We are beginning to get contributions through the widget and that is exciting. Our target number -- $50,000 -- reflects a three year budget and is inclusive of the amounts we hope to obtain through the Case Foundation's Make-It-Your-Own grant process. We would like to independently raise $10,000 to $15,000 through individual contributions which is the amount needed for either a comprehensive first year pilot or the add-ons we would like to make in the second year.
How do funds break down for the pilot? First my time and other consultant time for designing the project and facilitating the pilot dialogues will be donated. We are projecting $3,000 in payments to student interns and administrative costs associated with developing discussion guides and coordinating the dialogue groups. $2,520 is our estimate for what would be used in recruiting low income and other hard to reach segments of the community and this includes funds for bus or fuel reimbursement as needed. $2,000 would be allocated to legal and accounting fees; $1,800 for paper, pens and food used by the dialogue groups; $400 for printing costs; $80 for postage; and $200 for an annual subscription to Survey Monkey which will allow us to use on-line evaluations and also create public surveys. Additional summer workshops could be added for $1,000 for a half day program. Additional funds would also allow for training of additional facilitators which would allow for more dialogue groups. Funds not used in the first year would support expansion of the program in the second and third years. An independent accounting firm will track all revenues and costs, and this accounting will be available to donors, as will summaries of program evaluations. We hope you can help!