Contribute to the Dream!
From Founder Megan North Shuford:
I’ve spent the past year devoted to creating The Dreams Followed (DF) Program. DF is a community accelerator that empowers emerging change-makers with financial and strategic support, mentorship and coaching while they develop and implement their positive and powerful community programs, solutions and visions!
We’re talking powerful, life-changing and hopefully world-changing work here people! And I’m asking for your support to help make this transformative and impactful program a reality.
What’s the word on the Dreams Followed Program?
8 DF participants will be selected from an in-depth application process. Each finalist will be awarded a :
1.) 6 month group coaching experience to bring their visions into being now AND
2.) $1000 community award towards their dream/vision that has powerful, positive community impact.
Examples of who could be a part of DF include:
A community member who has identified a need for alternative community health and has a plan for a sliding scale community herbal apothecary or healing center
Someone who has a vision for a community organizer training program, wherein youth in under-resourced communities are paid stipends to learn how to create positive change in their neighborhoods
Other visionaries, future non-profit leaders or social entrepreneurs
Again, the short-term is going full on with the DF program. The long term is even more exciting. My ultimate vision is to create a philanthropic foundation that pays folks a living wage salary to pursue their dreams that have powerful, positive community impact. Exciting right? This will eventually include a 3-5 year fellowship program that provides group coaching, mentoring, transformational leadership development and seed funding.
This Dreams Followed Program is the first tiny step towards making that long-term foundation vision a reality. In fact, it was created after I had the AHA that I don’t need a multi-million dollar endowment in place to take action now. So I designed the program and most recently this crowdfunding campaign to do this good work NOW.
And with your support we can make this happen!
Contribute to the Dream!
What We Need & What You Get
I’ve got the vision, the skills, the drive and the commitment. Here’s where you come in- We cannot continue to do this without your support. That’s why we’re providing awesome incentives via our indiegogo campaign so we all get to share in the fun!
And here’s the breakdown of what we’ll need to start:
Minimum Program Budget: $12500
8 x $1000 individual grant awards to selected DF program finalists=$8000; $2850 for program costs, tech and materials including: password protected website development/hosting and software subscription fees, equipment, community outreach, trademark and consultant fees); $1150 for indiegogo, credit card and paypal fees (estimated combined total of 8-10% of money earned); $500 for incentive items cost, postage and handling
This is a minimalist budget and we are gratefully poised for this or more. Anything raised above $12500 will go towards hiring staff (we are currently completely volunteer driven), program improvements and seed funding for future programs. In all transparency, my deepest desire and goal is to raise enough money to fund a full time Dreams Followed Program Director and to hire a Program Assistant. However, I set the modest goal of $12,500 because I am committed to doing this regardless of whether further funding is secured to hire staff. I’ve already happily put in countless hours and I am joyfully ready to put in as many more as it takes to make this powerful, impactful program come to life.
THANK YOU SO MUCH in advance for your consideration in support of us! If you know you’re ready to give, GO FOR IT! You can come on back and read the rest as soon as you’re done. It will all be right here waiting for you!
The Impact
I’m working with the assumption that Dreams Followed has the potential to create lasting positive ripple effects throughout individuals lives and the communities they serve. And eventually creating a much larger positive global impact over time.
Some questions I have for you…
What would it feel like to be a part of a movement that unlocks the genius within and empowers positive, creative, compassionate transformational leaders and impactful changemakers?
What if being a part of this movement has a lasting positive impact on your life and the lives of those you love as well as hundreds, thousands or even millions of other beings on the planet?
What would happen if this program didn’t exist? What might we lose?
This program is designed to accelerate inspired and inspiring participants success towards effectively, thoughtfully, consciously and powerfully bringing their dreams/visions into being. The sooner we create and launch this program, the sooner they will have the opportunity to create the powerful, positive community impact they are capable of.
Are you in? All donation amounts are welcome!
If you have yet to do so, Please JOIN US by contributing to the dream now. We’ll be thanking you and I’m confident you’ll be thanking us too!
Potential Challenges and Solutions
This is an experiment. As with anything, there are risks and challenges that may lay ahead. This includes quality and quantity of applicants, future sustainability of the program and continued community support as well as the actual impact and outcomes created in the 6 months.
To ensure we have the greatest chances of receiving quality and a healthy quantity of qualified applicants we have developed a grassroots marketing campaign that will put the program in front of thousands of ideal candidates. As well, we have a sustainability plan that includes revenue generation, in-depth program evaluation and strategic and thoughtful community partnerships. Nelia Hoffman
Each applicant pays a $33 application fee and will receive a digital product, The Vision Accelerator. The fees will support costs of processing the application and paying staff as well as help to ensure applicants are also invested in the program.
For those of you who don’t know me, this program is a culmination of my 15+ years in non-profit program management and development and 5 years as a transformational coach and conscious entrepreneur. I’ve effectively served and educated hundreds of folks to create more authentic joyful lives as well as designed and facilitated a multitude of group coaching experiences and workshops for diverse communities.
I’ve decided that everything I do in life and my life’s work is in service to creating a reality where love and compassion are at the core of a pervasive new world order. This program is a part of that ultimate vision.
Other Ways You Can Help
Would you be willing to share this project with at least 5-10 friends? If yes, post our indiegogo campaign link on facebook, your own website or share in an email with friends!
Have a blog or media outlet? Interview Megan and share with your community all that is possible.
Apply to become a member of the Dreams Followed Advisory board.
Host a Fundraising House Party.
Once the application is live, share it with those you believe will be ideal candidates.
Connect us with other donors who believe in our mission and vision.
Thank you for taking the time to check this out and considering helping in whatever ways you are able. If you have any questions about Dreams Followed or my work as a transformation coach please feel free to email me at megan@dreamsfollowed.org.