The title of my blog today is a quote from TLC CEO Diane Sontum. She believes that the practice of gratitude can change the world—and I want to share a personal story of how it changed mine.

Every day during TLC team meetings, Diane asks us to share something we are grateful for. At first, I thought this was a little strange and I didn’t have much to say. But, I didn’t like coming up short, so I started to think about gratitude more, paying particular attention to the things I appreciate. Now, the practice has become part of my life and I scan my world every day through the lens of gratitude. I look for things that make me smile–and even when things challenge or upset me, I find something in the situation that I can appreciate.

One of the things I am grateful for about my job at TLC, and how it encourages gratitude to spill out in communities on so many levels. Campaign creators appreciate contributions, contributors appreciate the opportunity to support something they believe in, and residents appreciate being part of a caring community!

http://365thankyounotes.info

 


headshot of Katelyn Heller customer service for The Local Crowd

Katelyn Heller

Author | TLC Success Coach

Adventure-seeking success coach who loves exploring Wyoming’s landscapes with my two fur babies.

The Local Crowd is transitioning to a member-owned cooperative and the first 50 members to join will be the Founding Members.

What does it mean to be a member of the TLC Cooperative?

Membership is Ownership! As a member, your community will enjoy all the features and benefits of a localized crowdfunding platform; plus, your organization will receive a percentage of the platform fees. You will also have a voice in the ongoing management and future of TLC, so you can grow it from the grassroots—and keep it focused on real, local needs.

Founding Members will be part of the formation of this new and powerful cooperative. Their input will build the foundation and shape the future. Founding Members will be recognized as the visionaries who created the initial structure and set the intention for the work to come. These Founding Members will be part of a permanent web page noting their contributions.

Some Founding Members may also want to serve on the Transition Team to develop organizational documents and an initial operations plan. Much work has already been done, so this process won’t be as demanding as starting from scratch. It will be a great way to get to know your fellow TLCers from around the country and share your talents. Some members may want to serve on the cooperative board once elections are held. Fill out the Co-op Interest Form now to let us know how you would like to participate.

The opportunity to become a Founding Member happens only once. The time is now!

If you are new to TLC or would like a refresher, here’s a quick two-minute video that will bring you up to date.

TLC Cooperative Intro from The Local Crowd on Vimeo.

We hope to hear from you soon!

 

Reaching your campaign goal is a reason to celebrate, because you’ve done all the right things, and, yay!, it worked! Yet, what happens when you reach your goal and you still have days or weeks left on your campaign? Use this as an opportunity to raise even more money by creating a stretch goal.

 

A stretch goal is a goal you activate once your campaign surpasses its initial funding goal. Plan for it well in advance. Just like a musician must be ready with an encore set before stepping on stage; you must be ready with your stretch goal long before you hit the launch button. Plan out how much you believe you can realistically raise above your initial goal — and how the new funds will be used. Announce the new goal with fanfare and tell everyone how the additional funds will amplify and improve your original project.

 

That’s what Relative Theatrics did— stretching their initial $9, 000 goal to $12,000, and ultimately raising $12,335!

 


headshot of Katelyn Heller customer service for The Local Crowd

Katelyn Heller

Author | TLC Success Coach

Adventure-seeking success coach who loves exploring Wyoming’s landscapes with my two fur babies.

When looking at a crowdfunding campaign from the outside, we often view the funding goal as a random number that someone pulled out of a hat. But setting a funding goal is actually a very strategic decision that takes several steps to make.

Start by visualizing your project needs in three stages—what you need to make the project happen, what you want to make it better or more complete, and what you wish for to make it rocking awesome! Your actual campaign goal will probably be somewhere along the spectrum of all those dollar amounts, based on the size of your network.

How do you figure out the size of your network? Begin by taking an inventory of your contacts. Use a spreadsheet to jot down everyone you know—your friends, family, social media contacts, people on your mailing list—everyone. Once your network list is complete, check out our Mini Magic Campaign Calculator to determine the amount of money you can raise, and set your goal accordingly. Knowing that your goal is achievable will inspire you, motivate you, and build your confidence throughout your campaign.


headshot of Katelyn Heller customer service for The Local Crowd

Katelyn Heller

Author | TLC Success Coach

Adventure-seeking success coach who loves exploring Wyoming’s landscapes with my two fur babies.