Unlock the potential of community capital to drive your outdoor recreation economy forward. Discover a diverse range of funding strategies— from crowdsourcing and crowdfunding to community investment funds— that empower individuals over institutions, allowing communities to shape their local economies. This course will guide you through leveraging these strategies to support essential infrastructure like trails and boat launches, boost local businesses tied to outdoor recreation, and enhance housing for community residents.


Who Should Enroll:

Whether you're seeking fresh ideas beyond grant proposals, looking to engage residents and resources, or striving to construct long-term solutions that strengthen your community, this course is for you. Ideal for community & economic development organizations, entrepreneurs, park managers, chamber members, and community leaders.

Course Features:

Bring a challenge or project idea ready for funding. You'll explore community capital approaches tailored to your needs and emerge with a plan of action and a personalized pitch deck to secure support and move your project forward. Our goal is to ignite your community’s capital to expand your outdoor recreation economy.

Registrants will answer preliminary questions about their projects to ensure tailored learning and rapid progress.


Free Learning Credits

Through a partnership with American Trails, Harbinger is offering free learning credits for this course. Credits are available by request, at no charge beyond the course registration fee, contingent on completing the entire course and a brief post-course quiz. American Trails is a certified provider, and you may request credits for:

  • American Institute of Certified Planners Continuing Maintenance (AICP CM)
  • Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES PDH)
  • CEU/PDH equivalency petition for other accepting organizations


This course provides 6.00 CM | 6.00 LA CES NON-HSW | 0.60 CEU/6.00 PDH Equivalency Petition


Session Dates and Times:

Join us for four live, 1½ hour weekly video sessions. Replays are available for all sessions.

  • Dates: Tuesdays, September 29, October 6,13 & 27, 2026

  • Time: 10:30AM-12:00PM PT / 1:30-3:00PM ET

Session 1: Community Capital Foundations

Tuesday, September 29th

  • Basics, tools, and strategies

  • Addressing shared and specific challenges

Session 2: Trailblazing Infrastructure

Tuesday, October 6th

  • Overcoming outdoor infrastructure challenges

  • Case Study: Donation Crowdfunding

Session 3: Bolstering Local Businesses

Tuesday, October 13th

  • Navigating the outdoor recreation economy

  • Case Study: Rewards Crowdfunding

Session 4: Real Estate & Housing

Tuesday, October 20th

  • Assessing community needs

  • Case Study: Investment Crowdfunding

Plus One-on-One Coaching:

Includes a post-course consultation to address your unique needs and circumstances.


Instructors

Kathleen Minogue 

With over a decade in community capital, she’s the guiding force behind Crowdfund Better, helping communities nationwide access unconventional funding.

Michele Archie

A 30-year veteran in community development, bringing a depth of experience from rural communities across the country.