Supporting Us

All Fiercely OK programs are offered in the spirit of the gift. There are no fees required for participation.
……………………………….How can this be?

Fiercely OK facilitators rely on the gifts of their community in order to offer their gifts without fees. Think of a wild strawberry, which offers itself to you as a gift from Mother Earth. To offer itself so freely, the strawberry requires the nourishment of the sun, soil and water. In other words, the gift freely given is not truly free. As long as we take only what we need and leave enough behind, the plant will most likely continue to provide us with fruit, year after year, in relatively small quantities. Left to its own devices, it may even grow and spread to provide gifts for many other beings. But it is not likely to produce the 4 quarts we are accustomed to eating in the summertime. Fiercely OK is at a similar stage in its development.

Presently, Fiercely OK is able to offer its gifts “freely” to you because our facilitators are nourished by the gifts they receive in other parts of their lives, for example, from their families, friends, communities and day jobs. Fueled by passion, a strong vision and an awareness of our privilege, we find joy in creating a modest offering of “free” programs. We consciously choose to trust that, as long as we continue to offer our sweetness, we will be cared for by the gifts of those who have fallen in love with our work, want to see us flourish and have the means to provide for us. We trust that, if each person listens to their heart and follows their desires, our garden beds will never dry up…

Our trust has not yet been broken. More and more, community members have begun to offer to us their gifts of money and time and we are increasingly able to support our facilitators both financially and energetically. Fiercely OK is now proudly supported by 10 patrons on Patreon and a handful of occasional donors. We also receive the support of folks who take photos for us at events and help maintain our social media presence. While we may not yet be receiving enough to compensate our facilitators “fairly” for their time and energy, we are receiving enough to continue creating a modest offering and even to start thinking about expanding our offerings.

Gifts grow through acts of reciprocity…

There may come a time in your relationship with the strawberry plant when, out of love for it and a desire to be able to pick its fruits without fear of depleting its supply, you will choose to engage in an act of reciprocity. You will give a gift in return. Not because you owe anything to the plant, but because you have been nourished by its gifts and find joy in supporting its flourishing. Imagine the child who, noticing the seeds of the strawberry, eagerly rushes to the garden to see if a new plant will appear. Now imagine that you are that child. Collect the seeds, plant them and nurture them into being. Before you know it, you may have a garden or maybe even a yard full of strawberries!

At Fiercely OK, we dream of living in a world where folks who are in need of the gifts of song and belonging can take freely, without shame or feeling the pressure of paying us back. We dream of widening our offering so that all people, no matter who they are or where they live, can comfortably access our services. We dream of a diverse team made up of dozens of facilitators and a safe place to land for every soul. Bringing our dreams to life will require many acts of reciprocity.

How can you participate in the gift economy?

Whether you are in a position to give or receive at this point in your life, you are Fiercely OK and worthy of the gifts we offer. Our programs are truly and freely offered to you without any strings attached. No pressure. No shame.

We invite you to cherish the gift. Relish in the way it offers itself to you freely. Practice receiving without shame.
If and when you are inspired to offer a gift to Fiercely OK, do so because you want to and can do so freely.
Trust along with us that, if Fiercely OK’s offerings are worth sustaining, they will be sustained and the cycle of giving will continue. Trust that you are a generous person, and you will give what you can when you can.

Check-in with yourself regularly, at least once per season. Ask yourself:
1) How have I been nourished by Fiercely OK’s programs and community?
2) Am I excited to offer a gift to Fiercely OK facilitators to help them sustain their efforts?
3) What can I freely offer on a weekly, monthly, seasonal or yearly basis?

When the answer comes, trust and accept it as it is. If applicable, take action.

Suggested Monetary Gifts:
$15-35 per session (sustaining contribution: $25)
BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR! $10 - $100 per month

Other Gift Possibilities:
1) Show up at an event (YES! Your presence is a gift!)
2) Send us a testimonial that we can use on our website
3) Offer to help us with one of our events or some other aspect of the business’s operation
4) Refer friends to our events
5) Encourage others in your life to donate

Payment Options:
1) Send an e-transfer to Fiercely OK: gifts@fiercelyok.ca (no password required)
2) Make a contribution via PayPal to gifts@fiercelyok.ca
3) Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/fiercelyok
4) Make a cash contribution at one of our in-person events

THANK YOU for your curiosity. Thank you for reading. By reading to the end, you are participating in creating a new culture with us, one in which the gift is valued and sustained.