Crowdfund Your Dreams Into Reality; One Step at a Time
At The Bulls of Durham, we KNOW crowdfunding. We've raised over $76,000 for small businesses in the Triangle, NC. Whether you collaborate with us or crowdfund on your own, we've got what you need to succeed.
Step-by-Step Crowdfunding Success
We have A LOT of crowdfunding experience and expertise. Better yet, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best community, which knows a rising tide floats all boats. We offer an annual Crowdfunding Collaboration Opportunity and the knowledge to host your own successful crowdfunding campaign. Bookmark this page as your helpful Crowdfunding Resource.
You Can Fund Your Dream
Curious about crowdfunding? Are traditional avenues of financing not working out for you or your timeline? Let's talk.
Yes, crowdfunding is a great way to get the funds you need now to get you where you want to be tomorrow. That said, it's not free money. It's hard-earned money AND it's taxable income. So befriend an accountant and include them in your planning sessions.
Here, you will find:
- Information on how you can take the first step in your crowdfunding journey
- If crowdfunding is the right path for you
- Our past successes
- How to map out and set sail on your own crowdfunding journey,
- What it looks like to collaborate with us.
Don't wait for us. Take the first step TODAY.
The Preparation Phase is the key to a successful crowdfunding campaign. We have the resources you need to get started right now.
The Three Phases of Successful Crowdfunding
There are three *equally* important phases to a successful crowdfunding campaign.
Pre-launch Prep: The Foundation for Success (and Maybe a Reality Check)
This phase is more than just laying the groundwork – it’s your opportunity to honestly assess if crowdfunding is the right fit for you at this time. Crowdfunding campaigns are incredibly public endeavors, requiring constant vulnerability as you share your story and progress… or lack thereof.
They’re also highly time-consuming, demanding significant time and effort throughout the entire campaign. Once launched, expect to dedicate an average of 40-80 hours a week. How long can you sustain that? Keep that in mind when you’re planning how long you want your campaign to last. Strong pre-launch prep and a dedicated support team can significantly reduce these time demands.
If you learn nothing else from us about crowdfunding, take this gem with you: Most funds, especially large-sum contributions, are secured before the crowdfunding campaign goes live.
During this crucial phase, you’ll:
- Define Your Goals: Be clear on what you’re trying to achieve. How much money do you need, for what, and what will be the impact on your business once you have made this investment?
- Identify Your Audience: Who are you trying to reach with your message? What resonates with them?
- Craft a Compelling Story: Connect with your audience on an emotional level. Pull them in and make them a part of your story. Remember, it’s not just about the money you need now – it’s about making connections that will become recurring revenue for years.
- Embrace Reality: Determine the exact amount of money you need, including a 10% buffer for unforeseen expenses… like inflation.
- Plan Your Purchases: Create a clear timeline for what you need to buy and when. Break your big goal into small, manageable steps and lump those into milestones. It’s important to ensure you have a milestone that’s an easy win for you and your audience to start things off right.
- Analyze Impact: Understand how each investment contributes to your business goals.
- Set Deadlines: Establish realistic timelines for acquiring the funds and completing your project.
- Choose Your Launch Date Wisely: Avoid national holidays or other events that may overshadow your campaign. A strong launch is critical for building momentum and driving success.
Remember, this pre-launch prep is your chance to approach crowdfunding strategically. You can set yourself up for a successful campaign, or you might discover crowdfunding isn’t the best fit right now. Either way, you’ll gain valuable insights for the future of your business.
Launch + Live Your Campaign: Saddle Up for the Ride!
Crowdfunding isn’t just about launching a campaign – it’s about sprinting a marathon. It’s an intense, exhilarating phase where your hard work shines. Here’s what to expect:
The First 24 Hours: Setting the Stage for Success
The very first day of your campaign is crucial. It sets the tone and often reflects the overall outcome. That’s why the pre-launch prep work is so important. By building momentum beforehand, you’ll be well-positioned to meet or exceed your first milestone within those critical 24 hours.
Daily Grind (and Hustle):
- Content Machine: You become a live reporter to your crowdfunding campaign with one breaking news update after another. Regular updates, engaging stories, and behind-the-scenes glimpses are crucial. This means photos, videos, social media posts, and engaging updates on your campaign platform. Partnering with folks with large online networks prior to your launch becomes a huge asset when you’re live. Now your breaking news updates are reaching new eyes.
- Responding to the Call: You’ll be the face of your campaign, fielding questions, addressing concerns, and expressing gratitude. Expect comments, messages, and emails requiring timely responses.
- The Unexpected: Curveballs will happen! Be prepared to adjust your strategy or create content in response to unexpected events or opportunities. More happens behind the scenes in crowdfunding than the public knows.
Dedication is Key:
- No Days Off: While the excitement is high, there are no weekends or holidays during your campaign. Consistent engagement is essential. And this is where you leverage having a support crew in place.
- Hustle with Heart: Show your supporters you’re all in. Your dedication speaks volumes about your commitment to your business.
Transparency Matters:
- Vulnerability is Strength: Be open about the challenges. Share your progress (both successes and lessons learned). This builds trust and establishes you as a relatable leader.
Remember: Your active engagement during the “Live” phase demonstrates your dedication to the venture. It shows potential backers you’re serious about building a sustainable, thriving business.
Don’t Stop the Momentum: Celebrate, Analyze, and Keep Your Community Engaged
Your crowdfunding campaign might be over, but your journey with your supporters has just begun! This is a crucial time to show your appreciation, analyze your results, and keep your community invested in your success.
Post-Campaign Wrap-Up:
- Fulfill Your Promises: This may involve delivering perks to contributors, providing updates on how the funds are being used, or hosting a celebratory event (online or in-person) for your supporters.
- Embrace Transparency: Conduct a post-campaign review. Share the final results (funds raised, milestones achieved), what went well, and areas for improvement. This honesty builds trust and showcases your commitment to learning.
- Document Your Journey: This campaign is a valuable part of your business story. Keep detailed records of achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. This information will be beneficial for future endeavors like securing loans or attracting investors.
Expressing Gratitude:
- Thank Everyone: Craft a heartfelt thank-you message for all your contributors, regardless of donation amount. This shows genuine appreciation and fosters long-term relationships. Personalize these messages when possible.
- Public Recognition: Publicly acknowledge your supporters in a social media post, campaign update, or press release. This expresses your gratitude to the world and inspires others to contribute to future projects.
Staying Connected:
- Regular Updates: Provide your community with progress updates on a regular basis. Share how their contributions are making a difference and how your business is growing. Aim for updates at least 3 times within the first year (e.g., 3 months, 6 months, 1 year).
- Exclusive Content: Offer exclusive content or early access to products/services to your crowdfunding supporters. This shows your appreciation and creates a sense of belonging.
- Celebrate Milestones: Let your supporters be part of your continued success. Celebrate reaching significant milestones and achieving long-term goals.
- Grand Opening Invitations: If you have a grand opening event, extend a special invitation to your crowdfunding supporters. This strengthens your connection and shows how their contributions helped make it possible.
Leveraging Your Success:
- Press Release Power: Don’t miss the opportunity to share your success story with the media. Craft a press release highlighting your crowdfunding achievements and future plans. Media outlets often love a good success story, and this could generate additional exposure.
Didn’t Reach Your Goal?
Crowdfunding isn’t always a “win or lose” scenario. Even if you didn’t reach your full target, celebrate the progress you made and the funds you did raise.
- Transparency is Key: Be honest with your community about the outcome. Share how you plan to use the funds raised and your next steps moving forward.
- Alternative Funding: Consider alternative funding options such as personal investment, small business loans, or grants. Share these plans with your supporters, and highlight their contributions as a key piece of the puzzle.
- There is Magic Here: In our Crowdfunding Collaboration, Roots for the Reefer with Tall Grass Food Box, we fell just short of their $34,000 stretch goal to buy a refrigerated truck. We were elated and grateful to have raised $32,380 – especially considering their initial goal was a $5000 downpayment. We shared our ‘final’ amount with our audience and immediately received an email asking where to mail a contribution check for $1620.
Crowdfunding is a powerful tool for building relationships and generating community support. Following these steps can transform your campaign into a springboard for long-term success.
We have an entire Crowdfunding Course that breaks down everything you need to know and implement from beginning to end. It sets you up for success whether you partner with us in your crowdfunding efforts or not.
Our Crowdfunding Course goes beyond the basics and highlights the advantages of going beyond mainstream crowdfunding platforms.
This course and all the information we provide help you avoid the pitfalls of hefty fees, unrealistic deadlines, and the pressure of “all-or-nothing” funding models.
At this time, this course is exclusively availaBULL to BULLish Market Members. Reach out to our HERd for more information – Membership@TheBullsOfDurham.com.
Are You Our Next Crowdfunding Collaborator?
We're looking for a passionate entrepreneur in the Triangle, NC, who wants to raise $24,000 or more and is willing to do the work to make it a reality. Do you have a big dream and a clear vision for how to use crowdfunding to take your business to the next level? Are you ready to break down your funding needs into achievable milestones?
Here’s why partnering with us is the best move for your business:
- Dedicated Campaign Platform: We’ll host your campaign on our high-traffic, trusted, BULLoved website, TheBullsOfDurham.com, maximizing exposure to our engaged audience.
- Community Powerhouse: Leverage our extensive network through email marketing, our online community “The Durham Insider Community,” and active social media channels.
- Expert Support: Our HERd has experience crowdfunding over $500,000 over the course of decades and stays up to date on current online marketing and strategy best-practices. Plus, you’ll get help from a bestselling author to craft your campaign copy.
But that’s not all! We stand out from the crowd with these unique advantages:
Personalized Application Process.
Direct Access to Supporters
Focus on Sustainable Growth
More Money & In Real Time
No Perks Headaches
Engaged Community
The Bulls of Durham Annual Crowdfunding Collaborations
Our experience, expertise, and unBULLievaBULL community are unmatched. Together, we have raised over $76,000 for local businesses in the NC Triangle.
Crowdfunding Applications Are Open
5th Annual Crowdfunding Collaboration Applications Open!
Our application to be our 5th Annual Crowdfunding Collaborator is officially! This year we're looking for a big dream who wants to raise $24,000 or more and is willing to put in the work it takes to do so.
September 2024
Triangle NC
Crowdfunding Collaboration
Liberation Stationed
Raised $21,702 to open the first Black-owned children's bookstore in North Carolina.
April - May 2023
Raleigh, NC
Crowdfunding Collaboration
Jump-Start Jala's Business
Raised $1611.19 + over $10,000 in in-kind contributions, such as supplies, branding and website design, to get Waggin' Tails Pet Care Company up and running in just one week.
June 2022
Durham, NC
Crowdfunding Collaboration
Roots for the Reefer
Raised $34,000 for Tall Grass Food Box CSA, who exclusively source their produce from NC Black farmers, to purchase a refrigerated truck. Expanding their efforts and creating the capacity for food delivery services to vulnerable communities.
February - March 2021
Durham, NC
Crowdfunding Collaboration
Growing Together Campaign
Raised $10,569.51 for The Black Farmers' Market to expand their business, efforts, and impact. Reached and exceeded our original $8000 goal in 8 days.
June 2020
Durham, NC