2024 AGO International Gleaning Symposium�Track 1: Building Your Network�
Go Big or Go Home! Large-Scale Activities
Clay Jarratt, After the Harvest, Amazing Sweet Corn Glean-a-Thon
Kathryn Howard, PFTP, World Record Char-FruitTree Board
Introductions
Clay: Transitioned from longtime volunteer to join the staff of After The Harvest in 2020 after 15 years at a global software company. Manages all aspects of the various programs including the local gleaning and rescue programs and our truckloads procurement programs. Since inception in 2014 ATH has rescued over 32 Million Pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables distributing mainly in the Kansas City metro area.
https://aftertheharvestkc.org/about-us/our-staff/clay-jarratt/
Kathryn: Loves creating new partnerships and revenue streams for non-profits, with learnings from 15 years of corporate brand building strategy. Loves wearing all of the hats in small NPO life. Earned income specialist. On a steep learning curve but getting the hang of higher level development. Since 2006 PFTP has been joyfully harvesting from the trees that feed and shade our community in Portland, OR. We run workforce development, tree care programs, and workshops and events as well as our gleaning program.
Overview of Event
World’s Largest “CharFruitTree”Board - procured 60K in donated product and built a 500 foot record breaking spread / $25K in revenue after expenses / fed 3,750 People / procured a donated venue valued at $14k
Recap Video Here (much of the raw video is not yet edited since there is not at present a need for doing so).
Amaizing Sweet Corn Glean-A-Thon (annual event in 2022, ‘23, planned for ‘24)
4+ Acres of Donated Corn - 15+ corporate teams/sponsors - goal to harvest 50,000 ears of corn to local organizations.
Why Go Big?
PFTP- We were looking for brand awareness coming out of COVID and a down period for the NPO. Media / a “Big Bump” in followers and awareness with a concept that echoed the new, more whimsical branding of PFTP. This idea was posed to capture easy media.
ATH - Drive Volunteers and Donor Engagement, Support our Mission
The event started because a donor reached out to offer 5 acres of corn to be planted. That donor fell through but we had already announced the event and started gathering sponsors so we shifted gears. It has turned out to be a successful annual event.
Sponsorship
Big Takeaways on how to get Started
Kathryn - You don’t have to have everything ready to go in order to get started, you just need to describe your vision to the extent that you have a level of buy in you can leverage to other potential partners and stakeholders and continue to build it. Basically - you can go ahead and look like a big deal before you have everything sorted.
(fill these docs with the vision, keep updating as you go)
Clay - The First year might not be a success, but if you start gaining momentum / the purpose of annual format repetition.
Expect the Unexpected and be prepared to pivot as needed.
Sponsorship Packages
https://aftertheharvestkc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-SPONSORSHIP-PACKAGES-1.pdf
Press Release
https://aftertheharvestkc.org/2023-amaizing-press-release/