Fundraising Overview

(summary of ideas generated and gathered over the years)

Identified Needs:

• Capacity building - manager, paid staff with expertise

• Renovation – floor, 2^nd sink

• Equipment/Supplies – storage (bins, shelving), refrigerators, coolers, computerized sales system (POS)

  
  

  Co-op Assets/What Makes Us Different and Great

• Connection to local farmers - we support small, organic Northeast farms

• EBT – we accept electronic benefit transfer supporting local income community members

• Discounts – Supporting seniors, students

• 100% organic – only store to carry only organic produce?

• Ethical Committee – ordering connected with ethics of members and customers

• Only member - run co-op in NYC

• Integral in LES community - In operation for 25 years, regular potlucks

• Donations – we’ve donated food for community events (WBAI, Social Tees, compostables to community gardens)

  
  

  General Categories that Grants Fund – If we expand services and role in community…

• Health

• Poverty

• Food

• Arts

• Education

• Cultural

• Environmental

• Community

• Humanities (lecture series, literature, etc)

  
  

  Ideas for Expanding Services and Co-op Role in Community

• delivering food to seniors, restaurants, other customers?

• lecture series on health and food related topics (use space in neighborhood?)

• organized farmers market tours

• hands-on workshops: composting, making herbal remedies, seed sprouting etc.

• workshops on cooperative businesses

• having schools/youth/others visit to learn about produce, other things in store

• Participating in Street Fairs

  
  

  Needs In Order to Begin

  a) applying for non-profit status (if co-op decides to pursue this) b) applying for grants

  
  

• Copy of operating budget

• Mission statement / history

• Press Kit: press coverage, pamphlet, “1 sheet” overview of what we do, who we are

• Testimonies from farmers and other clients with whom relations are good

• What we’ve spent: equipment, capital improvement items and renovations

• List of suppliers: dry good and produce

• Copies of past grants (whether awarded or not)