Help RCP become a 501c3!
Donation protected
Since graduating from law school in 2012 I have dedicated myself to the development of The Rich Coast Project, a non-profit community project in the southern Caribbean region of Costa Rica. What started as an informational blog for a legal internship has now grown into a participatory human rights project and activated a diverse community with Afro-descendent roots to document their history and identity.
The Rich Coast Project
Learn more about what we do and why HERE
We have forged partnerships within the community as well as various U.S. universities, inspired the collaboration of nearly 100 international volunteers, and received contributions from over 50 local residents to a growing public archive called the South Caribe Roots Archive. We have collected and digitized over 250 historic photographs and nearly 50 interviews and oral histories for this archive, and continue receiving submissions from people around the world that hold the south Caribbean in a special place in their hearts.
South Caribe Roots Archive
All of this has been accomplished with minimal financial resources and through the goodwill of volunteers. During the past 4 years, I have committed the better part of my time and personal resources to this project, and am fully committed to its growth and success. I have been pleased to witness growing acceptance and enthusiasm within the local community, and am motivated by the excitement of our international partners (e.g. Indiana University, Northeastern University Law School, Santa Clara Law) at the many opportunities for engaging students in meaningful service learning.
Watch me talk about the Rich Coast Project with the Institute for International Business at IU Kelley School of Business
Why I am raising money
(1) Living Expenses
I recently completed several months of growing partnerships with the the Media School and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, who will be sending groups of student volunteers in November and March, respectively. I will be living in Puerto Viejo in advance of these trips in order to coordinate logistics and local facilitators to ensure they are a success for both the community and the volunteers. I will also be leading the production of the 2017 South Caribe Roots Archive calendar and collaborating on various local storytelling projects (such as "Bush Fah Story: Exchanging medicinal plants for stories about their healing powers" )
My goal is to raise enough money to cover my basic living expenses for October and November so that I can focus the majority of my time and energy on the Rich Coast Project and the many activities and events we already have planned with our local and international partners.
(2) 501(c)(3) Filing Fee
We are currently organized in Massachusetts and have non-profit status through a fiscal sponsor, but the time has come for me to return to my own roots. We are centralizing our U.S. operations to the place that has shown so much support and belief in the vision of the Rich Coast Project (Indiana) and taking the leap to become our own 501(c)(3) non-profit.
I'm very happy to have the support of students at the Nonprofit Legal Clinic at the Maurer School of Law assisting us in the application process, but it still requires a significant amount of time and comes with a hefty filing fee.
I'm raising money to support the filing fee and my own living expenses as I prepare for the upcoming student trips and continue developing content for the South Caribe Roots Archive.
How the money will be used
• The filing fee for the 501(c)(3) application is $850.
• My basic living expenses are $1000/month.
• GoFundMe charges ~8% of the funds raised.
Total to be raised: $3100
When I need the money
This need is relatively urgent, as part of the money raised will help me ensure I can pay my basic living expenses (rent, food, transportation, etc) in upcoming months. I hope to file the nonprofit application by December 2016.
THANK YOU!!!
Your support means the world to me personally, and also helps ensure the continuation and growth of a project that is already having a huge impact in one community. If we succeed in our next step, we will be able to document even more stories and information and provide meaningful service learning experiences to more students from the U.S. and beyond.
In recognition of your support, donations of over $100 will be recognized on the Rich Coast Project website.
The Rich Coast Project
Learn more about what we do and why HERE
We have forged partnerships within the community as well as various U.S. universities, inspired the collaboration of nearly 100 international volunteers, and received contributions from over 50 local residents to a growing public archive called the South Caribe Roots Archive. We have collected and digitized over 250 historic photographs and nearly 50 interviews and oral histories for this archive, and continue receiving submissions from people around the world that hold the south Caribbean in a special place in their hearts.
South Caribe Roots Archive
All of this has been accomplished with minimal financial resources and through the goodwill of volunteers. During the past 4 years, I have committed the better part of my time and personal resources to this project, and am fully committed to its growth and success. I have been pleased to witness growing acceptance and enthusiasm within the local community, and am motivated by the excitement of our international partners (e.g. Indiana University, Northeastern University Law School, Santa Clara Law) at the many opportunities for engaging students in meaningful service learning.
Watch me talk about the Rich Coast Project with the Institute for International Business at IU Kelley School of Business
Why I am raising money
(1) Living Expenses
I recently completed several months of growing partnerships with the the Media School and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, who will be sending groups of student volunteers in November and March, respectively. I will be living in Puerto Viejo in advance of these trips in order to coordinate logistics and local facilitators to ensure they are a success for both the community and the volunteers. I will also be leading the production of the 2017 South Caribe Roots Archive calendar and collaborating on various local storytelling projects (such as "Bush Fah Story: Exchanging medicinal plants for stories about their healing powers" )
My goal is to raise enough money to cover my basic living expenses for October and November so that I can focus the majority of my time and energy on the Rich Coast Project and the many activities and events we already have planned with our local and international partners.
(2) 501(c)(3) Filing Fee
We are currently organized in Massachusetts and have non-profit status through a fiscal sponsor, but the time has come for me to return to my own roots. We are centralizing our U.S. operations to the place that has shown so much support and belief in the vision of the Rich Coast Project (Indiana) and taking the leap to become our own 501(c)(3) non-profit.
I'm very happy to have the support of students at the Nonprofit Legal Clinic at the Maurer School of Law assisting us in the application process, but it still requires a significant amount of time and comes with a hefty filing fee.
I'm raising money to support the filing fee and my own living expenses as I prepare for the upcoming student trips and continue developing content for the South Caribe Roots Archive.
How the money will be used
• The filing fee for the 501(c)(3) application is $850.
• My basic living expenses are $1000/month.
• GoFundMe charges ~8% of the funds raised.
Total to be raised: $3100
When I need the money
This need is relatively urgent, as part of the money raised will help me ensure I can pay my basic living expenses (rent, food, transportation, etc) in upcoming months. I hope to file the nonprofit application by December 2016.
THANK YOU!!!
Your support means the world to me personally, and also helps ensure the continuation and growth of a project that is already having a huge impact in one community. If we succeed in our next step, we will be able to document even more stories and information and provide meaningful service learning experiences to more students from the U.S. and beyond.
In recognition of your support, donations of over $100 will be recognized on the Rich Coast Project website.
Organizer
Katie Beck
Organizer
Bloomington, IN
