masterclass
Fundraising Insider: From Zero to Money Hero!
What you need to know to run a successful fundraising campaign
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1
WORKBOOK
1
Video
All
Skill Level
1:41h
Duration
English
Language
Hi, my name is Iquo!
I’m a writer, filmmaker, and consultant who has been helping mission-driven diverse founders raise up to $500K to fund their businesses—without grants or venture capital—for the past 15+ years.
With a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, I began my career at a global communications firm raising awareness of critical health issues.
Driven to combine my passion for social change and the arts, I enrolled in NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Film Program where I launched my first successful fundraising campaign. It got me fired up and unlocked a passion to help other people fund their dreams.
Do you need to raise money, but don't know how?
You’re not alone! Most people have never gotten a true foundation in fundraising. My practical, action-oriented courses have helped folks all over the globe learn the fundamentals and launch campaigns to fund their dreams.
In my latest masterclass, I’m sharing everything you need to know to run a successful fundraiser. There’s absolutely a method to the madness, and a science to the art of fundraising.
Become a Fundraising Insider and gain access to all of these insights PLUS the important mindset shifts you need to make to be successful at your raise.
Think of it as a how-to manual for your journey, boiling down the essence of everything I’ve learned in my career—raising thousands of dollars for myself and my clients—so that you can get started raising money today.
These are fundraising strategies and secrets you won’t find anywhere else. Join me, ’cause I’m giving you all the tea. 
It’s time to take action
Tell me if this is you...
Waiting for a grant or an investor to greenlight your dream
Maxing out your credit cards and going into debt OR working on a shoestring budget
Taking on an extra job to save money…or fantasizing about leaving the one you have now to do what you love
Putting your dreams on hold while you watch other people gain funding and notoriety
Being passive when you could be proactive
Or giving up entirely on your business
Imagine how it would feel to...
Finally pursue a dream you’ve been passionate about
Get fully funded for your creative idea
Have a crowd of people who financially support your work
If you had to launch a fundraising campaign, would you know...
Where to start?
How a fundraising campaign works?
What campaign strategies will sustain your fundraiser’s momentum?
What the characteristics of a successful (versus unsuccessful) fundraising strategy are?
What key steps are required to transform potential backers into donors?
How your mindset can affect the success of your fundraiser?
If your answer to all these questions is "no," then stop what you’re doing right now and listen up!
Something's got to change...
Stop spending hours Googling “how to raise money,” attending free webinars, and still not figuring out how to fundraise.
Stop settling for “making do with less” versus fully funding your dream
Stop waiting for your big break, hoping to be discovered without ever really putting yourself out there.
It’s time to shift your mindset from Zero to Money Hero!
INTRODUCING
Fundraising Insider: From Zero to Money Hero!
In my brand new masterclass, change your money mindset and learn exactly what you need to know to run a successful fundraiser.
IF YOU need to raise money and DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START, I have been there.
When I was at NYU Grad Film School, I launched my first fundraising campaign.
Four weeks before the production period started, I realized none of my classmates had signed up for my film and I didn’t have a crew. I didn’t have money to hire one, either. And if I didn’t figure it out, I wasn’t going to make a film and I would fail all my classes. So what did I do? I launched a fundraising campaign and raised $15K in 4 weeks for my short film.
Back then, I had zero email list, zero following, and zero budget—yet, using basic principles of communications, marketing, and fundraising, I was able to exceed my goal by 25%.
That campaign helped launch my career—both as a filmmaker and as a fundraising consultant, with a passion to help artists and entrepreneurs fund their dreams. And if I could do it—at a time when my back was against the wall and I needed funding fast—you can do it, too!
Here's what you get when you become a Fundraising Insider:
Video Masterclass
A 1.5-hour high level masterclass (from yours truly!) with all the info you need to prepare yourself for what it takes to run a successful fundraising campaign
Digital Workbook
A workbook of exercises that will take you through an overview of key fundraising strategies, campaign strategies, and mindset shifts required to go from Zero to Money Hero
Course Checklist
Your guide to the course, so you know how much ground you’ve covered in this jam packed masterclass
Email Support
Email support provides the pep talk you didn’t know you needed to get ready for your fundraising campaign
Are you ready to become a Fundraising Insider?
learn my proven fundraising method
Since my first campaign, I've raised $500K+ for my clients, and launched my most recent campaign—in just 5 days—that raised $35K for my dream.
I’ve officially cracked the code on my proven fundraising formula and can teach you exactly what sets successful campaigns that get 100% funded apart from those that raise $0. (Fun fact: Did you know the average crowdfunding campaign raises $824? Wonder why? Find out inside!) So, if you want to transform your mindset from Zero to Money Hero, this masterclass is for you! And when you’re ready to launch your first campaign, come on back and check out my intro Launch in 5 Days course or my 60-day flagship course, Crowdfund Your Dream, that will teach you how to launch a successful fundraising campaign—and market it!—in 60 days. 
Inside this high-level masterclass, you'll...
Learn what a fundraiser is (and isn’t), plus the key formula for how to raise money
Learn how having a Zero vs Money Hero mindset can affect your fundraising campaign’s success
Learn about the Rule of 7 and how to get the word out about your campaign
Learn the 5 phases of a campaign and the 5 steps of the donor journey
Learn fundraising strategies to power your raise PLUS campaign strategies to sustain momentum
Find out why fundraising campaigns succeed or fail—and what to do to make yours successful
This course is for you
if...
You have a dream project or business
You’re anywhere from the idea phase—with nothing but a dollar and a dream—to having your creative business up and running with customers or patrons
You need to raise money
You want to launch a fundraising campaign, but lack a plan
OR you have a plan, but aren’t sure if it’s any good
You’ve never tried a fundraising campaign before…OR you have, but it didn’t go so well
You need to level up your understanding YESTERDAY
You’re ready to stop waiting, start taking control of your fundraising future and adopt a positive money mindset
You’re willing to put in the work to see the results
You’re ready to see what’s on the other side of financial success
Learn how to run a successful fundraiser and develop a Money Hero mindset.
Want a sneak peek? Here are 4 simple shifts you’ll learn in this jampacked masterclass.
Shift #1
All of those things you’re doing now to generate money for your project or business are problematic AF.
Whether you’re waiting for grants like the tooth fairy or maxing out your credit cards, there are much better ways to get funds for your project/business. And did you ever notice how those things you’re doing now don’t work most of the time? It’s time to level up your game.
Shift #2
Everybody needs to raise money, whether it’s $5 or $5 million. Rich folks are the exception to the norm.
99% of us are in the same boat when it comes to raising money. You’re not being punished or singled out. And if you don’t know how, it’s about time you learned how to fundraise—an essential skill you’ll need for the longevity of your career.
Shift #3
Using basic principles of communications, marketing and fundraising, you can fund any business at any stage of its lifecycle from concept to launch and growth.
The skills I teach are the same skills founders need to run a successful business: how to craft a powerful story; how to package that story up into shareable content; how to define an audience of people most likely to respond to their message; how to share that content with people alongside a call to action (eg, donate, invest, or buy); and turn that crowd into an engine funding your business—either through revenue, donations, or investment.
Shift #4
If you shift your mindset from Zero to Money Hero, and follow my simple fundraising formula, you can change the trajectory of your project, business, or life.
In my 15+ years of experience, I’ve learned that the biggest obstacle to fundraising success is often the limiting beliefs that hold people back from attracting more support and dollars. I created this masterclass to get your mind right, so you can stop waiting and start raising money today.
Learn the 5 phases of a fundraising campaign and the 5 key steps of the donor journey.
Plus, you’ll get a workbook and video masterclass to help you nail them!
Join Fundraising Insider!
Are You Ready to Become a Fundraising Insider?
You no longer have to put your business on hold. It’s time to be bold and launch your fundraiser. It’s your time.
What I loved was that it was a lot of material and very well organized, with a wide range of examples—from local businesses to Iquo’s own story—summarized in a way that was relatable, comprehensive, and digestible.
I would definitely recommend this class to anyone from any background. Though the course is geared toward creative people, I’m a technical person, and my goal is to start a think-and-do tank that targets water and sanitation issues for marginalized people. The fundraising, marketing, and social media tips were very applicable to helping me increase the amount of people I have access to.
Here's what you get when you join.
Instant access to the Fundraising Insider workbook & video masterclass
(value = $425)
Fundraising Insider course checklist
(value = $27)
Email support
(value = $47)
Lifetime Updates
(value = $99)
When you add it up, it comes out to a value of $598. Normally this course would be $175,
but you can enroll today for a special investment of $19.99.
who is behind FUNDRAISING INSIDER?
Iquo B. Essien
If this is the first time we’ve ever met, hi! My name is Iquo and I’m a writer, creator and consultant. With a degree from Stanford University, I got my start in global communications and marketing at nonprofits, startups, and Fortune 500 companies. When I enrolled in NYU graduate film school, I never imagined what an uphill battle making movies would be—until I had to raise money to hire a crew for my second year short film.
With no mailing list and a (pitifully) small web presence, I launched a crowdfunding, e-mail marketing, and letter-writing campaign that raised $15,000 in four weeks. I was amazed at how friends, family, colleagues, and even an equity investor stepped up to support me and it unlocked a passion to help other artists and entrepreneurs do the same.
Since 2012, I’ve helped other artists and creative entrepreneurs raise more than $500K to fund their projects. I’m committed to launching 100 dreams, and yours is one of them. The only question is: are you ready to follow your dream?
have a question?
Frequently Asked Questions
This masterclass is for artists, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and nonprofits who want to launch a fundraising campaign for a project or business. It can be useful no matter what phase of business development you’re in and can help you to overcome common obstacles to chart a plan for success.
As soon as you register, you’ll be directed to a thank you page with access to view the masterclass. You’ll also receive an email with link to download the Fundraising Insider workbook.
The course is designed to be completed in 1 day. You’ll go through the entire workbook guided by the masterclass and the email support will provide additional guidance. After that, it’s up to you to implement the ideas you learned, or take the next step in another course or 1:1 strategy consultation with me. I recommend you dive right in!
You get access to a self-guided on demand course with a digital workbook, course checklist, and video masterclass led by yours truly.
You can purchase Fundraising Insider for $19.99.
When your order is complete, you will be redirected to a thank you page and receive a confirmation email to the address on file with links to download the Fundraising Insider workbook. If you don’t see the thank you page or receive any emails, please be advised your order was not processed, or your email carrier potentially blocked your receipt of messages.
If you have any problems completing your order, please email us at: support@crowdfunddream.com. Please also add iquo@crowdfunddream.com to your safe senders list to ensure your confirmation emails don’t end up in your spam box.
Let's get started
Join Fundraising Insider Today.
When your order is completed, you will be redirected to a thank you page and receive a confirmation email. If not, please be advised your order was not processed successfully. Clear your cache and try again.
