Our Mission
We use civic crowdfunding to build vibrant communities, connecting changemakers with funding partners to support community-led projects.
Our Vision
Revolutionize development by democratizing the funding, planning, and implementation process.
Transform communities by harnessing the power of crowdfunding & crowdgranting.
Empower changemakers to create more sustainable, healthy, and equitable communities.
About Patronicity
Patronicity was founded in 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Our founders, Chris Blauvelt and Ebrahim Varachia, saw the opportunity crowdfunding offered as a catalyst for economic and community development in their city. Crowdfunding democratizes access to capital, empowers communities to champion their own sustainable development, and allows residents to support projects that matter most to them. Our name comes from the idea that individuals could become “Patrons of their City,” supporting the growth and development of their communities.
Our founders had an idea to differentiate us from all other crowdfunding platforms: the matching grant. We coined it as crowdgranting. The matching grant is not a new concept for traditional granting organizations, which often require organizations to raise a certain amount of funds in order to receive matching grant dollars; this was the first time matching grant dollars had been paired with crowdfunding.
Since 2013, Patronicity has partnered with numerous private and public sector organizations to distribute matching grants to community groups, small businesses, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations across the United States.
Our Theory of Change
In 2023, we developed our Theory of Change. Our Theory of Change defines who we are, what we do, the outcomes of our work, and the long-term impact we aim to achieve.
Our Team
Our fully remote team brings diverse interests, experiences, and passion to help other communities thrive.