We host GUMBO dinners to fund local projects.

ABOUT GUMBO

  • GUMBO is a microgranting dinner celebrating and supporting local projects. For a donation $5 attendees receive a bowl of gumbo, salad, bread and a vote and hear from four presentations ranging from art, urban agriculture, social justice, social entrepreneurs, education, technology and more. Each presenter has four minutes to share their idea and answer four questions from the audience. At the event, attendees eat, talk, share resources, enjoy art and vote on the project they think benefits the city the most. At the end of the night, they count the ballots and the winner goes home with all of the money raised to carry out their project. Winners come back to a future GUMBO dinner to report their project’s progress.

  • $5 suggested donation.

    Why? GUMBO wishes to eliminate barriers to participants, so some throw in $20 while others $0.20.

  • The winner goes home with the money raised at the door. Attendees have engaged and participated alongside other people who share in the desire for a better community. Diners have shared resources and ideas with all presenters. Connections have been made. Conversations have been had. People have felt empowered.

    GUMBO IS TRULY AN INCUBATOR FOR CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY.  IT'S A TESTAMENT TO HOW STRONG THE COMMUNITY IS AND HOW WE CAN CONNECT TO OTHER ENTREPRENEURS TO INSPIRE AND GROW TOGETHER.  THERE ARE CITYWIDE GUMBOS AND THERE ARE NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC GUMBOS.  Presenters include social entrepreneurs, local changemakers, nonprofits, and folks with an idea to improve the community.

  • The proposal form is simple because we want all people to feel empowered to talk about their ideas with diners at GUMBO.

    Your proposal doesn’t need to be a novel.

    • Short, quick and to the point.

    • Your idea can be about ANYTHING!

    • The idea must support the community.

    • You do not have to be a resident to submit an idea, and age is just a number so please don’t limit yourself or a child! We want to hear from all.

    • When you hit the “submit” button, a screen will prompt you that we received it.

    • You can submit your idea more than once.

    • If you idea doesn’t get selected for this month’s GUMBO, then SUBMIT AGAIN! There are often up to 20 ideas submitted a month and only 4 submissions are chosen to share at the GUMBO.

    • Save your work ahead of time. Once you submit your application, there isn’t anything sharing the final submission.

    • Save what you wrote, so if you want to resubmit later you have the language you want for later.

    • Anything you submit will be used in printed packets at the dinners.

    • Make sure you edit, look for spelling errors, etc.

53 dinners since 2018. 260 ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTED.

85 new businesses, initiatives, programs, or organizations launched from former GUMBO alums.

$131, 768 RAISED.

JJ Townsend, Founder

“GUMBO Nourishes the Soul of a City.”

Donations are tax-exempt and 100% of funds support the community projects.

Starting Summer 2023

  • JXN GUMBO

    03.21 6:00-8:00PM

    Location: TBA

  • Delta GUMBO

    04.21 6:00-8:00PM

    Location: TBA

  • West JXN GUMBO

    05.21 6:00-8:00PM

    Location: TBA