Happy New Year! We’re kicking off 2017 with a crowdfunding column full of all sorts of goods and goodies — from baked delights and short stories to public art displays and hand-crafted liqueurs. Learn more below.

Check out these 5 women-led crowdfunding campaigns:

1. A Baker Finds a Home (via Kickstarter)

The Business: Gillian Sara Shaw is the driving force behind Black Jet Baking Co., a San Francisco-based eatery that has been delighting locals since 2010. Since starting up, she has been producing and selling goodies from a shared commercial space. But recently a new and rather ideal location became available, and Shaw is hoping to make it into a new home for her venture.
The Money: By or before Jan. 8, Shaw and her team hope to raise at least $75,000. The money generated will help her secure the space and pay new employees.

2. Farm-Fresh Liqueurs (via WeFunder)

The Business: Bloomery, based in Charles Town, W. Va., and run by entrepreneur Linda Losey, has found success with its “sweet spin on moonshine.” The ingredients are grown on the company farm, then turned into cocktail liqueurs that are sold from their base of operations. In light of the local popularity of its liqueurs, Losey is now looking to expand Bloomery’s reach significantly in the coming years.
The Money: Losey is raising money through an equity crowdfunding campaign, which offers investors a stake in the business. She is aiming to generate between $70,000 and $1 million to expand production and distribution.

3. Short Stories from Trans Women (via Kickstarter)

Art by Luvia Velandia
Art by Luvia Velandia

The Business: “Nameless Woman: An Anthology of Fiction by Trans Women of Color” is a collection of short stories crafted by several authors, all transgender women of color. But it’s also an opportunity to “begin to create a place for trans women of color to thrive in publishing,” as Trans Women Writers Collective editor Jamie Berrout puts it. The finished product will be available as both a print and digital offering to maximize reach and impact.
The Money: Funds from Berrout’s campaign will go toward paying writers for their work on this book, as well as printing and distribution costs. Though her campaign has already reached its $5,000 goal, it will remain open until Jan. 15.

4. A Mural in a Border Town (via Kickstarter)

The Business: Grafitti artist Harriet Wood, who hails from the U.K. but currently resides in Barcelona, wants to use her talents — and art in general — to strengthen personal connections in the American border town of Ajo, Ariz. “Public art is an incredible way of bringing communities together and starting a conversation,” she says in her campaign. “Communities in the USA and Mexico border regions need support now more than ever.”
The Money: Wood launched her campaign to fund travel costs to Ajo. She’s aiming to raise $3,672 by or before Jan. 27.

5. Gluten-Free Croissants (via Indiegogo)

The Business: Lila Colello is a pastry chef who also suffers from celiac disease. Through her business, Brûlée Bakery, she sells brownies, muffins and more, all of them gluten-free for folks like her. Now, she wants to make another key bakery staple available to her gluten-sensitive customers — croissants.
The Money: Thanks to Indiegogo’s Flexible Funding option, Colello will receive money whether or not she meets her $75,000 goal. The funds from her campaign will be used to secure a fully gluten-free space in which to experiment on her croissants.

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Want to be featured in The Story Exchange’s Crowdfunding column? Drop us a line and tell us about your campaign at [email protected].
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