farming the crowdfunding field - cornell small farms€¦ · international exchange u.s. office...

Farming the Crowdfunding Field

Presented at:Northeast Beginning Farmer Network MeetingMarch 8, 2013

Iowa farmboy – Iowa State grad in Ag Bus/Ag Journalism

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Upon graduation

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Like Minds’ project highlights

Rebranding & $10 million research wing campaign

Rebuilt annual fund to $32 million & endowment campaign

$12.5 million capacity building campaign Successfully raised $12.5 million in capacity campaign

Rebranding & $2 million major gift strategy

Fundraising feasibility study for Maine Chapter campaign

Study & rebranding for YFU International Exchange

U.S. office feasibility study & coalition for Chernobyl’s Children

Communications study to position for global funding

Managed 60 development staff during $1 billion campaign launch

High Line

Hired after economic collapse, $20 million two gift strategy

Multi-channel mid-level donor program planning assessment

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Shared values with top chefs

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Reason for optimism

• Awakening consciousness – not a fad, firm trend – farmers markets, new social media, less control of message – food, exercise & health

• Financial crisis of 2008 – America’s youngest and brightest minds shifted to social innovation – seeing raging rivers cutting new courses

• Philanthropy changing – younger digital entrepreneur now philanthropists interested in social investment impact

• Communism failed, old capitalism failing – the 4th sector and social entrepreneurism emerging – growing B Corp movement

• Eat real, be real, know your neighbor – BALLE and Localist movement, micro-breweries, value added ag, CSA’s, crowdfunding movement – great opportunity and time to share risk of farming

• Farmers were in the field and chefs in the kitchen – growing awareness and appreciation – celebrity status emerging – amazing stewardship leaders stepping forward

Old funding model – 20/80, then 10/90

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New funding model – more balanced, tapping grassroots

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Nature + Agriculture = Food, Health & Harmony

Delicious Evolution seeks to unify and transcend differences through the balanced exchange and distribution of successful ideas around the dinner table and reconnect people to food and nature.

Delicious Evolution promotes full use of local food, minimal waste, and helps to fund local healthy food for all.

Join the evolution!

Mission

1. Food sustains us and supports our basic survival; therefore if food and nature sustain us, we in turn must sustain nature

2. Food and exercise heals; they are preventative medicine for all ailments

3. Food creates opportunity for social interaction at the table

4. Evolving viewpoints must consider unconscious food waste, convenience packaging and degradation of food quality

5. Earth is a living organism

Core beliefs

1. Virtual table –website to share ideas and news about successful and positive community partnerships

2. Three events

Youth & Food Conference – World Food Prize

National FFA Convention – cooperative exhibit

World Food Cup – sustainable top world chefs & farmers

3. Grassroots table fundraising movement – talk, educate and fundraise for local food initiatives – local food, minimum waste, love your neighbor

Three initiatives

Food mandalas – corn

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Corn

Orange

Grape

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Crowdfunding Field

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General information

• Wikipedia Comparison of Crowdfunding Sources - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_crowd_funding_services

• Daily Crowdsource – www.dailycrowdsource.com

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Kickstarter successes - First Root Farm (Concord, MA) • Farmers Laura Sackton and Nina Booth - http://firstrootfarm.com/

• http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1801505102/first-root-farms-first-machine

• Raised $10,377 via Kickstarter for walk behind tractor

• Important to promote to own network – 300 emails, 75 CSA members, Facebook friends – 40% raised in first weekend, then remainder through two more email pushes

• Video critically important, most time consuming

• Produce creative, but inexpensive rewards & budget – proximity to Boston, shares and farm visits most enticing

• Report successes and thank for future drives

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Kickstarter successes - Coleraine Farm (Brookfield, NH)

• Farmer Andrew Weeks - https://www.facebook.com/ColeraineFarm

• http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/98615282/coleraine-farm-educational-homestead-school-for-th

• Raised $25,982 via Kickstarter for a new tractor

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Project funding

• Crowdzu – www.crowdzu.com

• Funding Launchpad – www.fundinglaunchpad.com

• Go Fund Me – www.gofundme.com

• Indie Go-Go – www.indiegogo.com

• Ioby – www.ioby.org

• Kickstarter – www.kickstarter.com

• RocketHub – www.rockethub.com

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More direct funding

• Lending Club – www.lendingclub.com

• MicroPlace – www.microplace.com

• Prosper – www.prosper.com

• Slow Money Soil Trust – www.soiltrust.org

Debt abatement:

• Rolling Jubilee – www.rollingjubilee.org

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Small business funding

• Angle Crowds – www.angelcrowds.com

• Advance Me – www.advanceme.com

• Circle Up – www.circleup.com

• Cutting Edge Collateral – www.cuttingedgecapital.com

• IOU Central – www.ioucentral.com

• On Deck Capital – www.ondeckcapital.com

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For further information

Cameron C. DubesManaging Consultant & Founder

Like Minds Consulting, LLC & Delicious EvolutionP. O. Box 250Andes, NY 13731

917-842-5999cdubes@likeminds.net cameron@deliciousevolution.orgwww.likeminds.net

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