Before you post your full project application, you’ll need:

  • an amazing photo
  • a short, pithy 230 character description of your project

  • an inspiring description of your project (max 250 words)
  • 
a rationale for why you're approaching your work (max 250 words)
  • a timeline or list of milestones (max 250 words)

  • a line item budget



If you have an idea but you don’t feel ready to post the full project application and start fundraising, click here. OR If you have an idea that’s ready for primetime, a fundraising target set, and a team assembled, go ahead and post your full project application here.

share your idea!

 

start your project!

Want to bring that idea to life? ioby can help.

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On ioby, anyone with a great idea for change in the neighborhood can raise funds, find volunteers and promote the project. To be an ioby project, you must:

  • Have primarily public benefit, rather than private benefit.
  • Benefit your neighborhood's community, local environment or both.
  • Produce tangible, measurable and measured results. These should be immediately apparent to one or more of our five senses.
  • Be local to the project site.

Why should you use ioby?

ioby is designed to make sure anyone with a good idea for environmental change gets the money and support they need on time. When you post your project on ioby, you can instantly:

  • Collect tax-deductible donations
  • Get fiscal sponsorship*
  • Find new volunteers and new donors
  • Receive one-on-one technical assistance
  • Join us for trainings workshops
  • Raise money faster with matching funds

*Projects outside the greater New York City, Miami or Memphis metro areas without 501(c)3 status will need to find a fiscal sponsor

How ioby Works

Raising money from people can be much easier than applying for grants, and unlike some crowdfunding platforms, ioby’s mission is to make sure your project is successful. That’s why we strive to have lower fees than other platforms and negotiate for vendor discounts and raise money for regular matching campaigns. In addition, we have a unique Flexible Finish policy so when you’re close to the total amount you need to raise, we’ll help you get there in time, and let you easily raise more than your planned budget.

Want more info?

For more details, you can check out our criteria and eligibility. We also have some tips on applying and tips for finding a fiscal sponsor if you want to read those, too. Grassroots fundraising is super important to us, and we have a lot of information and workshops available to help you successfully fund your important work. To sign up for a workshop about online fundraising or to learn more about ioby, please click here.

If you want to learn more about ioby, visit our About and Help pages. 

Hear it from people like you:

“The 462 Halsey Community Garden would not be as far along as it is without the fund raising help of ioby. They were so helpful and accommodating, utilizing their fiscal sponsorship allowed us to save money on buying supplies!” 

-Shatia Jackson, 462 Halsey, Project Leader

“I had an idea but didn’t know where to start. ioby reached out to their network and found the people I needed to talk to. ioby not only helped get my project started but they also attended the cleanup I organized. The folks at ioby are a great group of people making a huge difference one project at a time!”

-Tami Johnson, Prospect Park Lake Cleanup, Project Leader

“This workshop was remarkably informative. I have found that most free grant-writing or fundraising workshops are pretty lackluster. This workshop, however, was an exception to the rule. Helen Ho made it clear that she is a very knowledgeable person when it comes to effective nonprofit fundraising strategies, and I am very grateful to have access to her years of experience.”

-Hans Hesselein, Attended ioby Fundraising Workshop in Dec 2011