Commitment Fees, Funding Structure, and Refund Policy
In order to establish a strong, well-organised and transparent foundation for the Community Land Purchase Initiative, three key financial pillars have been put in place: Commitment Fees, Funding for Land Purchase, and a clear Refund Policy. These components ensure accountability, protect members’ contributions, and create a structured, trusted environment for everyone involved.
Understanding Commitment Fees
At the inaugural meeting, we agreed that members would volunteer to form various committees based on their skill sets, allowing us to delegate responsibilities effectively. The Finance Committee was formed through this process and tasked with reviewing financial readiness, member participation levels, and early administrative needs.
By the second meeting, the Finance Committee had convened and advised that, given our rapidly growing membership, we needed to identify how many individuals were genuinely committed—particularly those who intended to contribute financially toward the land purchase. Members agreed that the best way to establish this commitment was through a US$100 Commitment Fee.
Purpose of the Commitment Fee
The US$100 Commitment Fee serves several essential functions:
Confirming Genuine Participation
It helps us determine the number of members genuinely invested in the project. This information is essential for:
Identifying the appropriate size of land to purchase.
Accurately forecasting our budget and shared costs.
To ensure serious participation and eliminate speculative involvement, all joining members will contribute a Commitment Fee.
Funding Early Organisational Costs
The Commitment Fee is used to cover the essential, unavoidable costs necessary to set up the legal and operational framework of the initiative, and so far the commitment fees have covered costs including:
- Solicitor fees for drafting and adopting the constitution
- Domain names, email services, and website development
- Advertising campaigns
- Accounting software and subscriptions
- Other administrative and operational costs are required to establish our foundation.
Empowerment Through Collective Commitment
The $100 Commitment Fee represents far more than a simple financial contribution—it embodies a pledge of trust, responsibility, and shared vision. It is the first act of dedication that members agree to undertake, and a standard of seriousness that every genuinely invested participant must demonstrate. This fee serves as the earliest sign of partnership, unity, and collective purpose, laying the groundwork for a trustworthy and dependable community. It confirms that each individual is aligned with the group’s goals and is prepared to move forward with integrity and intention.
A Required Contribution
To ensure sincere participation and prevent speculative or casual involvement, every joining member is required to contribute the Commitment Fee. This shared action signifies mutual respect for the process, mutual faith in the vision, and mutual responsibility for the outcomes.
By beginning with a unified and meaningful commitment, we build the foundations of a strong and transparent initiative. This path of collective commitment paves the way for a sustainable, vibrant future—one in which every member plays an essential role in shaping, strengthening, and advancing the community we are creating together.
Why the Commitment Fee Is Non-Refundable
The Commitment Fee represents more than a financial contribution—it is a demonstration of trust, dedication, and partnership among all members. These funds are used immediately for legal, administrative, and organisational work that benefits the entire group and cannot be recovered once spent. For these reasons, Commitment Fees are non-refundable under all circumstances. This policy secures the financial stability of our administrative set-up. Protects the integrity of the group. Ensures only serious, long-term participants joi. Prevents speculative involvement
Land Deposit Contributions
Once the organisation is formally established, committed members will make Land Deposit Contributions, which will be paid directly to the solicitor and placed into the trust fund account.
If a member chooses to withdraw after paying their land deposit contribution:
- The member will be refunded their land-purchase contribution.
- Refunds may be issued once a replacement member fills the vacated position, or through the community fund as permitted by the constitution.
- Any shared costs already incurred on behalf of the group (e.g., legal due diligence fees) may be deducted as applicable.
This ensures that withdrawing does not financially disadvantage remaining members, while still allowing individuals to exit without losing their major investment.
Use of Community Profits and Revenue
All profits and revenue generated by the community—through agricultural activity, product sales, services, events, rentals, partnerships, or any other income streams—will be reinvested directly into the growth, sustainability, and long-term success of the community. Revenue will not be distributed to individual members as personal profit. Instead, it will be allocated responsibly and transparently to support the collective mission.
Community Maintenance and Infrastructure
Revenue will be used to maintain, repair, and improve community assets, including : communal facilities, Tools, machinery, and equipment, Roads, fencing, utilities, and essential infrastructure
This ensures that the community remains safe, functional, and capable of supporting ongoing operations.
Operational Development
Funds will support the development and expansion of community operations, such as: security systems like CCTVs, security vehicles and equipment, scaling agricultural production, introducing new crops, livestock, or value-added products, expanding business units or revenue-generating projects, purchasing advanced equipment and technologies, just to mention a few
Operational development ensures long-term financial stability and enhances the community’s productivity and capacity.
Employment and Staffing
Revenue will be used to: Hire round-the-clock security, skilled employees to support agricultural, administrative, or operational tasks, offer fair wages, training, and development for staff, and increase professional efficiency.
Hiring employees strengthens the organisation by bringing in specialised expertise and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.
Community Programmes and Member Benefits
Funds may be allocated to programmes that enrich the community and support member well-being, such as: Educational workshops and skill-building sessions, Youth programmes, training platforms, and community events, Health, safety, and wellness initiatives.
These programmes contribute to a thriving, supportive, and engaged community culture.
Strategic Growth and New Projects
Revenue will support the launch of new ventures aligned with the community’s goals, including: Renewable energy projects, Eco-tourism initiatives, Food processing or manufacturing enterprises, Real estate development for future community expansion, Sustainability and environmental stewardship projects
This ensures the community continues to evolve, innovate, and create long-term value.
Emergency and Contingency Reserves
A portion of revenue will be allocated to: Emergency reserves for unexpected events (e.g., equipment failure, weather damage, fire), Risk mitigation to protect both the land and the community’s operations
Maintaining reserves protects the community from financial shocks and preserves long-term viability.
Transparency and Accountability
All use of profits and revenue will be managed in accordance with: The community’s constitution, Agreed-upon financial policies, Annual budgets and financial plans, Regular audited reporting.
Members will receive clear, scheduled updates on revenue, expenditures, and reinvestment decisions to ensure ongoing transparency and maintain trust.