Every fundraiser needs a robust set of tools to build sustainable, equitable, and community-centered programs. Round out your toolbox with these great resources from fundraising experts and activists!
Website Resources
From The Ethical Rainmaker: From grounding practices in donor experiences instead of a community's needs, to a lack of political, race, class, and power analyses, traditional fundraising practices often perpetuate the very injustices the nonprofit sector wishes to end. The Ethical Rainmaker is a podcast that hosts authentic conversations grappling with the questions that we don’t often ask in the nonprofit world. theethicalrainmaker.com
From Anti-Racism Daily: Since June 3, the Anti-Racism Daily has been sending one email a day pairing current events with historical context and personal reflections on how racism persists in the U.S. (and around the world). antiracismdaily.com
From CCF: 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. communitycentricfundraising.org
From Code Switch: Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race head-on. We explore how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and everything in between. This podcast makes all of us part of the conversation — because we're all part of the story. npr.org/sections/codeswitch
Video Resources
From Fundraising Academy: Does solicitation make you or your volunteers nervous? Fundraising Academy at City University of Seattle discusses "Demystifying the Ask" with veteran fundraiser and consultant B. Michelle Johnson. Take away a solid grounding and helpful tips for making the ask for your team and board!
From TED: Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice—and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
From Amy Eisenstein: What do you say when donors ask challenging or uncomfortable questions? Amy Eisenstein interviews Anne Melvin, Director of Training at Harvard’s Central Fundraising Office, who shares some excellent pivoting techniques when speaking with donors. Anne explains how to pivot away from difficult topics and successfully redirect your conversations.