Essential Funding Needs

At Maryland Fossil Finders, our goal is to make fossil hunting accessible and enjoyable for everyone. To advance our mission, we need support for several key items. Here’s a breakdown of what we’re raising funds for and why your support is crucial:

1. Becoming a Nonprofit Organization
   Goal: $600
   Achieving nonprofit status will solidify our mission, enhance our credibility, and open doors to grant opportunities. This status will also provide tax benefits to our supporters. Your contribution will help us cover registration and legal fees to officially become a nonprofit and broaden our community impact.
2. Beach Wheelchair
   Goal: $1,500
   A beach wheelchair will significantly enhance accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges. Designed for sandy and uneven terrain, this wheelchair will enable more people to comfortably and safely participate in our fossil hunting events. Investing in this wheelchair will ensure inclusivity for all our participants.
3. Van
   Goal: $15,000
   A used van with room for 10 kids is essential for transporting low-income children to fossil sites. This vehicle will improve our logistical support ensuring that we can accommodate more participants, including those with mobility issues.
4. Boat
   Goal: $25,000
   A boat will allow us to access fossil hunting sites along waterways and rivers. This boat will allow us to explore restricted locations and offer unique fossil discovery opportunities. By investing in this boat, we can expand our activities, broaden our accessibility, and create new earned income opportunities through guided tours and other programs.

Ways You Can Support Us Financially

Your support can make a significant difference. Here are several ways you can help:

• Donate via GoFundMe: Contribute to our fundraising efforts directly through our GoFundMe campaign.
• Become a Patron: Join our Patreon community to enjoy exclusive content and updates while supporting our mission.
• Shop Our T-Shirt Fundraiser: Purchase a t-shirt from our Bonfire fundraiser to show your support and spread the word about Maryland Fossil Finders.

Keeping You Informed

We believe in transparency and keeping our supporters up-to-date on the impact of their contributions. As we work towards our fundraising goals, we’ll regularly update our donors on our progress through multiple channels:

• Email Updates: We’ll send out regular emails to all our donors, detailing the progress we’ve made towards each of our funding goals and any milestones we’ve reached. These updates will also highlight the impact of your support, sharing stories from our events and participants.
• Social Media Announcements: Follow us on social media for real-time updates. We’ll be posting about our fundraising progress, upcoming events, and any new developments. It’s a great way to stay connected and see how your contributions are making a difference.
• Donor Acknowledgements: We’ll publicly acknowledge our donors’ contributions, with your permission, on our website and social media. This is our way of saying thank you and showing the community the support we’re receiving.

Your generosity is what makes our mission possible, and we’re committed to keeping you informed every step of the way. Thank you for being a crucial part of Maryland Fossil Finders!