đ Fuel the Rainbow: Support LGBTQIA2S+ Community Care in Our Town
Every donation keeps our community visible, supported, and safe. In a rural, conservative town, being LGBTQIA2S+ can feel isolating, but it doesnât have to be.
Crawfordsville Pride exists so that LGBTQIA2S+ people and our allies donât face life alone. This campaign, Fuel the Rainbow, is about more than fundraising.â¨Itâs about survival, joy, connection, resilience, and dignity.
When you give, youâre helping us uplift those who need it.Â
Learn more below!
đ Why Community Support Matters Right Now
Fuel the Rainbow helps us move from doing what we can to doing what our community needs.
Living in a rural community means LGBTQIA2S+ people often rely on one another in ways that look different than in larger cities. Resources are fewer, distances are greater, and affirming spaces donât always exist unless the community itself creates and sustains them.
With consistent funding, we can create reliable, ongoing programming instead of oneâoff effortsâso people know when and where they can show up for support, connection, and care.
As diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are rolled back nationally, many LGBTQIA2S+ people are losing access to affirming spaces and support. In rural communities especially, that need shifts to the local level. Community funding helps ensure that programs, resources, and opportunities for connection remain available when theyâre needed most.
Grassroots organizations like ours are powered by people, not profit. We rely on community generosity, volunteer support, and shared care to keep showing up for LGBTQIA2S+ people in our town. As costs rise and resources grow tighter, sustaining this work takes intention and collective support.
When you give, youâre helping make it possible to maintain consistent programming, restore practical resources like Prideâs Closet, and create spaces where LGBTQIA2S+ people donât have to travel far or go without feeling supported.
đ What Funding Does for a Nonprofit
Community funding is what turns care into action.
For nonprofits, funding covers the practical, often unseen costs that make programs possible and sustainable. It helps ensure that work doesnât depend solely on lastâminute fundraising or volunteer availability, and that support can be offered consistently; not just when resources allow.
Funding allows nonprofits to:
đPlan ahead instead of reacting to crises
đMaintain predictable programs and services
đCover essential operational costs like space, supplies, insurance, and accessibility needs
đRespond thoughtfully to community needs as they arise
Reliable funding creates stability. It helps ensure that support is available when people need it; not just when circumstances line up.
đ What Funding Means for Crawfordsville Pride
For Crawfordsville Pride, community funding helps us show up in ways that are practical, affirming, and sustainable.
Your support makes it possible to:
đOffer consistent programming people can depend on
đSecure and maintain storage space for donated items
đFund and reopen Prideâs Closet, providing affirming clothing to those who need it
đHost workshops and gatherings that build connection, learning, and mutual support
đCover behindâtheâscenes costs that keep our work accessible and welcoming
Because we are volunteerâled and communityâsupported, every dollar goes toward meeting real needs here at home.
Even the smallest contributions help us maintain momentum and avoid having to scale back when resources tighten.
đ The Real Cost of Pride:
Why the Festival Needs Dedicated Support
Our annual Pride Festival is one of the most visible and meaningful ways we bring the community togetherâbut it also comes with significant costs.
Festival funding helps cover: Â
Core Infrastructure:
đVenue fees and required permits
đEvent insurance
đUtilities and site access costs
Audio, Stage & Equipment
đSound systems, microphones, and speakers
đStage and equipment rentals
đPower sources and technical support
Entertainment & Programming
đ Drag performers
đBands and musical acts
đ Speakers and community presenters
đFood and water for performers so they are cared for throughout the day
Supplies & Materials
đTables, tents, and seating
đActivity and booth supplies
đSignage and event map materials
đDecorations and visibility materials (flags, banners, etc.)
Accessibility & Comfort
đAccessibility equipment
đQuiet Zones
đRest Areas
đSign Language Interpreters
Safety & Logistics
đSafety planning and coordination
đVolunteer support materials
đFirstâaid and emergency preparedness
đCrowd flow and accessibility planning
Outreach & Communication
đPromotion and printing costs
đCommunity outreach and engagement materials
These expenses add up quickly, even for a oneâday event, but they are essential to making the Pride Festival Safe, free, inclusive, and accessible to the entire community. Community funding is vital to ensure no one is excluded because of cost.
Your Donation allows us to focus on creating a joyful, affirming experience rather than worrying about whether we can afford to host it at all.
We want to thank all of our donors from the bottom of our hearts for supporting the work we do, and we hope you will consider committing to a recurring donation to keep our work safe the whole year through.