Groundworks is a nonprofit organization that provides a safe and enriching space for local youth, and it wouldn’t be able to do so without the support it receives from the annual Camp Groundworks fundraiser.
The fundraiser started as a necessity during the pandemic and quickly turned into a renowned and recurring event, allowing for the organization to grow while still covering its expenses. This year, the Camp Groundworks fundraiser yielded the greatest amount of donations to date and amassed $21,000 by the end of the festival, according to the organization’s director.
As a growing nonprofit, Groundworks depends largely on donations to pay for its expenses, but it can be difficult to gain enough support to meet demands. The start of the organization proved to be especially difficult for the founders as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thus, the founders created a yearly campaign to encourage more donations.
Complete with a set donation goal and an array of promotional events and activities, the founders of Groundworks have been able to keep the building’s lights on with the funds garnered from these annual events. The promotional festivities come together in a grand event dubbed “Camp Groundworks,” a conglomeration of a music festival, an immersive art gallery and a three-day livestream telethon. The founders of Groundworks were determined to create a sober and inclusive space in the Tucson music scene the right way, and they used Camp Groundworks to fund it.
“We could do this for a lot cheaper than we do. We pay for a space that gives us central AC, a parking lot, a good location, insurance; all these things legitimize us, but they come at a price,” Groundworks Director and Cofounder Logan Greene said. “The reason we need this fundraiser money is because we’re trying to do it the right way, and it can be very expensive to do things the right way.”
Initially planning on using funding from classes and shows to keep the organization running, the team was forced to rely solely on donations when they were unable to go through with their grand opening in April 2020 as the pandemic hit.
With no other choice but to hatch a new plan, the founders conducted a virtual opening and hosted a livestream fundraiser event in May 2021. This was the first Camp Groundworks and what started as a necessity quickly transformed into the capstone of the organization.
The fundraiser event has been renewed every year since, and each year yields more and more donations while giving artists the opportunity to perform and display their art.
Camp Groundworks this year was particularly rewarding for its 300-400 participants, and the goal for the fundraiser was met during the final performance. Fittingly, Greene had the pleasure of making the announcement while performing with his near-extinct-now-reunited band Doctor Dinosaur.
“You could feel the energy change when we reached that goal. Everybody started cheering and we were all just so happy,” said Julia Faltin, a freelance photographer for the event.
The anticipation throughout the event finally paid off, and the volunteers and participants vouched that every donation was justified by the zany antics that occurred. Donors were incentivised by the variety of activities and entertainment available.
For the music lovers, a multitude of bands that are staples of Groundworks performed until 10 p.m. each day. For the shopping fanatics, items donated by local businesses were auctioned off. Those who needed a break from the commotion were welcome to relax in the art gallery which featured a hand painted mural especially made for the event. Finally, the telethon featured live video coverage of the entire event with complimentary commentary for the people who couldn’t make it in person.
Many bands and volunteers spoke on the livestream, offering to do entertaining things upon donation. Spicy foods were consumed, flips were done impressively and there was a failed plan to pie someone in the face.
The festival was also clown themed. The director of Groundworks’ mother came impressively prepared, donning a full clown get up and bringing face paint for others.
While the annual fundraiser was effective, Groundworks is still entirely nonprofit and volunteer-run which requires a much higher level of community funding. Excess funds are used towards developing their educational space, as Groundworks is designed for young musicians to learn in a safe environment.
“Groundworks is so inexorably tied to my musical development […], I’d say I learned 70% of what I know about music here,” said Rowan Cafiero, a Groundworks volunteer.
Cafiero attributes his knowledge of how to play a show, use a soundboard and many other skills to Groundworks, and it’s thanks to the spontaneous creation of Camp Groundworks that they were able to fund the education of a young artist such as himself.
More information about Groundworks can be found on their website.
