The combination of tough economic times, unprecedented levels of needs, and growing public awareness of community organizing make this a ripe, albeit difficult, time for some serious fundraising. Aaron Dorfman, executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy and Marjorie Fine, director of the Center for Community Change's The Linchpin Campaign, teamed up to offer useful and pragmatic tips that can help community organizers dramatically increase funding from institutional grantmakers and major individual donors.
"Fundraising can be a challenge in these tough times," said Dorfman. "But there are real opportunities for new funding for community organizing." In Seizing the Moment: Frank Advice for Community Organizers Who Want to Raise More Money, Dorfman and Fine share strategies for building relationships with donors, how to make the big ask and communicating the impact of the organization's work. They also suggest a list of additional resources for fund seekers. Some of the tips they offer include:
- Make a list of not-the-usual suspects;
- Hit the social networking sites;
- Put yourself in the shoes of the program officer and think about the kind of information you would like to have;
- Donors can't and won't support what they don't understand, and they can't make introductions for you if they can't explain what you do; and
- Listen deeply.
The authors note that funding community organizing is a strategic way for donors and funders to fulfill their philanthropic goals. The book is available for free download at www.ncrp.org/files/publications/seizingthemoment.pdf