Anyone looking to launch a piece of civic innovation these days has a multitude of crowdfunding platforms to choose from. Now, the Downtown Pittsburgh Community Development Corporation is launching its own resource with a hyper-local spin.
Hatch, the new crowdfunding program that the PDCDC initially rolled out back in February, will hold an official launch party on Monday, April 28 at the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater.
“The party is a way for us to answer questions, hear reactions and ideas and give and take feedback,” says Hadley Pratt, PDCDC’s communications director and the coordinator of Hatch.
Hatch’s goal is to help fund creative improvements in neighborhoods throughout Allegheny County. Like most crowdfunding sites, Hatch takes a percentage of the project’s total budget — 6 percent. But if potential fundraisers arrive at Hatch through the recommendation of a community organization, Hatch will give half its take to the referring group. In that way, it’s a hyper-local take on crowdfunding that can benefit communities twice over.
“We want hatch to be a way for members of the community to get together and share ideas about how to improve each community,” Pratt says. “That’s why we’d like to have representatives from as many communities as possible. We’re inviting community groups, individuals, arts organizations and nonprofits of all kinds.”
The event will start off with a networking session, followed by presentations from Pratt and Kyra Straussman, the URA’s director of real estate. It’s free and open to community groups, entrepreneurs, small businesses, nonprofits, neighborhood organizations, arts organizations and individuals. RSVP by e-mailing info@pdcdc.org.
