It’s fundraiser time!!

Hello Witches, it’s been a busy year so far 👀 settle in with a drink and snack because this is where we tuck in for long winded story telling.

I finally have some updates on my 2026 queer youth initiatives. I’ve learned logistically and practically while at the Market this year, and I’m going to be changing some things.

First off the ledger of signatures to keep track of how much is going into the fundraiser kitty. To start, I forgot my log book for my first show; then at another customers with excited kiddos were bogged down by it because they didn’t have the hands or capacity; some people that just want caramel don’t give 2-flips about what my queer initiatives are. So along the way the ‘sign here for this amount’, got vetoed. I think I really wanted this to work for 100% transparency, but logistically it made things a nightmare at points.

Secondly I had markets that got canceled and a few that were in mucky weather so the turn out was trickly.

Third, full disclosure, I’ve had THREE sales on my website. One for a separate specific fundraiser, one was me at a market selling caramel for a card sale, and one I got today. (Thanks again!) So I really just have not HAD “big updates.”–yet.

The good news is, that Pride is just coming upon us– we aren’t even there yet! (And I have some secrets up my hat for this June.)

I am happy to share that with the markets I did have, I’ve fundraised $132 towards my regularly scheduled queer initiatives *yay, small room applauding* (and $35 for the GAC Saves Lives art show, which is TRAVELING to Iowa, so check out their pages to see where they’re at!)

Going into pride 2026 I have three specifically Pride themed events in the books;

Hearts Pride in Hastings, Saturday June 6th

Hastings Pride in Hastings, Saturday June 20th

Heartland Pride at the Holland Center in Omaha, Friday July 17th

With what I’ve fundraised so far, and these three pride events, and other shows, on the horizon I’d reached out to other organizations for scholarship partnerships, and got NO bites.

So I reached out to my queer friends at the Stonewall Caucus about adding a $250 scholarship to their Lavender Gala at the end of June and they’ve agreed to award an additional scholarship on my behalf 💜

I also want to discuss the 25% fundraiser amount. Because I want so badly to increase it 🤣 I do. But I have learned that running a proper business has bills AND expenses. So for now, I’m keeping the 25% minimum, and if I can add additional fundraiser options or amounts, I absolutely will.

After running my business for a year, at my own expense last year– this year, I need my business to start floating on its own income and that means retaining a portion of sales for booth fees, equipment, supplies and the magic dust I put in everything. (It’s coffee powder and it’s getting expensive.) And don’t even get me started on website fees and maintenance—.

It costs me, on average, $175 to $325 on up, to show up and open a booth for business. And it costs $90 a month to simply exist, as a business.

Sometimes I make back my booth fees, sometimes I dont break $100 in sales, some shows I hit $400.

I believe in what I do, and now I’ve really honed in good market booths, and venues AND I built my own website! Rickety thing that it is. So I have hope that we’ll raise some good trouble, yet. We’re just getting started, here in our early 2nd year.

To recap: we’re getting there. We will have a $250 grass roots scholarship, this June!

Grass roots take time, and when the wind blows the seeds around, it can be hard to find traction.

I know that going into this June we will be able to meet the $250 scholarship, (I’m going to work with the hope that we can double it.)

Thank you to all of my beautiful friends and family for supporting all of my small business adventures. Your constant support, likes, and oohs and aahs, are what make me a business 🫶

The Witch Behind the Curtain