Funding Your Creative Business

Creative businesses face unique funding challenges—especially in rural communities. In this week’s edition of The Rural Startup, we explore what it takes to build a diversified funding strategy that supports both creative freedom and long-term sustainability.

We talk with Dani Reyes-Acosta of Afuera Productions and Meghan Rauker of DreamSpring about grant opportunities, revenue streams, and the mindset shifts that help creative founders grow without burning out.

From national grants to community crowdfunding, these insights go beyond the arts and offer practical advice for any founder navigating uncertain times. Read more on our business advice newsletter, The Rural Startup:

Join us in empowering rural entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders to achieve even more in 2025. Contributions of any amount directly power our mission to build a sustainable statewide network of resources supporting rural entrepreneurs, so that people and places can thrive and chart their own futures! Will you help us?