Colorful painted illustration of many raised hands in varied hues overlapping against an abstract multicolor background.

Most nonprofits are struggling right now. Government funding (federal, state, and local) has been slashed. And honestly, for most nonprofits doing the work, it feels like a crisis.

But as attacks on nonprofits continue, it is also revealing something many of us have long known: we need to diversify our funding sources. Most nonprofits have revenue that largely comes from just a few sources: government funding, foundations, or a few major gifts. And smaller organizations struggle with limited capacity. So, how do we do this?

This is where community-centric fundraising comes in. It challenges us to ask a different question: What would it look like to build a funding base that is rooted in the communities we serve? One that reflects our values, shares power more equitably, and is less vulnerable to political changes or donors who pull back when our mission gets too uncomfortable for them.

Join us for a first in a series of strategy sessions focused on grassroots fundraising. For this session, you’ll:

• Understand how grant dependency and donor-centric fundraising have contributed to the crisis that nonprofits are in now

• Learn what community-centric fundraising (CCF) principles offer as an alternative — and what it could realistically look like for your organization

• Start understanding your organization’s revenue risk and where your dependencies actually are

What you'll leave with:

• An honest picture of where your organization is most financially vulnerable

• Language for talking about the funding crisis through a CCF and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) lens

• A framework for thinking about what community-centric funding could mean for your organization

This session is for executive directors, development directors, and anyone who fundraises in their nonprofit, or who is curious to learn more about it.