[Makerspace-keymembers] Fundraising Letter

Fri Aug 1 11:15:34 EDT 2014

Be kind to yourself

On Aug 1, 2014, at 9:24, Emily Knox <emilyknox at gmail.com> wrote:

> Do you guys want to sending/posting this today?
> 
> Subject line: Makerspace has made it possible!
> 
> "It may sound weird, but I am so excited that it's easier to give Makerspace Urbana money. Whether I go or not, I'm so glad they exist... I want to make sure they stick around!"
> - elizaBeth Simpson, Organizational Consultant
> 
> Makerspace is proud to announce that we now accept donations online as well as in the space!
> 
> If you are excited to make a one time or recurring contribution to help us keep offering creative space and support to the community go here: http://makerspaceurbana.org/donate
> 
> 3-D printing, knitting, soldering, pewter-casting, sewing, programming, whatever you want to make... come join us! 
> 
> Open Hours:
> Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 7-9pm
> Saturdays 11am-1pm
> Where: Lower level of the IMC, 202 S. Broadway, Urbana (enter through the south door)
> 
> "Makerspace Urbana has greatly increased my confidence in making and fixing all kinds of things.  Before joining the Makerspace I had never soldered. Now I help lead soldering workshops." 
> - Emily Knox, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science
> 
> What is Makerspace?
> http://makerspaceurbana.org/about-mu
> 
> Interested in becoming a keyholding member.  More information is available here: http://makerspaceurbana.org/about-mu/membership/
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jul 31, 2014 at 1:31 PM, Emily Knox <emilyknox at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I think this is idea but I don't have tenure yet!
>> 
>> Emily Knox, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science
>> 
>> I'm fairly certain we can do prettiness through google/chambana.net--not sure though.
>> 
>> 
>> On Thu, Jul 31, 2014 at 1:22 PM, elizaBeth Simpson <elizacorps at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi folks-
>>> 
>>> Linking the contribution to as specific and as personal an outcome as possible is key in general, BUT!!!
>>> 
>>> It's really important not to 'burn' the base and lose the opportunity to get a return on a larger ask. And, if we're really trying to get money, there are a few other things to do before we say "gimme."
>>> 
>>> Last night, Jeff, Gergana, and I were talking, and seemed to come to the idea that: 
>>> - we should throw together an FR committee (maybe is the same as the expansion committee for the moment, then break off into two groups?) The first step is just to brainstorm all potential contacts/contributors and put their emails all in a list (this include the peeps on FB, and peeps not in town.) The second is to get mailchimp or something similar so that the message can look classy and have photos. I think they let you have up to 1000 for free. CiviCRM is opensource and cool and all, but I don't know how to use it. 
>>> 
>>> - right now, don't make a full fundraising ask, but just an announcement giving folks the info that the online options are up and it's easier than ever to be a contributor. (see draft below)
>>> 
>>> - Then, we'd work on a real deal FR plan, and have a big ask (like Emily's great draft) in a few months (November post-thanksgiving is ideal, maybe through March) to drum up loads of cash for the new space. 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Here's the draft:
>>> 
>>> Subject line: Makerspace has made it possible!
>>> 
>>> "It may sound weird, but I am so excited that it's easier to give Makerspace Urbana money. Whether I go or not, I'm so glad they exist... I want to make sure they stick around!"
>>> - elizaBeth Simpson, Organizational Consultant
>>> 
>>> Makerspace is proud to announce that it now accepts donations online as well as in the space!
>>> 
>>> If you are excited to make a recurring contribution to help us keep offering creative space and support to the community (or you want to become a member) go here:
>>> https://makerspaceurbana.org/autopay
>>> 
>>> If you simply want to make the point that you're also glad we exist, go here:
>>> https://makerspaceurbana.org/donate
>>> 
>>> 3-D printing, knitting, soldering, pewter-casting, sewing, programming, whatever you want to make... come join us! 
>>> 
>>> Open Hours:
>>> Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 7-9pm
>>> Saturdays 11am-1pm
>>> Where: Lower level of the IMC, 202 S. Broadway, Urbana (enter through the south door)
>>> 
>>> "Makerspace Urbana has greatly increased my confidence in making and fixing all kinds of things.  Before joining the Makerspace I had never soldered. Now I help lead soldering workshops." 
>>> - Emily Knox, Associate Professor of Library Science
>>> 
>>> What is Makerspace?
>>> http://makerspaceurbana.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Makerspace-Urbana-AGORA.pdf
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Fundraising Letter
>>> 
>>> Dear Makerspace Supporter,
>>> 
>>> Since our founding in 2009, Makerspace Urbana, a working group of the Independent Media Center, has worked hard to fulfill its mission to provide an open community lab where people of diverse backgrounds can learn, teach, tinker, collaborate, share, innovate, socialize, and create. 
>>> 
>>> Every year, Makerspace Urbana hosts workshops and collaborates with community groups. For example, our 2013 “Summer Make-a-tion” workshops series included activities such as sewing, robotics, pewter casting, hack your home router, beer-making, and soldering is easy. We've had collaborative programming with Living Letter Press, Innovation LLC, Unit One, Urbana Free Library, and the “Outta the mouths of babes” summer youth radio project.
>>> 
>>> In April of 2011, we hosted the first annual UC Mini Maker Faire, which featured maker booths, performances, and demonstrations by 13 area makers and was attended by 150 community members. In 2012, the 2nd annual Urbana-Champaign Mini-Maker Faire was attended by over 400 people.  The 3rd annual UC Mini Maker Faire in 2013 attendance increased by 50% to over 600 people.  We will host the newly named Heartland Maker Fest this October. 
>>> 
>>> This year we plan to host another Summer Make-a-tion, buy some more tools, and expand our open hours.  In order to do this, we need contributions from you, our loyal supporters.   You can donate using a credit card here or put a cash donation in the donation jar or use our Square reader in the space. If you are able, consider becoming a sustaining supporter and donating $5, $10, $20, or more per month via this link. Any amount is appreciated. 
>>> 
>>> Thank you and keep on making!
>>> 
>>> Members of Makerspace Urbana
>>> 
>>> P.S.  If you are interested in becoming a key-holding member of the space with 24/7 access, stop by our general membership meeting on the last Sunday of the month.  Dues are $25/month plus $50 per year to be a member of the IMC.  
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> elizaBeth
>>> 
>>> 217-979-2820 cell
>>> 
>>> The bad news is you're falling through the air, nothing to hang on to, no parachute. The good news is, there's no ground. - Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
>>> 
>>> learn about my latest creative initiative:
>>> Art from the Streets!
>>> www.ucpeopleshistory.org
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Mon, Jul 28, 2014 at 5:13 PM, Emily Knox <emilyknox at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> So there are a couple of things going on.  Primarily we want to see what our base monthly sustaining income might be in order to possibly move to a larger space.
>>>> 
>>>> For the letter we might talk about the following:
>>>> 1. Making Summer Make-a-Tion free for all attendees
>>>> 2. Buying additional equipment  and supplies (a small milling machine, serger, jewelry making equipment)
>>>> 3. Supporting Heartland Maker Fest
>>>> 4. Electric Waste Orchestra stuff?
>>>> 
>>>> This is the first toe dip into a possible capital campaign. Just to see who our big supporters in the community might be
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Mon, Jul 28, 2014 at 1:39 PM, Elizacorps <elizacorps at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hi again,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Also, folks respond much better to specific requests than to general calls, so quick! Drum up specific financial needs... Think: WHY are we asking for $? What would people want to make happen? 
>>>>> 
>>>>> EzB 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Be kind to yourself
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Jul 28, 2014, at 9:03, Emily Knox <emilyknox at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Now that we have Stripe (thanks, Jeff!) we can send out a general donation request to our supporters.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Here's a draft letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pyKM_ISaG5dQF6qculJH6BLNW7E9bV5ImopY-kNa6Lw/edit?usp=sharing
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Please let me know what you think.   Any and all comments are welcome.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> We'll send this to our announcement list, post to our FB page, and tweet it out.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Thank you!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Emily
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Makerspace-keymembers mailing list
>>>>>> Makerspace-keymembers at lists.chambana.net
>>>>>> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/makerspace-keymembers
> 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.chambana.net/pipermail/makerspace-keymembers/attachments/20140801/e8e8c7c6/attachment-0001.html>