Planning Library · §5 Financial framework
The way we ask.
Year-1 revenue streams in priority order, the $150K–$250K startup capital requirement, and a capitalization mix built around a single Case for Support. Café and farm stand earned revenue are designed to cover core operations; grants fund the mission layer, not the operating baseline.
§13 · The clear ask
Three lines. Copy-paste to a DM.
- 01Money — commitments toward the $150K–$250K to open. Founder's Table starts at $25.
- 02Warm intros — Legal / Land Use, Nonprofit Finance, or a Philanthropic Connector for board Priority-1 seats.
- 03A fiscal sponsor that can hold funds during the 501(c)(3) determination window.
§5.1 Farmer return
Fair pricing, transparent, not pegged to a slogan.
On the farm stand side, Groundworks pays farmers above wholesale and publishes its pricing philosophy. On the café side, Groundworks sources from local farms and tells the story of every ingredient. The commitment is honesty, fairness, and a farmer return significantly better than the conventional food system's 11.8 cents per dollar.
§5.2 Year-1 revenue streams (priority order)
Year-1 total estimate: $200K – $355K.
| # | Revenue stream | Est. Year 1 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Café / prepared food | $100K – $130K | Revenue anchor. ~25 transactions/day at $14–$17 avg. |
| 2 | Farm stand / marketplace | $40K – $80K | Mission-critical. Includes EBT transactions. |
| 3 | Grants | $30K – $75K | Potential federal, Oregon, and corridor sources must be checked for current eligibility before use. |
| 4 | Events (ticketed) | $20K – $40K | Community table dinners, Kegs for a Cause, workshops. |
| 5 | Donations | $10K – $30K | Individual giving, Founder's Table model. |
| Year 1 total (est.) | $200K – $355K |
§5.3 Deferred revenue streams
- →Farm box subscriptions (Phase 1B — add once farm relationships and customer base support it)
- →Wholesale to restaurants (Year 2+)
- →Farm-to-school / institutional sales (Year 2+, likely through partnerships)
- →Membership fees (future consideration)
- →Upcycled food product line from farm surplus and processing trim (Year 2+, pilot scale — see §3.7)
§5.4 Startup capital requirement
Estimated total: $150K – $250K.
| Category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Kitchen buildout and equipment | $75K – $125K |
| Lease deposit + first 3 months rent | $15K – $25K |
| Farm stand fixtures, shelving, POS, signage | $10K – $20K |
| Initial inventory (produce, café supplies) | $5K – $10K |
| Legal (501(c)(3), permits, insurance) | $5K – $10K |
| Marketing and launch | $5K – $10K |
| Working capital (3 months operating) | $30K – $50K |
| Education programming startup | $5K – $10K |
| TOTAL | $150K – $250K |
§5.5 Capitalization strategy
Target mix for the $150K–$250K ask.
| Source | Target |
|---|---|
| USDA LAMP or similar federal grant | $75K |
| Foundation grant (eligible corridor or Oregon funder to be identified) | $50K |
| Community fundraising campaign | $25K – $50K |
| Individual donations | $25K – $50K |
The Case for Support document is built around this $150K–$250K ask. Phase B Hard Gate G3 requires $70K minimum identified with at least 2 sources confirmed or near-confirmed before lease signing. For the full phase-by-phase view, see the funding sequence.
§5.6 SNAP / EBT
Proposed for opening, pending authorization.
SNAP / EBT acceptance is part of the proposed model, pending retailer authorization for the farm stand and any eligible café items. Confirm the responsible process and install the required equipment only after approval. This strengthens the access case and makes the "front door" mission real for low-income community members in McMinnville and nearby corridor communities. Year-1 mission concrete for eligible community members. Transaction targets must be set after local demand and authorization are confirmed.
After opening
Earned revenue covers operations. Philanthropy funds the mission.
Once the doors are open, the model retires campaign mode. Café and farm stand earned revenue are designed to cover core operations independent of grants — grants fund education programming, food access work, and the mission layer that the ~$45K Year-1 baseline gap represents. Year-2 and Year-3 philanthropy is redirected from operations to programs as the café ramps and the contribution margin matures toward the optimistic run-rate.