PRIORITIZE COMMUNITIESReimagine Fundraising
Community-Centric Fundraising is a fundraising model that is grounded in equity and social justice. We prioritize the entire community over individual organizations, foster a sense of belonging and interdependence, present our work not as individual transactions but holistically, and encourage mutual support between nonprofits.
PRIORITIZE COMMUNITIESReimagine Fundraising
Community-Centric Fundraising is a fundraising model that is grounded in equity and social justice. We prioritize the entire community over individual organizations, foster a sense of belonging and interdependence, present our work not as individual transactions but holistically, and encourage mutual support between nonprofits.
EQUITABLE FUNDRAISING
CENTERED AROUND COMMUNITY
We need a fundraising model in which we respect donors and build strong relationships with them, but one that they are not the center of. The community we serve and benefit from must be centered.
MOVEMENT BUILDING
We envision a sector that believes in the principles of Community-Centric Fundraising, that uses these fundraising principles and practices to build the power and voice of communities of color.
EVER-EVOLVING
The CCF principles and sample actions are iterative and will change and evolve as we have more conversations, including, likely, some more healthy arguments.
THE 10 PRINCIPLES
These ever-evolving core principles have been developed from conversations with so many fundraisers of color over the the past few years. The 10 Principles are how we aspire to transform fundraising and philanthropy, so that they are co-grounded in racial and economic justice.
The Latest Updates
Three times trying a community-centric approach paid off
In mid-February, I sat in a development committee meeting. Like most meetings I attend, I was the only non-white, non-cis person in the room, sitting on mute, listening to an all-white, all-cis group share their ideas for how we could monetize an educational week of events.
I’m an executive director who has worked for free for nearly 10 years. Is it still even worth it?
Eight years ago, I had an idea. The idea was inspired by what I had seen at other organizations around the country, but for where I resided, in Central Virginia, it was a new thing. After about a year of testing this idea out and playing with it in a real-world sense, I decided to commit to seeing it come to fruition. I would end up spending so much of my time — without compensation, mind you — working relentlessly, because I believed in it.
The fact-based fallacy of accountability to donors
There are so many reasons the notion of accountability to donors is not only misplaced but factually illogical. I’m not talking about the significant ethical reasons that have been covered so well in racial equity and social justice forums. I’m talking about logic-based, fact-based arguments. Because once we begin down the logic trail, the entire donor-centric model of accountability begins to crumble on its own.
MULTIMEDIA
The Ethical Rainmaker: Billionaires, DAFs, and the Changing Face of Philanthropy with Teddy Schleifer of Vox’s Recode
Billionaires in America are changing the landscape of philanthropy. Journalist Teddy Schleifer of Vox’s Recode Daily podcast, joins Michelle to talk about what billionaires are doing with their money, the debate about Donor Advised Funds, and large scale philanthropy. “One thing society might not appreciate is how much those entities [large East Coast Foundations] are going to seem like small potatoes. The amount of money being made in Silicon Valley and is theoretically going to be deployed to the charitable sector…is enormous.”
The Ethical Rainmaker remix: white women as gatekeepers
Check out this re-aring of The Ethical Rainmaker’s most popular episode to date!
In this episode, Fleur Larsen, a DEI consultant and a white woman, talks with Michelle to answer questions like: Why are there so many white DEI consultants making money off of racism? What does gatekeeping look like? How do you know you are gatekeeping and what should you do when you are called out? How do you call out a gatekeeper?
JOIN CCF’S SLACK
For those of you who are interested in starting up a CCF group in your own city or just meeting cool new folx, hit up our CCF Slack!