About the Money

Community Way dollars (cw$) are a means of exchanging freely between members of a community (Customers), community-based Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations.

1. Businesses within the community donate cw$ to a non-profit organization within their community.
2. Non-profit organizations can then exchange their cw$ with supporters for Canadian $, giving them funds to operate.
3. Supporters receive a 1:1 exchange paid in cw$.
4. cw$ can be used to purchase goods and services at participating businesses within the community, who accept at terms they set – for instance 50% on food in a restaurant.
5. A business earning cw$ can then spend them with another contributing business, or donate them back to another non-profit organization, or top up staff bonuses.
   

This cycle allows businesses to reach new customers who are looking to spend their cw$, and allows businesses to support community programs without direct cash costs.

Additionally, there are a variety of ways in which a Customer can receive cw$. The end result will always be money in a Customer’s pocket that is ready to be spent with a community-based Business, which then continues the cycle.

Some of the ways that a Customer could receive cw$ are:

• As payment for volunteer work with a Non-Profit Organization.
• As a 1:1 exchange on a donation to a Non-Profit Organization.
• As payment for personal goods a Customer may be selling (via CraigsList, etc).
• As a ‘bonus’ from a Business employer.
• Etc…