Creative Planning Recap

Emily Pearson
Jul 21
4 min read

Updated: Jul 22

We had a great semi-informal first planning meeting! So many thoughtful ideas were shared. Nothing is set in stone yet—this project is still very much in progress—but it was energizing to see how much excitement there is around it.

Cooperative vs. Nonprofit: Where We're At

I recently had two insightful meetings with Cooperative Development Services to explore the co-op model. They loved the idea and felt a cooperative could be a strong fit. But when I brought up the nonprofit route, I actually managed to stump them a bit. Their feedback confirmed what I’ve been feeling: our vision could work well under either model—but we need to choose one.

Something I forgot to share during our meeting: Char from CDS gave a helpful example of a creative co-op start up that she recently visited. It's a shared jewelry studio in Colorado where each member runs their own business within a co-owned space. That’s ideal when each person is producing their own goods and profits.

But that’s not quite what we’re building.

We want a shared community space for everyone that supports creativity, reduces waste, and gives secondhand art and craft supplies a new life (instead of leaving them in closets—or worse, landfills). That makes a nonprofit structure feel like a better fit since it benefits all, and any profits can be saved to grow and offer more.

We’ve been listening closely to the community—through conversations, messages, and a quick Facebook poll—to get a sense of what people want for The Craft Apothecary. The feedback has been incredibly helpful!

In our recent poll, the results were pretty clear:

53 votes for Nonprofit
5 votes for Cooperative

Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts and helped shape the vision for this space!

Draft Mission Statement (Nonprofit Model)

Here’s a working mission statement that aligns with 501(c)(3) guidelines:

The Craft Apothecary is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting creativity, sustainability, and community by providing affordable access to secondhand art and craft materials, educational workshops, and inclusive arts programming. It serves artists, educators, families, and community members seeking low-cost creative resources, and offers membership levels with benefits ranging from discounted classes to exclusive events and recognition for founding patrons.

Next Steps in the Nonprofit Direction

Legal Support: I’ve submitted paperwork to LegalCorps.org and applied for pro bono legal assistance. Once matched with a lawyer, I’ll be able to get guidance on legal considerations and filling paperwork with the state and IRS. Unless they flag something significant, I’m leaning toward moving forward with the nonprofit model.

Articles of Incorporation: I’ve drafted the paperwork to form a nonprofit corporation (Chapter 317A) in Minnesota. Once that’s submitted, we’ll begin the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. That can take some time, but in the meantime, we’ll be able to operate as a business, open a bank account, and start fundraising.

Fiscal Sponsorship (Maybe): We’re also looking into finding a fiscal sponsor—an existing 501(c)(3) that can temporarily act as our umbrella organization while we wait for approval.

Board of Directors

We’ll need a board of directors either way—typically a president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary (3–4 members required under MN law).

Sara had a great idea to open board positions by application. I love that—it allows people to express interest and helps us build a board aligned with the mission. If you’d like to be considered, keep an eye out for that opportunity.

We want the board to be collaborative, mission-driven, and not intimidating. We’ll also need to draft bylaws—something the board can take the lead on once it’s formed. But I do have drafts that we can start from.

Fundraising Ideas

Once we're officially formed and have a bank account, we can start raising funds. Some ideas from our discussion:

Bundle donated supplies into project kits to sell (we can also sell these online from the website!)
Join local craft sales to raise awareness and funds—sell donated items from planning members
Offer annual memberships at tiered levels with different perks
Host craft socials or classes at a community space (like a church or community center)

Once we secure a starter space, these efforts can really pick up momentum.

Starter Space

I am still waiting to hear if the potential starter space is a go—or a no. That decision will definitely influence how and when we begin fundraising, so we’re holding tight for now.

That’s where things stand! Thank you again to everyone who attended, shared ideas, and offered support. This is shaping into something really special.