- 01
Lead with the outcome
Your headline should name the result, not the struggle. Say what you will finish and when. A strong headline fits on one line and makes a stranger curious enough to open the story.
- 02
Tell it in three short parts
Who you are, what you are making and why now. A few plain sentences each. Never promise what you cannot prove later; Backers give to a person, so let your own voice come through.
- 03
Show, then ask
Add real photos of you and your work. Link each milestone to the proof you will post. End with a clear ask: what the first milestone needs and what Backers will see when it is done.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Collection misses readers
A large order may overlook reading levels or languages used by pupils. Approve a teacher-led selection first and reserve part of the book budget for gaps found during cataloguing.
- R2
Shelves do not fit
Unexpected room dimensions or access constraints can delay installation. Measure the room before ordering furniture and include fitting work in the shelving milestone budget.
- R3
Borrowing system stalls
Books may arrive before anyone is ready to manage loans. Assign library responsibilities early and make a tested lending routine, not just delivery boxes, the final milestone.
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a school library dream with a goal of $9,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
$1,350 · 15%
Map reading needs
Post an anonymised reading-needs summary, the proposed book list and room measurements without pupil information.
Milestone 2
$4,050 · 45%
Acquire core collection
Share itemised book receipts, delivery photos and a title inventory showing how purchases match the agreed reading needs.
Milestone 3
$2,250 · 25%
Fit shelves and catalogue
Post installed shelving photos, furniture receipts and catalogue screenshots with pupil and staff details removed.
Milestone 4
$1,350 · 15%
Open the lending routine
Share the borrowing guide, an anonymised trial lending log and room photos taken without identifiable pupils present.
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.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a school library dream in Boston, shown in USD. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
$9,000
- Books and reading materials$4,950 · 55%
- Shelving and reading furniture$1,800 · 20%
- Cataloguing and book protection$1,350 · 15%
- Room preparation and signs$900 · 10%
What you receive
- Backers give
- $9,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −$1,350
- You receive
- $7,650
Questions and answers
Should the library buy new books or accept donated ones?
Explain the reading needs first, then show how purchases and suitable donations fill the list. Count only usable donated titles in the inventory, and keep sorting, protection and missing titles visible in the budget.
How do we prove pupils can actually use the library?
Show an accessible room layout, a catalogued collection and a tested borrowing process. An anonymised trial log can demonstrate readiness without publishing pupil names, reading histories or identifiable classroom photos.
What makes a school library pitch convincing?
Specific numbers, real photos and a first milestone small enough to reach soon. Backers trust Dreamers who show where every amount goes and who have already started on their own.
Ready when you are
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