Fund your local festival dream

Your local festival dream deserves more than a donation link. Set a goal, split it into milestones and reach Backers who swipe through dreams looking for one to support.

A local festival brings site preparation, performers and audience facilities together on one date. Give Backers evidence for bookings, production readiness and what was delivered on event day.

Example milestone plan

An example plan for a local festival dream with a goal of $14,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.

  1. Milestone 1

    $3,500 · 25%

    Confirm site and bookings

    Post venue confirmation, redacted booking records and a site plan showing the proposed performance and audience areas.

  2. Milestone 2

    $3,500 · 25%

    Prepare technical production

    Share sound and staging booking records, technical plans and supplier checklists with private contact details removed.

  3. Milestone 3

    $4,200 · 30%

    Build festival facilities

    Post setup photos, facility delivery records and a completed site checklist covering signage and audience service areas.

  4. Milestone 4

    $2,800 · 20%

    Deliver and close event

    Share event photos with appropriate permissions, supplier completion records and a cleanup checklist for the festival site.

  1. 01

    Build your dream

    Write your story, add photos and set milestones as a private draft. When you are ready, publish with a monthly membership; every dream is reviewed before it goes live.

  2. 02

    Reach Backers who want to help

    Published dreams appear in the swipe feed, where Backers browse by category, save the ones they like and chat with you before they give.

  3. 03

    Get paid as you deliver

    Each backing is split across your milestones. Post proof when a step is done; Backers release their share and you receive it after the platform fee.

Budget example

A typical cost split for a local festival dream wherever you live, shown in USD. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.

Example goal

$14,000

  • Sound staging and production$4,200 · 30%
  • Performers and programme delivery$4,200 · 30%
  • Site facilities and access$3,500 · 25%
  • Event coordination and cleanup$2,100 · 15%

What you receive

Backers give
$14,000
Platform fee (15%)
−$2,100
You receive
$11,900

How Backers are protected

14-day review per milestone

When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to release their share or ask for more. Money not released in time goes back to the Backer.

15% fee, deducted — never added

Backers pay exactly what they choose. The 15% fee comes out of each backing: $100 gives the Dreamer $85. The fee is kept if money is returned.

Gifts, not shares

Backings are gifts. No shares, equity, interest or repayment, and Dreamers keep full ownership. Nothing on cohero is an investment or a loan.

Risks to plan for

  • R1

    Weather disrupts setup

    Rain or wind can change what the site can support. Include a weather decision point before build day and budget for practical shelter or a reduced programme where appropriate.

  • R2

    Performers withdraw

    A cancellation can leave gaps after publicity is printed. Confirm booking terms early and keep a reserve programme option within the performer budget rather than promising a fixed lineup.

  • R3

    Facilities arrive late

    Late toilets, barriers or access equipment can hold up opening. Make delivery confirmations part of production proof and leave setup time before the audience arrival window.

Questions and answers

Who can fund a local festival dream wherever you live?

Anyone with a clear goal, honest milestones and the proof to show for them. Every dream is reviewed before it goes live to keep the feed safe for Backers.

Can Backers fund a free-entry festival?

State that entry is free and show how the goal covers production, programme delivery and site facilities. Keep any other expected support clearly separate so Backers understand which parts their gifts are intended to fund.

What if the festival must be postponed?

Explain the revised date, supplier status and which milestones remain unfinished. Money for each milestone is held until proof; Backers then release their share or ask for more info, so postponement alone is not completion proof.

Ready when you are

Sign in or create an account to publish a dream or back the ones you believe in.

Sign in / Create account

More local festival guides

Local festival dreams in other cities

Other community dreams