Crowdfunding campaign will use funds to purchase the theater as a nonprofit; kickoff event Dec. 28
TIPTON, Iowa?The Hardacre Theater Preservation Association (HTPA) has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase the theater using the crowdfunding website Indiegogo. The campaign's goal is to raise $60,500 before Jan. 30, 2014.
The HTPA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is using Indiegogo to fund Phase 1 of its fundraising campaign, with the goal of purchasing the theater on Jan. 31, 2014. Phase 2, which will begin after the purchase, will involve raising funds to renovate and rehabilitate the theater.
The "Save the Hardacre" Indiegogo campaign will use a "flexible funding" option, meaning the campaign must reach its goal to receive the total funds donated. If the fundraising goal is not met, the HTPA will only receive 91% of the money raised.
"This is why it's incredibly important to meet our fundraising goal of $60,500," said Greg Brown, HTPA president. "While this is less severe than the all-or-nothing crowdfunding campaign we originally planned to use, meeting our goal will mean the difference between making the purchase deadline or failing to make it."
To access the campaign, go to indiegogo.com and search for "Hardacre Theater" or find the link at the HTPA website at thehardacre.org. Donors can give via credit card.
"Crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo are used to fund projects big and small and have a worldwide reach in terms of potential donors," said Brown. "This opens our donor pool considerably, but we need donations from local community members to really pull this off."
The purchase price for the theater is its assessed value, $96,100. One donor has pledged a $40,000 matching donation toward the purchase price. The Indiegogo campaign is designed to raise the remaining amount, in addition to $4,400 in campaign fees.
Campaign donations are tax deductible, and donors can choose from a variety of donor rewards, depending on their level of giving. Those rewards include free tickets to post-renovation Hardacre movies, T-shirts and art prints of the theater designed by local artists, and invitations to the Hardacre's post-renovation grand opening event.
Donors will also get special perks from local businesses throughout the campaign, including freebies and discounted items from local businesses.
Kickoff pizza party Dec. 28
There will also be a campaign kickoff pizza party Dec. 28. The event will be held at noon Saturday, Dec. 28, at A Place to Land, 523 Cedar St., in Tipton. The public is invited to attend and learn about the Indiegogo fundraising drive.
In addition to food and drinks, a "donation station" will be set up for participants to join the funding drive. HTPA board members will be on hand to answer questions and thank donors and those interested in volunteering to save the Hardacre.
"This event is our way of thanking community members for the incredible support we've received in the past year," said Brown. "We want to bring as many people together in the community as possible and thank them for joining our cause."
For more information, go to thehardacre.org.
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