Community Funded Investing in Education

Community Funded Investing in Education is a unique approach that brings people together to support local educational initiatives. This model allows individuals to contribute small amounts of money to create a collective impact.

In a community-funded education project, donors can contribute as little as $10 to support a specific cause, such as a school renovation or a scholarship fund. This model has been successfully implemented in various parts of the world, including the United States.

By pooling their resources, community members can make a significant difference in the lives of students and teachers. For example, a community-funded education project in a small town raised over $50,000 to upgrade the school's technology infrastructure.

This approach not only provides financial support but also fosters a sense of community and ownership among contributors.

ECEAP is a program that provides high-quality early learning opportunities, but it's not the only one. The unmet need for such opportunities led to the creation of Community Funded ECEAP (CFE).

ECEAP is funded directly by the Washington State Legislature, which means it's a state-funded program. CFE, on the other hand, uses alternative funding sources, like local and private non-state funds.

ECEAP has been shown to have exceptional returns on investment, with measurable improvements among participating children and families. The success stories of these families confirm the impact of the program.

ECEAP is aligned with nationally researched programs that demonstrate its effectiveness.

ECEAP is a vital program for many families in Washington State. It provides needed opportunities for children who are furthest from opportunity.

Families living in poverty struggle to make ends meet, with the reduced rate lunch cost going up and many still unable to cover living expenses.

Hard-working families need accessible high-quality preschool programming for their children. This is especially true for those living at or above 185 percent federal poverty level (or $47,638 for a family of four).

According to DCYF's ECEAP and Head Start Annual Saturation Study, a large number of families are not prioritized or eligible to receive ECEAP or Head Start services each year. This highlights the need for more opportunities for high-quality early learning.

The following illustrates the eligibility requirements for ECEAP:

Community Funded initiatives have seen a significant surge in popularity in recent years, with many projects receiving thousands of small donations from individuals around the world.

According to the article, the average donation amount for a Community Funded project is around $25, with some projects receiving over $100,000 in total funding.

This model allows individuals to contribute to projects that might not have been possible through traditional funding methods, making it a game-changer for many entrepreneurs and artists.

GiveCampus has acquired Community Funded, expanding the reach of social fundraising to more schools.

This acquisition is GiveCampus's first and leverages a $50 million investment. GiveCampus is a premier fundraising platform for nonprofit educational institutions.

Cherrydale Farms Fundraising offers a comprehensive suite of fundraising programs, including video kick-offs, dashboards, e-catalogs, and ship-to-home delivery services.

Click and Pledge specializes in digital fundraising solutions for nonprofits, offering online donation processing, peer-to-peer fundraising, text-to-give capabilities, and donor management systems.

StudentFunder aims to improve access to education, employment, and enterprise through its crowdfunding platform for students.

Cherrydale Farms Fundraising was founded in 1907 and is based in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

Click and Pledge was founded in 2000 and is based in Blacksburg, Virginia.

We have some exciting announcements to share with you. The new community center is now open for registration, offering a variety of programs for kids and adults alike.

The center's grand opening event will take place on March 15th, featuring live music, food trucks, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Registration for the summer camps is now open, with early bird discounts available until April 1st.

Community funded projects have a unique advantage over traditional fundraising methods. They allow for a more democratic approach to decision-making, where the community has a direct say in how funds are allocated.

A key benefit of community funded projects is that they can generate a significant amount of money, with some projects raising over $1 million. This is because community funding platforms can mobilize a large number of people to contribute small amounts of money.

Community funded projects also tend to have a higher success rate than traditional fundraising methods, with some studies showing that they are up to 3 times more likely to succeed. This is likely due to the fact that community funding platforms can tap into a large network of people who are passionate about the project.

One of the main reasons community funded projects are so successful is that they offer a sense of ownership and accountability to the community. By giving people a direct say in how funds are allocated, community funded projects can build a sense of trust and responsibility among contributors.

In contrast, traditional fundraising methods often rely on a small number of large donors, which can create an uneven power dynamic. Community funded projects, on the other hand, can bring in a large number of small donors, which can create a more equitable and sustainable funding model.

Community Funded has raised a total funding of $2.27M over 2 rounds.

Its first funding round was on Sep 04, 2013.

The majority of homes in the Redwood City School District (RCSD) boundary were purchased at a lower cost, resulting in lower assessed values compared to more recent purchases.

This difference in assessed values is a primary reason why RCSD's funding doesn't compare to its neighboring school districts.

Property tax is based on assessed, not market values, which means that homes with lower assessed values contribute less to the district's funding.

This can lead to a significant disparity in funding between RCSD and its neighboring districts.

Redwood City has a parcel tax called Measure U, which was last passed in 2016. It assesses property owners $85 per parcel, generating about $1.9 million per year.

Measure U allocates $300,000 to the three local Independent charter schools. This funding helps support these schools, but it's worth noting that neighboring communities have passed layers of parcel tax that significantly boost their funding.

Palo Alto Unified passed a parcel tax in November 2020 that assesses property tax owners $836 per parcel. This parcel tax generates $16 million per year, a significant increase compared to Redwood City's Measure U.

The Palo Alto Unified parcel tax passed with 77.44% support, exceeding the required 2/3 (66.67%) of the vote.

Community Funded has a solid foundation of investors who believe in its mission. Community Funded has 2 institutional investors, including Future Venture capital and Innosphere Ventures.

These investors provide valuable expertise and resources to help Community Funded grow and succeed. Bill Fisher and 2 others are also Angel Investors in Community Funded, bringing their own unique perspectives and experience to the table.

Angel investors often provide funding to startups in exchange for equity, with an average investment of $20,000 to $50,000.

They typically have a strong network of contacts and can offer valuable advice and guidance to entrepreneurs.

Venture capitalists, on the other hand, invest larger sums of money, often in the millions, in exchange for a larger equity stake.

Crowdfunding platforms allow multiple individuals to contribute small amounts of money to a project or business.

This approach can be a great way for entrepreneurs to raise awareness and build a community around their idea.

Government grants and loans can provide funding for businesses that meet specific criteria, such as being based in a certain region or pursuing a particular industry.

These programs can be a great way for entrepreneurs to access funding without giving up equity.

Community Funded has raised a total funding of $2.27M over 2 rounds. Its first funding round was on September 4, 2013.

Community Funded has received investments from various sources.

Two institutional investors, Future Venture capital and Innosphere Ventures, have backed the company.

Bill Fisher and two other individuals are Angel Investors in Community Funded, providing additional support.

Community funding allows individuals to invest in projects or businesses they care about, often with a lower barrier to entry than traditional venture capital.

This model has been used successfully in various industries, including renewable energy, where a community fund helped finance a solar farm project.

By pooling resources, community members can collectively invest in a project, sharing the risk and potential returns.

A community fund can be used to acquire a business, such as a local coffee shop, giving the community ownership and control.

This approach can also be used to support social enterprises, like a community center, providing essential services and benefits to the community.

Investors can expect to receive regular updates on the project's progress and potential returns on investment.