Why Lily Creek Farms Needs Your Help Now
In 2023, Lily Creek Farms stepped into a bold new chapter
We purchased a larger property to meet the growing demand for our programs. With that came a mortgage, which we planned to support through savings and increased annual fundraising instead of a capital campaign.
We’ve made remarkable progress:
- Increased fundraising by 30%
- Launched our apple orchard social enterprise (Mahnke Market)
- Added staff to serve more clients than ever before
But we’ve also encountered some real-world challenges:
- Fundraising has grown, but hasn’t fully covered the increased monthly costs
- Economic pressures and inflation have driven up operating expenses
- Staffing needs have increased with our expanding caseload
- Client fees, by design, don’t cover the full cost of care
- Mahnke Market is close to breaking even, but not yet generating net revenue
What does this mean?
We’re proud of our impact. But to sustain it, we now face a $10,000–$12,000 monthly gap that must be covered through donor giving to balance our operating budget.
This is a cash flow problem, not a mission problem.
We’ve grown to meet the wellness needs of our region, and now we need our community to help us grow financially so we can continue.
We know what needs to be done:
- Recruit new recurring donors
- Expand peer-to-peer fundraising
- Boost engagement with upcoming events and campaigns
- Continue operational and financial restructuring with expert support
- Consider a future capital campaign to pay off the mortgage
Here's how you can help today
Make a donation:
Start a personal fundraiser:
Volunteer or help promote upcoming events:
Share our content on social media
We didn't get here overnight, and we won't solve it alone.
But with your help, we will solve it and secure Lily Creek’s future for generations to come.
Q&A
Q1: What’s really going on financially?
Lily Creek Farms is experiencing a cash flow shortage. We’re not currently bringing in enough to cover monthly operations like payroll and essential bills. Our mission is strong—now we just need immediate support to bridge the gap.
Q2: Is the farm closing?
No. We are not closing. This is a restructuring moment, not a shutdown. Leadership and the board are already taking decisive action.
Q3: How did this happen?
- Rapid growth
- Inflation
- Fundraising delays
- Our programs and impact grew faster than our revenue
- Mahnke Market is nearly breaking even, but required a steep learning curve and leadership time
- The new farm’s size and demands stretched our capacity
Q4: What is the plan to fix this?
- Scale active fundraising (Trailblazers, Drone Drop, Golf Outing, Family Fun Days, Summer Camp)
- Grow our monthly donor base
- Activate volunteers and supporters to spread the word
- Streamline internal operations
- Consider a capital campaign to pay off the mortgage
- Improve forecasting and financial reporting
Q5: What’s the best way to help right now?
- Donate now
- Start a personal fundraiser
- Buy a Drone Drop ticket (Drop is June 14th)
- Sponsor a Family Farm Fun Day
- Register for the Golf Outing (July 19th)
- Promote our fundraisers
- Share our Therapeutic Riding Program with someone who could benefit
- Volunteer for events
- Help us spread the word
