Boost Your Community Project: From Park Makeovers to Arts Festivals

A project will only capture people’s interest if it is easy to grasp, and presenting your idea effectively starts with your pitch.

Misha Dhanak, CEO of Spacehive, a crowdfunding platform focused on community projects, advises, “Keep your title brief, clear, and direct. If you find yourself explaining it over again, it’s likely too complex or ambiguous.”

In addition to describing what the project entails, why it’s important, who it will benefit, and an initial cost estimate, aim to weave in a narrative.

“Instead of simply stating, ‘We want to upgrade the local park,’ it’s far more compelling to say, ‘Local families aim to transform a neglected park into a vibrant area where kids can explore food and nature.’ This not only tells a story but also outlines a vision that potential supporters can envision and want to be part of,” Dhanak emphasizes.

Assemble Your Community First

Successful fundraising efforts typically don’t start with strangers. Initial support often comes from personal and local connections—friends, family, neighbors, fellow parents, and so forth.

After rallying your immediate network, consider broadcasting your idea through local community WhatsApp groups and Facebook pages.

This approach not only spreads the word but ensures you’re “making as much noise as possible,” according to Dhanak.

The core team often emerges from this group, bringing various skills and a willingness to assist. Daniel Jones, chair of Myddleton Road Community Benefit Society, highlights the importance of a committed, skilled team in transforming a former bar/restaurant in Bowes Park, North London, into a community hub named The Hillbilly Social.

“Facing numerous challenges is inevitable, and having the right team is critical. A small, dedicated group with diverse skills and persistence is invaluable,” he notes.

Dhanak also stresses the importance of recognizing and utilizing your strengths: “If you excel in planning and budgeting but lack confidence in marketing, seek someone within your community who can support you with that. If your project requires extensive planning permission, perhaps a local architect could lend a hand,” she suggests.

It’s also beneficial to connect with individuals who have successfully managed similar fundraising efforts.

Dhanak reassures that lack of experience shouldn’t be a deterrent: “Just because you haven’t done it before doesn’t mean it’s not achievable. Approximately 65% of Spacehive users are first-time fundraisers.”

Engage Offline Support

Not everyone is active online or uses social media. Utilizing offline methods such as distributing posters in cafés, handing out flyers, and engaging in conversations at local events can capture an audience that might otherwise be unaware of your project.

“While social media is crucial, don’t overlook your everyday networks—school newsletters, local fitness classes, community choirs, pubs, and library boards,” Dhanak advises.

Jones started his project with surveys at a local market and a local Facebook post to gauge interest. The positive feedback they received boosted their confidence to proceed. “We set up a small market booth with flyers and volunteers, engaging with people about our plans and asking them to complete the survey online.

“After a few weeks, we had pledges from around 200 local residents amounting to £120,000, which suggested our idea had potential,” he recalls.

Such face-to-face interactions foster trust and enthusiasm, particularly within tight-knit communities. “Our surveys were instrumental in ensuring community support, allowing us to consistently affirm, ‘we’re acting on what the community desires’,” adds Jones.

Consider Your Structure

If your initiative is a straightforward volunteer-run community group aiming to enhance your local area without a large budget or the need for staff and premises, then forming an unincorporated association might be the best fit. This is a simple structure that requires just a constitution agreement and no formal registration, according to the Resource Centre, a charity that supports community groups in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex.

Increasingly, local community organizations are evolving into, or starting as, community benefit societies, notes Co-operatives UK, a federation supporting co-ops nationwide. This structure is ideal for not-for-profit initiatives aiming to benefit the broader community. It often enables these organizations to raise funds through community share offerings, allowing locals and others to invest by purchasing shares.

Entities like the Financial Conduct Authority and Co-operatives UK provide guidelines on their websites for setting up a community benefit society.

Select the Appropriate Platform

The myriad of crowdfunding platforms available can make or break your project’s success. Some platforms, like Spacehive, offer ongoing support, while others, such as GoFundMe, are great for tracking donations.

“The platform you opt for essentially becomes an extension of your idea,” explains Dhanak.

If you think you’d benefit from more direct support, consider that in your decision. Also, check if the platform has connections with potential funders like local councils or businesses.

“When potential supporters see familiar names like their local council or a well-known brand associated with a project, it significantly boosts their confidence in its success,” Dhanak adds.

However, remember that some platforms take a cut from the funds you raise. Jones advises considering this when choosing a platform. “You don’t need to spend on expensive survey platforms. We used Google Forms, which is free, for our surveys.

“For fundraising, we contemplated well-known funding platforms but realized their processing fees would take about 2.5% to 3% from our total, a substantial amount since we raised over £280,000. Instead, we set up a simple website and used Stripe for payment processing, which had significantly lower fees,” he explains.

He continues: “We also encouraged larger contributions to be made via bank transfer, saving over £5,000 in fees. Stripe managed all necessary details for more than 500 investors, which was crucial.”

Secure Funding Like Grants

Numerous organizations and programs offer financial support through grants or awards. Consider applying to charities and trusts that align with your project’s goals.

The King’s Trust website provides a list of such organizations.

Applications to the co-op local community fund are currently open and must be submitted by midnight on 6 July. They’re seeking new projects for their members to support, with a £5m pot available for not-for-profit groups that need funding for specific local community projects.

Collaborate with Trusted Partners

Partnering with local schools, community centers, councils, charities, or businesses can enhance your project’s credibility and resource pool. It demonstrates that your project is well-integrated within the community.

Dhanak emphasizes the importance of approaching potential partners with a well-defined plan on how your efforts will benefit the community and how you will collaborate to bring these benefits to fruition.

“Think about what your project delivers and who in your local area could be a match. Approach local businesses and community leaders for support,” she suggests.

“By adding value to the neighborhood, there are numerous compelling reasons for them to support you, whether through donations, promotions, materials, or even expertise. Well-known partners can provide more than just financial support; their networks, resources, and credibility can open new opportunities and enhance your project’s visibility,” she adds.

Dhanak also notes that local authorities are generally supportive of such initiatives and advises exploring the various funds and programs they offer.

Approaching potential partners with a clear partnership proposal and understanding of mutual benefits can even lead to simple yet valuable outcomes like letters of support.