Swale + Floating Garden: Fundraising Overview

Swale is a floating food forest and public space rooted in community-led food access, ecological education, and resilient infrastructure. Founded in 2016, Swale transformed NYC’s waterways into platforms for public foraging and civic engagement. Floating Garden is the next evolution: a permanent, mobile foodway for stewardship opportunities and access to healthy edible plants.

We are seeking to raise $350,000 in 2025 to launch the first of several permanent Floating Gardens.

Timeline

- August 2025: Barge purchased + insured
- Sept–Oct 2025: Vessel buildout and retrofitting
- Spring 2026: Test run and programming in Medina, NY
- Late Summer 2026: Voyage to the Bronx (Concrete Plant Park)

2025 Funding Needs (Total: $350,000)

- Barge purchase and transportation: $150,000 (total raised $110,000)
- Build out: $35,000
- Safety & compliance (USCG, insurance): $40,000
- Program development, community partnerships & youth stipends: $60,000
- Staffing & admin: $65,000

Corporate and Institutional Sponsorship Tiers

One Floating Garden Visionary – $250,000
- Naming opportunities
- Co-branded events and press
- Recognition onboard, online, and in print

One Education & Stewardship Partner – $100,000
- Supports youth-led curriculum & workshops
- Logo placement and storytelling partnership

One Resilience Sponsor – $50,000
- Funds adaptive design and community toolkits
- Recognition in media and digital rollout

Individual Giving

One Water Access Sponsor – $15,000
- Enables seasonal vessel movement to underserved sites
- Name plaque onboard
- Recognition in printed and digital materials

-Unique portfolio of artwork from Swale team

Eight Food Access Sponsors - $5,000 each
- Helps us get to the next phase of foodway support
- Name plaque onboard
- Recognition in printed and digital materials
-Unique portfolio of artwork from Swale team