Fundraising Working Group

The Fundraising Working Group (aka 'Buy the Building' aka 'Until the Revolution' Working Group) focuses on fundraising campaigns and negotiations toward buying the building. Fundraising works closely with Finance and Communications to develop short- and long-term strategies for increasing our cashflow. While the bulk of income pursued is through charitable means (donor solicitations, grant-writing, benefit events, etc;), the group is open to all creative ideas for raising capital so long as they do not compromise the project's overarching Values.

Joining

• Check the Omni's calendar and attend the next Fundraising WG meeting.
• Sign up for the mailing list.
• Suggest an idea for raising money on this wiki!

Fundraising History

• In early 2015, we ran a successful IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign and raised a total of $80K to improve the building, pay back most community loans, and sustain the project over the course of the following year.
• At the end of 2015, we secured an anonymous $1 million donor (contingent on purchasing the property) and began negotiations with a potential $1 million lender (who unfortunately backed out of the deal in late February of 2016) and the Bay Area Community Land Trust.
• In mid-2016, we converted half of our sublease agreements into fiscally-sponsored projects, sent off our 1023 application for federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and initiated relationships with several banks and credit unions to apply for a commercial real estate mortgage loan for $1 million.
• In late 2016, an anonymous donor-lender agreed to donate $1 million and lend us the additional $975K needed to purchase the building! As of December 7th, 2016 the property is now owned by Omni Commons, our 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
• In late 2017, we launched a crowdfunding campaign to upgrade the commercial kitchen in the basement.

Meeting Minutes Archive

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