Cultivating Growth Through Technology

Nestled in the heart of New Orleans, Grow Dat Youth Farm, is sowing the seeds of change through youth empowerment and sustainable agriculture. Known for its innovative approach to nurturing the land and future leaders, the farm is now embarking on a project to strengthen its roots and expand its reach.

Grow Dat Youth Farm understands that, much like the crops they tend, nurturing strong relationships and efficient systems requires time and care. Through this initiative, they are not just growing food—they are cultivating a movement, one donor, one youth, and one harvest at a time.

Here’s the plan:

By upgrading its fundraising infrastructure and implementing a robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, Grow Dat aims to create a comprehensive strategy for donor cultivation and solicitation.

To achieve this:

They have integrated systems like Qgiv and Bloomerang to create an efficient donor tracking and reporting system, enhancing data management to better understand donor interactions and preferences. This integration enables the farm to capture visitor information, engage supporters more effectively, and foster a growing community of advocates for its mission.

To date, Grow Dat has successfully raised $36,035.71 through various channels, including $3,210 from email solicitations, $116 from registration donations, $11,157 from workshop-related donations, $4,755 from event donations, and $16,798 from monthly donors.

As they implement these new systems, Grow Dat continues to empower young leaders through the meaningful work of sustainable agriculture, reflecting their commitment to nurturing both people and the planet. This initiative underscores their holistic approach to growth—impacting the fields they cultivate, the minds they inspire, and their organizational capacity.

Independent revenue generation allows Grow Dat to envision and actualize a new organizational future that better aligns with our values. This opportunity to self-determine and reflect on our desirable revenue strategies – with considerably less restraint than traditional philanthropy allows – frees us to make decisions that are in the best interest of the young leaders who are central to our work. With Progressive Multiplier's help securing a better aligned technical infrastructure for our development team, we'll have more time and energy to devote to meaningfully representing youth in other areas of our organization.

Lily Mejia, Development Manager, Grow Dat Youth Farm

This initiative is made possible through a partnership with the Schmidt Foundation's N2 11th Hour Project.