Building the Temple:
A Documented Journey
Goal: $30,000 by May 2026
100 Builders × $300 Minimum Commitment
The 100 Founding Builders Campaign
The world is out of balance.
Not metaphorically. Measurably. Historically. Spiritually.
We were never meant to operate from only half of what creates life. You cannot have one without the other. Not in nature. Not in the cosmos. Not in the human soul.
Black Butterfly Temple exists because balance is not just a concept. It is the architecture. Of life. Of the divine. Of everything that has ever been built to last.
And now we are building it into the physical world.
The 100 Founding Pillars Campaign
Black Butterfly Temple is entering Phase One: Infrastructure Activation on 11 acres in Glenwood, Iowa.
We are looking for 100 people who already know what we know. People who have felt the imbalance without always having words for it. People who are ready to help build something that will outlast all of us.
We are calling them Founding Pillars.
Four pillars hold a structure standing. One hundred Founding Pillars will hold this temple into existence.
If you commit a minimum of $300 by May 5, 2026 you become one of them. Permanently.
This campaign funds essential Phase One infrastructure including electrical installation, septic system development, well drilling, and foundational structural work. Every dollar goes directly into the ground this temple stands on.
Founding Pillars are not donors. They are not customers. They are the people who were here at the beginning. Who believed before there was anything to point to. Who made the physical foundation possible.
There are only 100 of these moments. When they are gone they are gone forever.
What Founding Pillars Receive
As one of the first 100 Founding Pillars of Black Butterfly Temple you will receive:
• Permanent recognition on the Founding 100 page
• Your name included on the on-site Founders Plaque — physical, permanent, on the land
• A numbered digital Founding Pillar Certificate
• Quarterly progress updates documenting every milestone of the build
• A 48-hour early registration window for all programming during the Temple’s first full operational year
• One free weekend retreat at Black Butterfly Temple within the first operational year — because you built this, you should be the first ones home
• Invitation to the Phase One Dedication Gathering
Your name will be woven into the origin story of this place. Not as a footnote. As a foundation.
Minimum commitment: $300
Payment plans available, completed by May 5, 2026.
Founding Pillars are welcome to contribute beyond the minimum to further accelerate development.
Black Butterfly Temple is a fully approved 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Contributions may be tax deductible. Consult your tax advisor for details.
There are only 100 founding moments.
Come build something that lasts.
[BECOME A FOUNDING PILLAR
The Building of the
Black Butterfly Temple
A Five-Year Development Plan
The Black Butterfly Temple is being built intentionally, in phases, with full transparency. Each phase establishes the capacity for the next, ensuring that growth is sustainable, community-centered, and infrastructure-supported.
Phase Zero — Establishment (Completed)
Phase Zero focused on forming the nonprofit structure and launching initial community programming. Early contributions funded essential infrastructure including website development, printed materials, and subsidized classes to ensure accessibility.
This phase transformed vision into active service.
Early Believers
The earliest contributions to the Black Butterfly Temple helped fund essential startup infrastructure and community outreach. These funds supported website development, printed materials, and the offering of free and reduced-cost classes to ensure accessibility for all participants.
Their generosity allowed the Temple to begin serving the community before permanent land or facilities were secured.
Traci Walter
Scott Wolf
Denise Riffle
Cathy Nelson
Amelia Hansen
Vicky Martin
Phase One — Infrastructure Activation (In Progress)
Phase One focuses on securing and preparing a permanent base of operations. Funds raised during this phase will support property acquisition (if secured), electrical installation, septic system development, well drilling, and the first gardens. If property acquisition is delayed, funds may instead support the development of foundational cob structures and alternative on-site infrastructure.
This phase establishes the physical and operational foundation required for long-term programming and community stability.
With infrastructure in place, the Temple transitions from early development into sustainable expansion.
Phase Two — Program Expansion (Years 2–3)
Phase Two focuses on expanding consistent, land-based programming once infrastructure is secured. This includes community workshops, seasonal gatherings, youth education initiatives, and partnership collaborations.
During this phase, the Temple develops operational rhythm, volunteer engagement, and recurring community offerings. Program expansion allows the Temple to serve broader audiences while refining its educational model.
This phase transforms infrastructure into active, sustained community impact.
Phase Three — Campus Development (Years 3–4)
Phase Three centers on thoughtful land development and environmental stewardship. This may include additional natural building structures, gathering spaces, garden systems, and regenerative land practices aligned with the Temple’s mission.
By this stage, the Temple moves from single-site activation to cohesive campus design — integrating education, ecology, and community space into one unified environment.
This phase deepens roots and strengthens long-term sustainability.
Phase Four — Community Integration & Longevity (Years 4–5)
Phase Four establishes the Temple as a fully integrated community resource. This includes mentorship pathways, apprenticeships, expanded retreat programming, and long-term partnerships with schools, organizations, and local institutions.
At this stage, the Temple transitions from development to endurance — ensuring financial stability, leadership continuity, and multi-generational stewardship.
This phase secures the Temple’s future beyond its founding years.
