11-2SG Medway Community Farm
Grant Round:
2011 September
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
900.00
Grant amount awarded:
$0.00
Attachments
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
The project consists of producing a calendar for 2012 that photo captures the various activities on the Medway Community Farm throughout the year. The calendars will be sold at our fall events to generate revenue as a fundraiser. The intent is to have a photo contest and to have farm supporters submit pictures they have taken throughout the year and winners will be selected. The winners will be given a calendar with appropriate accreditation for their picture(s). Quotes were received for the production of the calendars using recycled heavy stock paper. The cost of production is $450.00/50 calendars. It is anticipated that depending on the demand, two runs will be required. The calendars will be sold for $15.00 each, realizing a net income of $1500, if the grant is awarded and if all calendars are sold. This project will promote the community farm, further engage the community and farm supporters to participate in the farm’s activities and help raise funds for continued operations. Calendars will be available by mid October and sold at the fall festival, pot luck dinner-on-the-land/luminary and film festival events.
Primary Issue Area:
Food
Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:
| Proposed Item | Estimated $ Amount | Would grant funds be used for this item? | Type Of Expense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printing of MCFI 2012 calendars to be sold at fundraising events | $900.00 | Yes | Materials |
Whom does your group need to make this project happen?
Please explain how your group will engage members from your community in this project.
The project is driven by our marketing chair, volunteers and farm manager. A newsletter announcing the contest is being complied for our 800+ farm supporters and volunteers who will be asked to submit digital pictures by the end of the end of the month. We hope to contact local business to help sell the calendars in their stores thereby continuing to raise awareness.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $1,500.00 | the sale of calendars to MCFI supporters |
Please list these materials or services
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
The sale of calendars with pictures of volunteers, interns and farm staff and food will capture the seasonal activities on the community farm and will strengthen our supporter’s commitment to this project. By having this calendar in houses and businesses as a form of outreach, we hope to engage new supporters and volunteers to the farm, continue to spread the word about the farm and continue to foster a community spirit in Medway. The measure of success will be to sell all 100 calendars before the end of the year.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
800
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
MCFI needs to broaden our outreach programs and requires corporate fundraising expertise. In order to fulfill our plan to provide living quarters for our farm manager and interns and create a community center for indoor activities (classrooms, kitchen etc..), we still need to raise funds to complete this task. We have partnered with the Town of Medway who released $50000 for materials and the Tri-County Vocational School for labor to start the rehabilitation of the outside of a house that is on the property. We will need funding to complete the outside and inside of the structure so that it is habitable and handicap accessible.
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
MCFI has a very cohesive board who is managing the effort and a supportive advisory board made up of people who are managing organic farms and non-profit organizations. We have an experienced accountant for our financials, a lawyer for legal issues, a marketeer experienced with social media and web and graphic/design, an experienced grant writer with non-profit organization experience and an education chair. In addition we have a superb farm manager, interns and volunteers with whom we could not have been so successful in our first full year of operation.