Membership & Contributions

Common Current operates on a "pay what you can" membership model. We believe that economic accessibility is fundamental to creating truly inclusive community resources.

All of our finances are completely transparent. Through Open Collective, you can see every contribution and expense, ensuring that your support goes directly toward building community resources.

Suggested Contribution Levels

While we suggest the following annual contributions, we welcome any amount that works for you. No one will be turned away for financial reasons.

Basic Membership

$5/year

Supports our basic technology costs and helps us maintain the Hour Exchange.

  • Full membership benefits
  • Voting rights on community decisions
  • Access to all Commons Current resources

Supporter

$20/year

Helps fund community events and workshops in addition to basic operational costs.

  • All basic membership benefits
  • Helps enable free community workshops
  • Supports expanded Hour Exchange resources

Sustainer

$50/year

Contributes to our future tool library and other resource expansion efforts.

  • All previous benefits
  • Directly supports tool library development
  • Helps establish physical resource center

Community Builder

$100+/year

Makes a substantial impact in creating a permanent physical space for Common Current.

  • All previous benefits
  • Major contributor to securing physical space
  • Enables expansion of all Common Current programs

Join or Contribute Through Open Collective

We use Open Collective to manage our finances with complete transparency. You can see exactly how your contribution is used!

Open Collective embed will appear here once our account is approved.

Other Ways to Support

Financial contributions are just one way to support Common Current. We value many forms of participation:

⏱️

Time Contribution

Volunteer 5-10 hours per year to help with events, administration, or Time Exchange coordination as an alternative to financial membership.

🔨

Tool Donation

Donate tools in good condition to our upcoming tool library. Substantial tool donations count toward membership.

🧠

Skills Contribution

Offer your professional skills (graphic design, web development, grant writing, etc.) to help build our organization.

🔊

Spread the Word

Help grow our community by telling friends, sharing on social media, and connecting us with like-minded groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I can't afford the suggested contribution amounts?

Any amount is welcome! We genuinely mean "pay what you can." If financial contribution is difficult right now, consider volunteering time or skills instead. We want everyone to be able to participate regardless of financial situation.

How is my contribution used?

Every dollar goes directly to building our community resources. Current priorities are maintaining our Time Exchange platform, developing our tool library, and eventually securing a physical space. You can see a detailed breakdown of all expenses on our Open Collective page.

Is my contribution tax-deductible?

Currently, contributions are made through our fiscal sponsor via Open Collective and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We're in the process of establishing our own 501(c)(3) status, and will update contributors when that process is complete.

Can I make a one-time donation instead of an annual membership?

Absolutely! One-time donations of any amount are very welcome and can be made through our Open Collective page. These contributions are just as important as memberships in helping us build community resources.

How can I contribute tools or other resources?

For tool donations, please email us at info@commoncurrentventura.org with a description of what you'd like to donate. We're currently developing our inventory system and storage capacity, but are actively accepting tools in good working condition.

Join Our Community

Every contribution—whether time, money, skills, or tools—helps build a more resilient and connected Ventura. Together, we're creating systems that work for everyone.

Support Common Current