2024 Budget and Goals
Budget for 2024
Looking forward, we have crafted a budget that allows us to expand our activities while still navigating the financial constraints we anticipate continuing into the next year. The following are the key allocations for our 2024 budget (excluding salaries as we currently do not pay salaries or benefits as an org):
Marketing/Social Media: $700 to enhance our digital presence through additional ad spending. This is essential to increase our visibility and engagement on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Administration: $12,000, mainly allocated to hire a student intern and provide them with a meaningful, paid experience over 6 months. This will not only support our administrative capacity but also foster professional development in the field of environmental sustainability.
Community Fridge Initiative: $3,000 to purchase and install a community fridge, and to cover initial costs of stocking and maintenance. This initiative will be pivotal in our efforts to combat food insecurity locally.
Educational Programs: $8,000 to hire a teaching assistant, enabling us to expand our school growing programs. This investment will enhance our educational outreach and provide additional learning opportunities to students.
Research and Data: $500 for subscriptions to relevant databases and journals, supporting our ongoing research efforts and our ability to stay informed on the latest developments in sustainability and community health.
Strategies
Enhancing Funding Sources
Grant Acquisition: We will intensify our efforts to secure funding through grants by refining our grant proposals and engaging more closely with potential funders. Our focus will be on showcasing the measurable impacts of our initiatives and the scalability of projects like the community fridge network.
Donor Engagement: We plan to implement targeted donor campaigns that appeal to individual contributors by highlighting personal stories and tangible outcomes from our programs. Special attention will be given to leveraging end-of-year giving trends.
Cost Management
Efficient Resource Use: Continued vigilance in expense management will ensure that resources are allocated to their most impactful uses. We will conduct regular reviews of our expenditures against our strategic objectives to maintain financial health and operational effectiveness.
Administrative Efficiency: By bringing on a student intern, we aim to not only enhance our administrative capacity but also maintain cost efficiency by tapping into the energy and innovation that students bring, at a sustainable cost.
Expanding Digital/Social Media Presence
Segmented Social Media Strategies: Understanding the diverse nature of our audience, we will employ differentiated strategies for engaging different age groups:
Recent Graduates on TikTok: Recognizing the growing influence of TikTok among younger demographics, we will launch a series of engaging, informative content specifically designed to resonate with recent graduates. This will include quick, impactful messages about our community initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and the tangible benefits of supporting environmental sustainability.
Elder Millennials on LinkedIn and Instagram: For elder millennials, we will enhance our content on LinkedIn and Instagram, focusing on career development opportunities within the environmental sector, the impact of community involvement, and how they can contribute to sustainable practices. This content will be tailored to encourage sharing and networking, maximizing our reach and engagement.
Ad Spend Allocation: The allocated $700 for ad spending will be strategically used across these platforms to increase our visibility and engagement rates, specifically targeting ads during peak activity times and leveraging analytics to refine our outreach.
Leveraging Partnerships
University Collaboration: Establishing a partnership with a local university will not only bolster our research capabilities but also expand our outreach and educational impacts. This collaboration will allow us to tap into a pool of enthusiastic volunteers, engage with academic staff for expert insights, and potentially secure university-led funding opportunities.
The updated financial strategy and digital expansion plans for 2024 are designed to position The Calming Leaf Foundation for greater impact and sustainability. Through careful financial management, targeted social media engagement, and strategic partnerships, we aim to expand our influence and deepen our community interactions.