How The MilkCrate Fund Came To Be…

We saw that nonprofits now more than ever were coming to us looking ways to be more technologically adept, keep programs open with less staff, and more transparently demonstrate their impact - all on reduced budgets due to lost income from pandemic-hit fundraising efforts.

The problem was clear - they need us but they can’t afford us.

The solution came quickly - start a fund so that nonprofits can benefit from what MilkCrate has to offer without the upfront costs.

How you can contribute to The Fund…

We will be adding a paypal button here that will take you to a donation system within the Urban Affairs Coalition site.

For now, you can contact us at info@milkcrate.tech to express your interest or make a commitment and we will send you the link once it is live.

FAQ

How it Works

In partnership with the Urban Affairs Coalition, MilkCrate has set up a fund under a new nonprofit entity that allows philanthropists and other funders to help these nonprofits use the technology they need to get their programs and operations online and able to reach their participants digitally - through their mobile phones.

How do nonprofits apply?

The process follows these steps:

1) Fill out this quick application by clicking here:

If you meet our basic criteria we will be in touch to set up a free Discovery Call with a MilkCrate app expert.

2) Our Advisory Board will review applications and choose which nonprofits get the funding based on their suitability based on our criteria and available funds. Our advisory board members are:

• Ivy Silver, Independent Director, Former CEO, Ideation Strategist

• Morgan Churchman, Impact Investor, Chair of Caroline Buck Foundation

• Tivoni Devor, Director of Growth & Engagement at Urban Affairs Coalition

• Darryl Moser, Business Development Manager, DonorPerfect CRM Fundraising Software

• Eric Heineman, Senior Business Development Consultant & Director of Strategic Partnerships, Cause Inspired Media

3) You will be notified between 30-45 days from your original application.

How much is the grant for?

The max amount is $15,000 in a restricted grant for MilkCrate development and support costs.

What can the money be used for?

The restricted grant will fund your app’s launch and the first year of subscription fees to the MilkCrate platform.

What are the deadlines for applying? When will I be notified?

Grantees will be notified of the decision within 30 days of their Discovery Call.

What is the development turn-around time?

Typically we launch apps with our clients 3 months after signing a contract, however this timeline can grow or shrink depending on several factors including the client’s needs and responsiveness.

How many grants will be available?

Grants will be available based on the funds available. Grants will be given on a rolling, as-needed basis.

Will the funds be distributed directly to the grantee?

This is not a cash grant, you will be receiving an app development package valued at $5,000-$25,000 (full-retail value) depending on your needs and where your organization fits on our Tiered Plans.

The MilkCrate Fund @ UAC will deliver funds to MilkCrate, LLC to cover the costs, but at a discounted nonprofit/wholesale rate.

What will the app cost me once the grant is over? Is there a commitment to keep using it?

There is a cost to provide the support services and technical infrastructure of your app. Our model is a collaborative one, where nonprofits are all paying small fees to help grow the platform for the benefit of all. To learn more about ongoing costs visit our Pricing page here.

What kind of time commitment will my staff have to make to develop our app?

New Client Onboarding (5-8 weeks process and ~12 hours of client time) 

Once an organization has decided to use the MilkCrate Platform for their program, we offer a series of weekly online trainings to build the structure of your app, add in content, and review your app store submission.

Pre-Launch & Launch (5-8 weeks process and ~6 hours of client time)

With a clear launch timeline, we support our customers while they receive feedback from test users and prepare to release the app to their wider audience.

Ongoing Support

After launch, we continue supporting our clients experience to help ensure success. Their ideas and use case needs reflect directly on the direction of our feature sets. The amount of effort varies but 1-5 hours a month is average for a client who is creating new content and monitoring usage.