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
How Getting Let Go From my Nonprofit Job Finally Helped Me Stop Pushing for Change
For over twenty years, I have been part of a spiritual program that has a useful axiom: “expectations are premeditated resentments.” Most of the time, I know better than to have any expectations but sometimes, I forget. When I was getting ready to birth my first and only child, for example, I expected to have a natural childbirth. I had a plan, midwives, candles, the whole thing. The birth turned out to be long and complicated and, in the end, anything but natural. I spent several years working through my resentments and the parts of that experience I was responsible for, the largest of which were my expectations.
Underpaid staff don’t need motivation, they need dollar bills and benefits
“Financially, [working at a nonprofit] can’t work for a lot of people. And in fact, with a nonprofit our size — boy, you almost have to be in a committed relationship with somebody else with an income, because you’re not — it’s hard to support yourself on what we can pay people, in Denver.”
This was the moment my Executive Director (ED) finally admitted that what I was being paid wasn’t enough to support me. I was just one month shy of six years into my position at the organization, and she didn’t say this quote directly to me. She said it on a podcast that she was featured in as a nonprofit leader.
The 2021 CCF big ol’ rewind mega round-up
We’re closing out our second year of posting content to the Community-Centric Fundraising content hub. We feel incredibly lucky and honored to have worked with so many talented and passionate folks this year to expand our collective knowledge.
Here’s an anthology of everything that was published in 2021, organized by theme (and in order of date they were first published).
MULTIMEDIA
The Ethical Rainmaker: Courageous Fundraising Principles with Virginia Community Voice
When community-centric fundraising launched their content hub and 10 principles, thousands of organizations and people took note – and many took action. Lea Whitehurst-Gibson and Bekah Kendrick of Virginia Community Voice talk about how they built and delivered their Courageous Fundraising Principles and how they center community in their work based in Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy. Learn about strategy and tactics in this story!
The Ethical Rainmaker: How To Feed A Movement with Tomme Beevas
TV celeb and James Beard Award-winning chef, Tomme Beevas talks with Michelle about how the lynching of George Floyd – less than two miles from his restaurant, played out in the creation of Pimento Relief Services, a truly community-centered organization in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Learn about liberation in action through this inspiring story!
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!