Grassroots Fundraising as Movement Building: Build Your Base to Fund Your Budget

Many youth organizing groups are talking about how to become less reliant on foundation funding and build independent financial power. Led by the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT), this webinar will introduce participants to grassroots fundraising. We’ll explore philanthropy in the U.S. today to find out who’s giving money and why, learn about basic grassroots fundraising tactics, and share proven strategies for building independent resources. We will also hear from a panel of youth organizing social justice change­makers who will share their successes raising money to build power for their community causes.

Founded in 1996, Training GIFT is a multiracial organization that promotes the connection between fundraising, social justice and movement­building. GIFT builds the capacity of nonprofit organizations to raise money and develop healthy, diverse, and sustainable fundraising programs. We believe that how groups are funded is as important to achieving their goals as how the money is spent, and that building community support is central to long­term social change. GIFT trains 300+ organizations each year, focusing especially on social justice groups with an annual budget under $1 million and those based in and lead by communities of color.

Facilitator: Veronica Garcia, Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT)

Veronica was born in Los Angeles and raised on the U.S./Mexico border in El Paso, Texas. She has over 20 years of experience working with social justice nonprofit organizations and community groups on issues including access to health care, food and housing, quality education, anti­violence initiatives, LGBTQ equity, anti­racism, immigrant rights, and community organizing. Most recently, before joining the GIFT staff team as Program Director, she served as Director of Development at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center where she helped ensure a diverse funding base to sustain immigration legal services for low­income clients seeking asylum at the border in El Paso.

Panelist: Mimi Madrid Puga, Survivors Organizing for Liberation

Mimi is a queer 2Spirit IndiaMexicaXicanx creature birthed in El Paso, TX. Mimi brings years of experience in community and youth organizing, curriculum building and implementation, program development, and fundraising. As a survivor of violence Mimi finds faith and love through family, art, spirituality and community organizing. Mimi is the director of training & organizing at Survivors Organizing for Liberation.

Panelist: Sarah Jackson, Casa de Paz & Volleyball Internacional

Sarah went to the US/Mexico border and saw separated families. She returned to Colorado and opened Casa de Paz, a home offering free housing for families affected by immigrant detention. To pay the operating expenses, Sarah started Volleyball Latino. Sarah’s hopes to help end the isolating experience of detention.

Panelist: Timothy Colman, Philadelphia Student Union

Timothy has been a fundraiser with the Philadelphia Student Union since 2013. As Individual Donor Coordinator, Timothy implements PSU's vision of grassroots fundraising integrated with organizing and leadership development to build a stronger, more independent movement for educational justice in Philadelphia. Before working with PSU, Timothy led grassroots fundraising for a youth bicycle education program, helped create a fundraising committee for a local prison abolition group, and worked as an educator with youth and adults.