A crowdfunded assistance program that subsidizes EFG Creative’s services for Kansas City’s performing arts
For the Culture
The Play it Forward fund helps cover the cost of creative services for performing artists, venues, organizations, and education programs in the Kansas City area.
We’re all one community.
Music, dance, theater, comedy, magic, drag, puppetry, circus arts, specialty acts, and anything else you can think of: Play it Forward supports it all with no strings attached.
Growth Mindset
Everyone benefits when the arts thrive.
We help artists build their brands, grow their audience, and establish their place in Kansas City’s performing arts ecosystem.
And some of them eventually give back to the very program that helped them do it!
Social impact, but not quite charity.
We’re not a nonprofit. We’re a regular small business that sees a problem to solve. We’ve incorporated Play it Forward into our business model with a goal of making it a fully sustainable element of what we do.
Every Good Band Deserves to Flourish.
Quality design and photography shouldn’t be exclusive to those who can pay top dollar. Everyone deserves to look their best, regardless of their financial situation.
Play it Forward’s goals are twofold:
- We strive to nurture the local micro-economy so that our community can grow and sustain ourselves and each other.
- We are working to gain enough funding so that we won’t have to turn any client away if they can’t afford EFG Creative’s rates.
Our impact across the Kansas City metro
The goal of the Play it Forward fund is to help support and sustain the Kansas City performing arts economy by way of subsidized graphic design and photography services. These services help new artists establish their brands, help established artists further contribute to the local economy, and provide a platform for marginalized artists and organizations to thrive, despite shortages in traditional funding.
Since the program started in 2023:
of all eligible projects have received subsidized work.
Eligible projects include single projects with local artists or nonlocal artists who perform in the Kansas City metro area. Subscriptions and retainers are not eligible at this time.
of project invoices have been paid by Play it Forward.
A combination of donations, merchandise sales, and case-by-case discounts have enabled Play it Forward to cover or partially cover client projects at EFG Creative.
of Play it Forward funding supported marginalized communities.
Our BIPOC, LGBTQ, and women-led projects have received the majority of Play it Forward funding, serving groups that have been historically overlooked.
of subsidized projects have directly impacted the Kansas City community.
Almost all of our supported projects have been home-grown, either taking place in the metro or supporting our local talent on tour elsewhere.
If you need discounted creative work,
Play it Forward is easy & accessible to all our neighbors.
Once you express your need, we won’t make you jump through degrading hoops to get support. There’s no long form, no essay to write. Just one question:
Do you perform in the KC metro?
That’s it. Play it Forward is accessible to anyone performing or based in the Kansas City area. When you’re part of our community, you’re eligible for discounted photography and graphic design.
When the time comes to pay for your project, you’ll simply receive a credit on your invoice that’s labeled Play it Forward.
All of our graphic design and photography services are eligible.
Photography, graphic design, and website services for artists, education, and nonprofits are eligible for reduced creative fees. View our services to see what we offer.
Stack your Play it Forward credit with our bundle discount
Bundled projects with tiered discounts are still eligible for Play it Forward funding.
Other sales and discounts do not stack at this time.
Subject to funding availability
Play it Forward‘s invoice credits are offered as funding allows. We’re dedicated to growing this initiative, with all net proceeds from merch sales, donations, and tips going directly into the fund.
Vendor fees not included
Due to funding limitations, Play it Forward helps cover EFG Creative’s costs but not vendors’ production fees at this time. Our clients still need to pay for printing and materials, but you can use your preferred vendor or our network of trusted partners to make it more affordable.
Contribute to Play it Forward
Support art for the arts!
If you’re a current client who has some extra love to give, the easiest way to contribute to the Play it Forward fund is to add a tip when you pay your invoice. Otherwise, you can contribute by making a purchase in our merch store! Plus you get to show off how cool you are! It’s a win-win!
FAQs
Everything you wanted to know about Play it Forward
What is Play it Forward and how does it connect to EFG Creative?
Play it Forward is EFG Creative’s crowdfunded assistance program that helps cover the labor portion of client invoices. Play it Forward closes the gap between what clients can afford and what EFG Creative needs to stay in business.
Why not just adjust your design and photography rates to be lower across the board so more people can afford your services?
Art is work, EFG Creative is a full-time job, and everyone deserves a living wage. EFG Creative’s rates are competitive with the design and photography markets in Kansas City and the surrounding region. Most clients can afford to pay full price, but Play it Forward exists to provide quality creative services at a reduced rate on a case-by-case basis.
Where does the donated money go?
The money goes into a dedicated Play it Forward fund, which pays for a portion of EFG Creative’s time and labor.
What happens if the fund runs out of money?
When the Play it Forward fund can’t afford to cover a client project, EFG Creative simply offers a special case-by-case discount instead. However, this is not sustainable long-term, which is why we rely on donations and merch sales to continue the program.
If a project allows, we reduce the scope and deliverables instead of a Play it Forward credit as an alternative option for our clients to save money.
How long has the Play it Forward fund been around?
We soft-launched our program in 2023 as a proof of concept to see if it was something people wanted and needed. Since then, we have subsidized a multitude of client projects and we continue to grow and expand as funding allows.
Is Play it Forward a nonprofit? Are donations tax-deductible?
Play it Forward is not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at this time. It is a fund within EFG Creative’s operating budget. As such, donations are not tax-deductible.
How can I support the program?
Clients with current invoices can add a tip during checkout if they are able. Everyone else can contribute by purchasing merch in our store. We aim to implement a more robust donation and sponsorship program in the future.
