crescent fund

TOTAL FUNDS

$3,330.00

 updated 01/20/10

Do you have a project for the Crescent Fund?


We succeed by helping each other. With support from the National Rural Funders’ Collaborative, marketumbrella.org created the Crescent Fund to invest in vendors, shoppers and the community. 

Each time shoppers use a credit or debit card to purchase wooden tokens at the Crescent City Farmers Market, they can contribute $1 to the Crescent Fund. Vendors can also invest part of their earnings in the fund. 

Anyone can apply for a cash infusion of up to $500. Three times a year, the marketumbrella.org staff picks the projects most likely to benefit the local economy, improve local health and strengthen our community. 

Market shoppers vote for their three favorite projects. After six months, the winners repay the cash infusion with time (volunteering at the market), talent (sharing a special skill) or treasure (returning the money).

sample projects

We’re looking for ideas that promote health, commerce and the community. Learn what kinds of projects benefit this “triple bottom-line” and the different ways of returning the cash infusion through time, talent or treasure.

timeline and application

Like the phases of the moon, the Crescent Fund goes through cycles. Check here for upcoming deadlines and to download an application.

rules and regulations

Games are always more fun when we play by the rules. Before you apply, read all the Crescent Fund’s rules and regulations.

Thank you for voting this fall! Here are our cycle 3 winners! Next time you can apply!


1. Carver Gardens, GW Carver Culinary - New Orleans, LA

•    Funds will be used to purchase products from the Crescent City Farmers Market for student expertise projects to learn the fundamentals of food, from buying ingredients to preparing meals for the classroom.
•    Funds will be used at the market, benefiting the vendors. The class will keep a log of foods cooked and eaten, which will serve as a recipe book to be shared at the market. If the program is successful, it could be replicated throughout the school district, benefiting the community at large.  

2. Books 2 Prisoners, The Louisiana Books to Prisoners Project - New Orleans, LA

•     Funds will be used to purchase postage and cover shipping costs for the mailing of reading materials free of charge to prisoners, benefiting the community by decreasing the likelihood that released inmates will "re-offend".
•    Funds will be returned to the market by volunteering at the market, working at the Welcome Tent and increasing awareness of prisoner literacy among the market community.

3. Trouser House Soil and Water Reclamation, Trouser House - New Orleans, LA  

•     Funds will be used to purchase soil and water pumps for the non-profit's urban farming initiative in the St. Claude Arts District that advances contemporary art, nurtures food activism and furthers community cohesion.
•     Funds will be returned to the market through free advertising and flyer design. Trouser House will advertise both Crescent City Farmers Markets at the "St. Claude Second Saturday Arts Events".