[Makerspace-keymembers] Fundraising Letter

Thu Jul 31 14:22:51 EDT 2014

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
<http://www.makerspaceurbana.org/donte> 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/20140731/88693b4a/attachment.html>