Search Results for: Fund raising
A New Year Brings New Opportunities and Challenges
Jen O'Brien January 11, 2011Happy New Year, fellow travelers in the healthy food movement! It has been a tremendous year with lots of hard work… many new customers and farmers coming to market and lots of challenges to continue to serve at our highest levels. Just like you, the Farmers Market Coalition has met challenges and successes with determination…
Bringing Community, Not Just Customers, into the Market
Stacy July 14, 2010By Sylvia Fagin and Jean Hamilton, Northeast Organic Farming Association-Vermont The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) is providing Vermont farmers markets with a new tool to bolster the support they receive from their communities. A short (18-page) manual entitled Engaging the Community for Farmers Market Success is now available on the NOFA-VT website.…
Mini-Grant Wrap-Up
Stacy April 14, 2010Last December, the Farmers Market Coalition awarded mini-grants of $500 each to support educational events for farmers market managers and producers in January-March 2010. How did our mini-grant recipients fare? Let’s take a look.
Chasing the Coveted (c)(3): The Trials and Tribulations of Form 1023
Stacy January 13, 2010Obtaining 501(c)(3) exemption status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may be one of the most effective ways to open doors for your farmers market— 501(c)(3) status holders have been known to wax poetic about how their exemption has increased their credibility and widened their access to funding from foundations and federal grants. However, as useful as 501(c)(3) status may be, there is no doubt that obtaining it can also be one of the most frustrating and challenging pursuits undertaken by farmers market managers and board members. Here, the Farmers Market Coalition answers a few of its most frequently asked questions about farmers markets and 501(c)(3) status.
FMC Awards Nine Educational Mini-Grants to Farmers Market Associations
StacyThis winter, the Farmers Market Coalition awarded mini-grants of $500 each to support educational events for farmers market managers and producers in early 2010. Take a look at our nine very deserving grant recipients, and the unique events their awards will support:
Planning Underway for MIFMA’s Market Manager Certificate Program
Stacy November 3, 2009Over the next year, MIFMA’s Professional Development Committee will develop the Certificate Program’s curriculum and promotional materials with a goal of launching the Program in November 2010. MIFMA’s Market Manager Certificate Program will include training for new market managers and continuing education for current and experienced market managers as well as networking and information sharing opportunities.
MIFFS & MIFMA Receive FMPP Grant to Train Managers
Stacy September 29, 2009A certificate program for market managers will provide training and education as well as networking and information sharing opportunities for market management, focusing on market governance, rules and enforcement, business planning, market growth management and recordkeeping, human relations and conflict management, marketing and outreach, food safety, and fundraising.
MIFFS & MIFMA Receive FMPP Grant to Train Managers
StacyA certificate program for market managers will provide training and education as well as networking and information sharing opportunities for market management, focusing on market governance, rules and enforcement, business planning, market growth management and recordkeeping, human relations and conflict management, marketing and outreach, food safety, and fundraising.
Market Manager Study Offers Snapshot of Market Characteristics
FMC July 29, 2009Data collected by USDA over the last ten years clearly demonstrates an increase in the number
of farmers markets nationwide. But are there consequences to having a prevalence of so many young markets? A newly released study from the Agricultural Marketing Service shows that in 2005, more than 30% of farmers markets in the U.S. were younger than five years old.
Growing the Grassroots: Markets & Community Organizing
FMCFarmers markets are incredibly powerful tools for community organizing. In gathering the same group of people – market day after market day – at the same time and in the same place, we already have what most advocates can only hope for: a solid base of community engagement, as well as a potent demonstration project. With our First Lady raising the profile of local, healthy food, there is no better time for farmers markets across the country to harness their grassroots energy in order to make an impact on the policy level.