2025 CDS Annual Conference

This presentation will explore the Better Places Vermont program. Better Places Vermont empowers Vermonters to create inclusive and vibrant public places utilizing a crowdgranting model, combining crowdfunding with matching grants. The program has crowdfunded over $698,000 and distributed $1.2 million matching grants to 52 community-led projects across the state. Attendees will learn how they can transform their communities by harnessing the power of crowdfunding and crowdgranting, empowering communities as decision-makers in community development. 
The crowdgranting model revolutionizes community development by democratizing the funding, planning, and implementation, transforming communities, and empowering changemakers. 
From 2022 to 2024, the Better Places program had a 100% success rate, supporting 52 projects, crowdfunding over $698,000, and distributing $1.2 million in matching grants. For every $1 invested by the Better Places program, $6.60 was invested privately, showcasing the power of public-private partnership and collaboration in building vibrant communities. 
This presentation aligns with the theme "Innovative Pathways to Thriving Communities: People, Technology, and Place-based Collaboration" by showcasing a model of people-driven, technology-enabled placemaking that encourages community ownership and supports long-term sustainability. Attendees will learn how they can transform their communities by harnessing the power of crowdfunding and crowdgranting, empowering communities as decision-makers in community development, and fostering trust and transparency in support of community-led projects.