united earth networks powered by hubcast
UEN MetaCenter Powered by HubCast — studios, editing and a meeting center at Fort Worden, run as a working business
The UEN MetaCenter Powered by HubCast is a staffed production studio, editing suite and hybrid meeting center at Fort Worden Historical State Park. It follows the model and founding rates of the Civil Society Media Desk in New York — Zoom support, on-site streaming, hybrid and multi-camera production — and adds the studio, editing and room rentals a permanent West Coast hub can offer. At its heart is the CoNGO Institute Global Studio Fellowship: two-week residencies where young people from around the world train in production and citizen journalism, then return home to open UEN Powered by HubCast studios in their own communities. Grant-funded fellowships give the MetaCenter a steady base of revenue that sustains the business and the Institute staff who run the program.
Business snapshot
At-a-glance facts for funders and investors. Production rates mirror the New York Media Desk; studio, editing and room rates and all financials are working estimates.
- Project lead
- Marc Katsky, Strategic Director, UEN · [email] · [phone]
- Brand
- UEN MetaCenter Powered by HubCast — flagship hub of the UEN Powered by HubCast studio network
- Model
- CoNGO Civil Society Media Desk, Church Center for the United Nations, New York
- Location
- [Building], Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA — confirm with Washington State Parks
- Facilities
- Main studio · control room · 2 editing suites · podcast suite · 40-seat hybrid meeting center · classroom lab
- Capital investment
- $650,000 build-out and equipment
- Operating reserve
- $200,000 to cover years one and two
- Fellowship program
- CoNGO Institute Global Studio Fellowship — two-week residencies, 16 international fellows per cohort, 3 cohorts in year 1 rising to 6
- Year 1 revenue / costs
- $455,000 / $460,000 (MetaCenter, including fellowship fees)
- Break-even
- Year 1 roughly even; profitable from year 2 (+$150,000) and year 3 (+$250,000)
- Staff
- MetaCenter 5.5 FTE · plus 4 CoNGO Institute staff on campus, funded by fellowship grants
- Opening
- Build-out Q1–Q2 2027 · soft opening summer 2027
- Fiscal sponsor / EIN
- Buckminster Fuller Institute for United Earth Networks, SPC — confirm · EIN [00-0000000]
The opportunity
Language ready to lift into a proposal narrative.
Need
The Olympic Peninsula has no professional, affordable studio and hybrid meeting facility. NGOs, schools and small businesses record podcasts in closets, join international calls with laptop audio, and hire crews from Seattle for anything larger. Fort Worden hosts thousands of visitors for conferences and retreats, but none of that work is captured or shared beyond the room.
Our approach
Replicate what works in New York. The Civil Society Media Desk helps NGOs, committees and youth delegations document, livestream and amplify their work, with founding packages from $250 Zoom Event Support to $1,500+ Multi-Camera Hybrid Production. The MetaCenter brings the same menu to Fort Worden, staffed by producers who run every session, and connects it to the HubCast studio network so a forum in Port Townsend and a briefing at the UN can share one stream.
Who it serves
Nonprofits and CoNGO member organizations; Fort Worden campus partners and conference groups; local businesses, schools and creators; UEN's own programs, from BFI residencies to the Earth Repair Convergence; and young people in CoNGO Institute citizen-journalism courses, who train in the same rooms professionals rent.
Why now
The New York desk is open and proving demand, UEN Powered by HubCast is launching, and the CoNGO Institute's youth program needs a home studio. The MetaCenter is the physical anchor for all three — and a steady, year-round use of Fort Worden space.
Business overview & rates
Clients book a service, and MetaCenter staff run it — the same model as the New York desk.
Production & streaming
Zoom support, on-site streams, produced hybrid events and multi-camera productions — on campus at Fort Worden or on location.
Studio & editing
A multi-camera studio with control room, two editing suites and a podcast suite, rented with staff or as packages.
Meetings & learning
A 40-seat hybrid meeting center for international Zoom meetings and forums, and a classroom lab for courses and CoNGO Institute youth training.
Production packages — matching New York founding rates
| Package | Rate | Includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoom Event Support | From $250 | Zoom technician or event concierge, run-of-show support, recording, speaker and participant support | Online briefings, committee meetings, virtual panels |
| Basic On-Site Stream | From $550 | One-camera capture, basic livestream or recording, simple small-room setup, recording delivered after | Small panels, workshops, side events |
| Produced Hybrid Event | From $1,000 | On-site support, remote audience integration, production coordination, recording and livestream | Hybrid panels, public briefings, remote speakers |
| Multi-Camera Hybrid Production | From $1,500 (quoted) | Multi-camera capture, on-site and remote production, hybrid audience, recording and livestream | Larger panels, convenings, interviews |
| Interview Clips Package | [$350 — set price] | Three interview clips up to 5 minutes each, framed and recorded for social, donor updates and newsletters | Add-on for any booking |
Package names and rates follow the Civil Society Media Desk's founding pilot packages. New York prices the clips package separately; set a Fort Worden price before publishing.
Studio, editing & room rentals — new at Fort Worden
| Space or service | Includes | Nonprofit | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio half day (4 hrs) | Main studio, 2 cameras, producer | $600 | $950 |
| Studio full day (8 hrs) | Main studio, 3 cameras, producer and engineer | $1,100 | $1,750 |
| Editing suite with editor | Suite and professional editor | $75 / hr | $110 / hr |
| Editing suite, self-serve | Suite and software, after orientation | $30 / hr | $45 / hr |
| Podcast recording | Booth, engineer, raw files | $75 / hr | $125 / hr |
| Podcast package | 2-hour session, edited episode, audiogram | $350 | $550 |
| Meeting center | 40-seat room, display, conferencing (add Zoom Event Support for a technician) | $300 half day · $500 day | $450 · $800 |
| Classroom lab day | Lab, laptops, mobile kits | $450 | $700 |
| MetaCenter membership | 4 podcast or editing hours + 1 Zoom Event Support monthly, 10% off packages, priority booking | $300 / mo | $500 / mo |
CoNGO Institute Global Studio Fellowship
The program
Two-week residencies on the Fort Worden campus for young people aged [18–30] from around the world, selected with CoNGO member organizations. Fellows train in studio and field production, editing, podcasting, livestreaming and citizen journalism, then plan the community studio they will open at home. Each cohort produces a showcase broadcast on the UEN Powered by HubCast network.
From fellow to community studio
Every fellow leaves with a business plan, a starter production kit, and a place in the network. With 12 months of remote mentoring from Institute staff, fellows launch UEN Powered by HubCast studios in their own communities — the “leaves” of the network, producing local stories, serving local NGOs, and feeding content back to the global channels.
| Two-week residency | Focus |
|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Citizen journalism: ethics, verification, interviewing with consent, solutions reporting |
| Days 4–7 | Production: cameras, sound, lighting, livestreaming and hybrid events in the MetaCenter studio |
| Days 8–10 | Editing, podcasting and field reporting on campus and around the Salish Sea |
| Days 11–13 | Community studio business planning: services, pricing on the Media Desk model, partners and funding |
| Day 14 | Live showcase broadcast and network onboarding |
| Fellowship program budget (grant-funded) | Year 1 — 3 cohorts, 48 fellows | Year 3 — 6 cohorts, 96 fellows |
|---|---|---|
| Fellow travel, visas, insurance, lodging & meals | $225,000 | $450,000 |
| MetaCenter studio, instruction & production fees | $145,000 | $290,000 |
| CoNGO Institute staff on campus — program director, 2 instructors, international coordinator | $150,000* | $300,000 |
| Starter studio kits for fellows | $75,000 | $150,000 |
| 12-month mentoring & network onboarding | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Total grant need | $625,000 | $1,250,000 |
About $13,000 per fellow, including the starter kit and a year of mentoring. *Year 1 staffing is phased in (about 2 FTE). Fellowship fees are paid to the MetaCenter at nonprofit rates, giving the studio predictable bookings during its first years.
Revenue model
| Revenue stream | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 1 assumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production packages (on campus & location) | $120,000 | $170,000 | $210,000 | ~130 bookings, average ~$900 |
| Studio & editing rentals | $60,000 | $85,000 | $100,000 | ~35% studio utilization |
| Podcast & meeting center | $45,000 | $60,000 | $75,000 | ~3 bookings a week |
| Memberships | $25,000 | $45,000 | $60,000 | ~7 members |
| Partner & program bookings (UEN, CoNGO Institute, BFI) | $40,000 | $55,000 | $60,000 | Billed at nonprofit rates |
| CoNGO Institute fellowship fees (grant-funded) | $145,000 | $240,000 | $290,000 | 3 cohorts of 16; 5 in year 2; 6 in year 3 |
| Network revenue share (HubCast distribution, licensing) | $20,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | Launch-year content deals |
| Total revenue | $455,000 | $665,000 | $810,000 | |
| Operating costs | $420,000 | $455,000 | $490,000 | See operating budget |
| Added costs of hosting fellows (producer time, consumables) | $40,000 | $60,000 | $70,000 | |
| Net | –$5,000 | +$150,000 | +$250,000 | Surplus funds salaries, equipment renewal and new hubs |
Funding opportunities
Capital for the build-out, bridge support for the first two years, and earned revenue for the long run.
Sponsorship & naming tiers
| Tier | Amount | Recognition & benefits | Slots | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MetaCenter naming partner | $150,000 | Name on the center, recognition on every broadcast from it, annual studio days | 1 | Open |
| Main studio naming | $75,000 | Named studio, on-air credit, two production days a year | 1 | Open |
| Learning lab sponsor | $40,000 | Named classroom lab, credit on CoNGO Institute youth work | 1 | Open |
| Meeting center or podcast suite sponsor | $25,000 | Named room, signage, booking credits | 2 | Open |
| Equipment partner | $15,000 or in-kind | Named supplier for cameras, audio or conferencing gear | 3 | In conversation |
| Fellowship sponsor | $13,000 | Sponsors one international fellow — residency, starter kit and a year of mentoring; named fellow and studio | 96 / yr | Open |
| Country cohort sponsor | $100,000 | Sponsors 8 fellows from one country or region and their new community studios | 6 | Open |
| NGO access sponsor | $10,000 | Funds about 40 free sessions for small nonprofits; recognition on the booking page | 5 | Open |
Grant targets & pipeline
| Funder type / target | Program fit | Request | Deadline | Stage | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International youth exchange & fellowship funders | Global Studio Fellowship — travel, residency, mentoring | $400,000 / yr | [LOI-based] | Priority — prospect research | GMA + CoNGO Institute |
| Media development & press-freedom funders | Training citizen journalists and seeding community studios abroad | $300,000 / yr | [Cycle TBD] | Priority — prospect research | GMA |
| Government & multilateral exchange programs | Citizen and youth exchange, SDG capacity-building | $250,000 / yr | [Solicitation-based] | Eligibility check | GMA |
| Capital & facilities funders | Studio and meeting-center build-out | $200,000 | [Cycle TBD] | Prospect research | GMA |
| Washington State arts, heritage & community facility grants | Creative-economy facility at a historic state park | $75,000 | [Cycle TBD] | Eligibility check | GMA + UEN |
| Rural economic development & broadband programs | Jobs, digital access and media capacity on the Olympic Peninsula | $75,000 | [Cycle TBD] | Eligibility check | UEN |
| Media, journalism & youth education funders | Learning lab and youth citizen-journalism training | $60,000 | [LOI-based] | Prospect research | GMA |
| Community & family foundations (regional) | Operating bridge for years one and two | $100,000 | [Rolling] | Cultivation | GMA |
Crowdfunding
Goal: $35,000 — “Build the MetaCenter” · Window: [during build-out]
Tiers at $50 (name on the founders' wall), $250 (free podcast session), $1,000 (studio half day), $5,000 (dedicate a booth).
Major & recurring gifts
Named rooms, multi-year equipment-renewal funds, and a monthly supporter circle. Stewardship: opening-night invitation and an annual showcase of work made in the center.
Earned revenue
Rentals, production services, memberships, and bookings from UEN and campus partners, as set out in the operating model — the long-term source of the center's sustainability.
Investment & operating budgets
$850,000 total investment: $650,000 build-out plus a $200,000 operating reserve.
Capital investment — $650,000
Year 1 operating budget — $420,000
Committed
$0 cash. In-kind: HubCast network standards and support, UEN's existing Fort Worden studio equipment.
Pending
Space agreement at Fort Worden.
Gap to close
$850,000. If funded in stages: meeting center, podcast suite and one editing suite first (~$250,000), offering Zoom and podcast services while the studio is built.
Impact metrics
Year-one targets.
Measurement method
Booking system data on sessions, hours and utilization; client counts by sector; youth enrollment and skills assessments with the CoNGO Institute; audience reach of work produced; share of free and discounted sessions; earned revenue against the operating model. Data owner: [name].
Reporting cadence
A monthly utilization dashboard, quarterly sponsor updates, and an annual impact and financial report with a reel of work made in the center.
Document library
Link each item to the live file in the UEN shared drive.
Fundraising package
Contacts & next steps
Named owners for every ask, plus what has to happen before this brief goes out.
Project lead
Marc Katsky · Strategic Director, United Earth Networks
Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA
[email] · [phone]
HubCast Media
[Name] · [Title]
[email] · [phone]
Role: studio network, technical design
Grant Management Associates
[Consultant name]
[email] · [phone]
Scope: capital and operating grants, reporting
- Secure the building at Fort Worden and confirm studio and rental use with the Fort Worden PDA and State Parks.
- Get a contractor estimate for acoustic, power and network work, and replace the build-out estimate.
- Check the new studio, editing and room rates against Seattle and regional studios; production packages already match New York.
- Confirm the fellowship with the CoNGO Institute: age range, selection, visas, safeguarding and the community-studio agreement fellows sign.
- Line up the first fellowship grants before opening — the business plan depends on them from year 1.
- Set a price for the Interview Clips Package (New York prices it separately).
- Agree with HubCast on network standards, shared bookings and revenue splits between the two studios.
- Confirm the space and schedule for CoNGO Institute youth courses.