This past year has been incredible for our neighbors and for ioby. To date, thousands of neighbors have raised over $7 million to make positive change across the country, and brought to life hundreds of projects that make our neighborhoods more sustainable, more just, and more awesome. They show that there’s great power in the simple act of coming together to confront a common problem. In overcoming differences and challenges, our neighbors are forging a new, more inclusive future with ioby. That’s nothing short of transformative. As 2019 comes to a close, we wanted to take a look back and celebrate all the incredible work our communities did together. Check out our 2019 Giving Report to see the story of the neighborhood, of kindling the flame of our democracy, and of getting good done.

Art therapy is about giving your mental health a boost, while working on a craft. Creative work often helps folks relax and destress, and gain insight into their own lives. Engaging in an art therapy project in a group can give your community the chance to express ideas or access feelings that might not be easy to talk about, or may not be front and center in your regular lives. Starting an art therapy project not only allows your community to work together creatively, it can also help you build a stronger, healthier community.

What is art therapy?

Art therapy is essentially classic therapy mixed with a form of visual art. Art therapists are often trained, credentialed therapists who use creative work to help people heal and learn more about themselves. It can be a powerful way of digging deeper, and reflecting on what our minds are telling us.

But even if you aren’t a trained art therapist or aren’t working with one, you can still start an art therapy project to bring the benefits to your neighborhood! Projects that engage people in creative expression can be an accessible way to work through emotional struggles, learn useful skills, and work toward a new future. What’s more, health—and mental health—doesn’t just happen in a doctor’s office or a therapy session. It happens all around us, with the people we interact with every day, and there are lots of ways you can work with your community to boost health. 

Whenever we coach project leaders, one of the first pieces of advice we give is to build a big backyard of supporters. Your backyard will be there for all of your ups and downs, will be the folks you can rely on for help, and will ultimately make your project a success. 

2018 was no ordinary year for ioby. We broke a lot of our records, got hundreds of projects done, and pushed the needle further on building a movement of changemakers. We’re not done yet, but the great progress we’ve already made was only possible thanks to the hundreds of neighborhood leaders–like you!–across the country who jumped in with us to get good done in our backyards. Whether you started a crowdfunding project on ioby, volunteered to help make it happen, or gave to a project or directly to ioby, we couldn’t have had an incredible year without you. Continue reading Thanks for an amazing 2018! →

Crowdfunding large amounts of money on ioby is totally doable, but it does take some extra planning. If you have your sights set high, your budget — and fundraising skills—will just have to rise to the challenge.

Continue reading Why just fundraise when you can MAKE IT RAIN??? →