Do you have an idea for improving your neighborhood and but need the money to fund it? The Center for a New American Dream may be able to help. Through the end of May, they’re accepting applications for their Get2gether Neighborhood Challenge.
If your project is accepted, the Center will help you raise funds to improve your neighborhood using Ioby, a “crowd-resourcing platform for citizen-led, neighbor-funded projects that make neighborhoods stronger and more sustainable.” They’ll also match any funds your team raises up to $2,000. Last year’s winners raised a combined $70,000.
The application deadline is May 31, and proposed projects must be focused on building a local economy, greening your community, or be linked to a sharing system. Projects should be also replicable in other communities. Project teams must:

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- Have a minimum of four active team members who have all joined Get2gether and are part of their regional Meetup group
- Have enough organizational capacity (time, leadership, or base of supporters) to run a crowdfunding campaign.
- Have more than one project leader.
- Have a minimum of one person who can manage the digital components of the campaign
Through the challenge, the Center for a New American Dream hopes to encourage communities around the country to start new ways of sharing that transform communities. As the following Get2gether Neighborhood Challenge video explains, timebanks are a great way to get started. So if you want to improve your neighborhood, but don’t yet have a plan, consider creating a timebank. Here’s how:
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Learn more about the Get2gether Neighborhood Challenge or submit an application. Follow @CatJohnson on Twitter
