A Fund Drive for the Farmers Market Federation of NY
What is it:
“Keep Markets Growing” is a one-week virtual fund drive over Facebook. Our goal is to create an engaging online fundraiser, which will help build awareness of the Federation and its mission of support for farmers markets, direct market farmers/vendors and the diverse communities they serve. During the event drive, we will be asking for tax-deductible donations of any size to help support the Federation’s programs and services. We will also use this opportunity to create awareness of who we are and what we do by promoting the work of the Federation, including short stories/testimonials from market managers, as well as photos and messages highlighting the network of managers and marketplaces that benefit from the Federation’s work including: SNAP and nutrition-focused coupon programs encouraging food access and local farm support, trainings, resources, networking forums, advocacy, annual conferences, market - producer directory and the FMM PRO Manager Certification Course.
When will the fund drive take place?
Monday, April 19 – Sunday, April 25
With Spring blooming, the opening of outdoor farmers markets coming soon puts the idea of farmers markets and local food at the forefront of peoples’ minds. This makes April the perfect time to promote the work of our amazing markets and the Federation that helps support their success.
How will it work:
We will create a “Keep Markets Growing” event page over Facebook for the fund drive. Each day of the drive, the Federation’s Facebook page will feature 2-3 posts including videos, photos and text highlighting our story, markets and mission. Each day will feature a program or function of the Federation. We will post video testimonies from market managers, partners and sponsors that speak to the value of the program. Then text and photo posts will follow up the video testimonials. Each post will feature a donation button and encourage followers to donate their support for the Federation, farmers markets and local food!
How can Market managers and partners assist us with this effort:
We are asking you to help us spread the word! The first step is to LIKE the Federation's Facebook page. As our Fund drive posts are made during the week of April 19 – 25, we ask you to please share those posts on your own market/organization social media pages to help us reach out to a wider audience of NY market enthusiasts. By supporting our efforts and helping us to reach market consumers, potential donors will know they are helping their favorite local market- as well as markets, vendors and farmers across NY State- continue to grow and thrive for local farmers, customers and communities.
Why are we hosting a fund drive:
This is the first time the Federation has done a major fundraiser. The Federation no longer charges a membership fee for markets. By hosting a fundraiser, we can continue to offer a no-fee membership to markets in the state, strengthening the Federation and New York’s farmers markets, and ensuring we will “Keep Markets Growing!”