we’re leveraging the power of crowdfunding to make wonderful ideas happen — projects that support a local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock region.
Impressive News: Our sponsored rewards from Cheshire Garden and Monadnock Food Co-op are already sold out. We hope that other local businesses will donate rewards to support this campaign, too. Please feel free to mention this opportunity to your favorite locally owned business. It’s a win-win… especially during the holiday gift-giving season.
Please help us spread the word about our TLC Monadnock campaign by sharing our this link on social media today: http://c-fund.us/hx2
Thank you all again for your support!
Yours locally, Jen
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10-11-2018
Our Community is Growing
A victory happened for TLC Monadnock’s crowdfunding campaign yesterday — we received our first donation from someone I don’t know (yet!).
This is the power of crowdfunding — my friends and family demonstrate early support for our campaign. They share their support with their friends and family — and inspire more people to give.
So while your initial donation means SO MUCH, you’re help spreading the word about our campaign (talking it up at a holiday event, sharing it on social media, forwarding a letter/email to a friend) is where the true magic happens.
I know you’re busy… to make it easier, here’s a template you can copy, paste, revise and send today. Thank you again for all your support!
I want to let you know about a crowdfunding campaign that I just supported called “Make The Local Crowd Monadnock Stronger” launched by Monadnock Buy Local. Please join with me and support this campaign today — every little bit helps us reach our crowdfunding goal.
Here’s more about this campaign and why I supported it:
The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers our community to support the businesses and projects that cultivate a more local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock region.
Since TLC Monadnock launched on March 15, 2017, over $91,000 was raised from 700 supporters for thirteen amazing projects (including local farms, a makerspace, an outdoor classroom, a complete streets project and more). With your support, TLC Monadnock will expand to include all businesses in the Monadnock region (right now the platform is available to businesses in just eight towns in our region).
As of today, we’ve reached 37% of our fundraising goal – join with us to make TLC Monadnock stronger!
Make The Local Crowd Monadnock Stronger
We’re looking to raise at least $3,500 to cover platform fees for 2019 and jump start our efforts to transform TLC Monadnock into a pollinator enterprise, a self-funding enterprise committed to supporting local businesses. The more support our community shares, the more towns TLC Monadnock will include in the program next year.
Learn more and support this campaign today!
Thank you!
PS: Be sure to check out the rewards offered by this campaign as a thank you for your support. Also, please feel free to share this note with your friends. Thank you, again!
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18-11-2018
Week 2 Updates: We reached the halfway mark
Thanks to all of you, we reached the halfway mark ahead of schedule — even after boosting our overall goal from $2,500 to $3,500. Woo-hoo!
This week’s goal is to reach the 75% mark by Sunday, November 25.
To give you a better sense of our crowdfunding goals, here’s a breakdown of our general TLC Monadnock expenses for 2019:
Installation and Training Fee: $3,000 (COVERED – since we participated in TLC’s two-year pilot project funded through a USDA grant)
Project Management, Marketing and Technical Support Expenses: $9,135 (COVERED – in-kind support from our TLC Monadnock Partners)
Platform Fees (Current Towns – One year): $3,562 OR (Entire Monadnock Region – One year): $5,625
In terms of TLC Monadnock Revenue:Campaign Pay-It-Forward Fund: $1,250 (Each campaign will contribute 2.5 – 5% of what they raise online back to us to help cover our platform fees and pay it forward for the support they receive through TLC Monadnock)
Your support helps us cover the gap between our expenses and establishing our Pay-It-Forward Fund over the next year. Within three years, we expect the platform to begin paying for itself and to add more resources for our campaign leaders to draw from to help them run a successful crowdfunding campaign.Have questions? Please reach out to me anytime at jen@monadnocklocal.org.
Happy Thanksgiving! And I’m so grateful for all your support.
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25-11-2018
Week 3 Updates: Feeling Plaid and Grateful
Photo credit: Prime Roast Coffee
With Thanksgiving and Plaid Friday this week, things were a bit slow for our TLC Monadnock Campaign. However, we’ll be out in full force promoting our crowdfunding campaign next week — watch for an article about TLC Monadnock in next week’s Monadnock Shopper News.
Speaking of Thanksgiving, I want to, once again, pass on a BIG THANK YOU for your support! We really can’t thank you all enough.
On another note — If you’re looking for some Shift Your Shopping ideas, take a look at our rewards on the right side of our campaign page. They were all donated by locally owned business owners who wanted to show their support for expanding TLC Monadnock.
Is there someone on your gift-giving list that would appreciate a gift from …
MB Massage Studio: 30-Minute Sauna Session?
The Works Cafe: $25 Gift Card?
New England Everyday Goods: Balsam Fir-Filled Tapestry Pillow?
New Dawn Farm: Two-Week Mini CSA Share?
Yoga With Josephine: Ten Class Coupon Book?
Stonewall Farm: Meeting Space?
Go ahead, shift your shopping and lend more support to our campaign today! -
02-12-2018
Just One More Week
Just 7 more days before The Local Crowd Monadnock campaign ends!
Here’s how you can help: Share this blog post on social media
Thank you!
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Just $100 to go!
We’re so close to the end of our crowdfunding campaign — and so close to our goal. Just $100 means TLC Monadnock will expand to the entire region in 2019.
If you’re moved to, please support our campaign again today. We still have a couple more rewards available, too. THANK YOU!
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11-12-2018
Thanks to You: TLC Monadnock will expand in 2019
We did it — thanks to all of you, TLC Monadnock will expand in 2019. Stay tuned for updates in January. Happy Holidays — and you ALL DO ROCK! : )
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09-03-2019
Help Us Decide: 2019 TLC Monadnock Focus
TLC Monadnock will work to bring extra focus to one Local Living Economy building block this year. Help us decide which one!
While our crowdfunding platform is open to a diversity of campaign types, we want to provide extra support to whichever building block gets the most community support. We’ll choose other building blocks in future years.
Take our poll
Don’t see something you’re passionate about listed? Contact me and nominate an additional building block.
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