CROWDFUNDING SKILLS AND COMPETENCES FOR LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS
ERASMUS+ KA210-VET-Small-scale Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training
Running dates: October 2024- June 2026
ID number: 2024-1-IT01-KA210-VET-000253558
About the Project
REM – Reshaping European Rural and Remote Municipalities is a 16-month Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership involving organisations from Italy, Belgium and Spain. The project focuses on strengthening the skills of local administrators and municipal staff by introducing crowdfunding as a practical tool for community development, entrepreneurship and sustainable territorial growth. Designed for professionals working in small and medium-sized municipalities, REM translates crowdfunding from a specialist financial concept into a practical resource for local government. Participants explore how community funding can complement public investment, support local initiatives and encourage greater citizen participation in shaping the future of their territories.
Expanding funding opportunities for rural municipalities
Helping local administrations understand how crowdfunding can complement public funding and unlock new opportunities for community projects, entrepreneurship and local investment.
Developing practical skills for local government
Providing municipal staff with the knowledge and tools needed to design, promote and manage crowdfunding campaigns that respond to local priorities and community needs.
Strengthening community-led development
Encouraging municipalities to work more closely with citizens, businesses and local organisations, creating funding models that combine public action with community participation.
Sharing knowledge across Europe
Connecting municipalities, crowdfunding specialists and vocational education providers to exchange experience, showcase successful initiatives and promote innovative approaches to rural development.
Crowdfunding Proficiency Training Programme
A flexible 20-hour learning programme introducing local administrators to the principles of crowdfunding, campaign design, funding models, practical tools and European case studies relevant to rural and remote municipalities. The course is available in English, Italian and Spanish and can be followed independently, with a trainer or through blended learning.
European Case Study Collection
A selection of successful crowdfunding initiatives from across Europe, highlighting projects in heritage conservation, sustainable tourism, green transition, community infrastructure, education and local services. Each case explores the challenge addressed, campaign design, funding strategy and results achieved.
Practical Toolkit for Municipalities
A collection of ready-to-use resources, including campaign planning templates, workshop methodologies, crowdfunding canvases and guidance on combining community funding with public financial instruments.
Pilot Training Programme
The training curriculum is tested with local administrators from partner countries, allowing participants to apply the methodology in real contexts while providing feedback to refine and strengthen the final programme.
Open Learning Resources
All learning materials are published as Open Educational Resources (OERs) through an interactive online platform, making them freely available to municipalities, VET providers and organisations interested in local development across Europe.
Local Administrators & Municipal Staff
Mayors, councillors, technical staff, project managers and community development officers working in small and medium-sized rural municipalities.
Vocational Education & Training Providers
Organisations delivering continuing professional development for local government professionals and seeking innovative learning resources focused on local development and alternative finance.
Business Support Organisations
Innovation hubs, development agencies, clusters and entrepreneurship support organisations interested in helping municipalities attract investment and stimulate local economic growth.
Rural Communities
Citizens, entrepreneurs and community organisations who benefit from stronger local investment strategies, increased civic participation and new opportunities for territorial development.
Strong communities are built through participation as much as investment.
Across Europe, municipalities are looking for new ways to finance local initiatives, support entrepreneurship and respond to community needs. Crowdfunding is emerging as an effective complement to traditional funding, bringing together public institutions, citizens and local businesses around projects with shared value. Making this approach part of everyday municipal practice requires new skills, practical guidance and a clear understanding of how crowdfunding can be applied in different local contexts. REM responds to this need by supporting local administrators with the knowledge and tools to transform community ideas into funded initiatives.
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Delivered in partnership with:
