Fundraising Academy for
People of Color
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR LOS ANGELES 2012 COHORT!
We’re delighted to announce that we are accepting applications for the 2012 Los Angeles Fundraising Academy for Communities of Color through April 11th, 2012.
To learn more about the application process, click
here.
ABOUT THE ACADEMY
This skills building program for people of color led nonprofits focuses upon donor development within a multicultural learning setting. Offered by
CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and the
Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT), the academy includes dynamic training, one on one coaching and peer learning so that executive directors, development staff and board members can create new fundraising practices within their organization and better results in drawing community support. The academy has helped over 90 people of color led nonprofits in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area to raise the funds they need in a more sustainable way, through diversifying sources and building strong relationships with community donors. Through the generous support of the Community Leadership Project, the California Community Foundation, the California Endowment and the James Irvine Foundation, a majority of the costs are subsidized in order to make the academy financially accessible to community nonprofits.
Hear what past participants in the Fundraising Academy have to say about their experience.
Using the framework of grassroots fundraising developed by GIFT and the
Grassroots Fundraising Journal, and the solid experience of CompassPoint and GIFT trainers and coaches, the academy not only strengthens donor development skills, but addresses the organizational systems and leadership culture needed to sustain good fund development and mission based work. The academy is designed for nonprofits based within communities of color, offering relevant materials and examples in a multicultural setting for learning. Participants cite the academy as a unique resource that changes their attitudes and beliefs of fundraising, and transforms their group’s approach to developing new donors. Through four learning cohorts, over 75 organizations have graduated from this highly intensive training and coaching program.
PROVEN TRACK RECORD
A 2007 survey of graduates of the academy reported consistent increases in the number of individual donors and gifts acquired after the first and second fiscal year of attending the academy.
- 80% of participants surveyed reported higher levels of money raised from individuals and increases in the number of individual donors than in previous years.
- 85% of participants reported that their fund development efforts have improved as a result of their participation in the FACC.
- 50% reported that the FACC had a high impact on their overall fundraising, and 50% reported a moderate impact upon their overall fundraising.
I see the importance of creating our own financial base of support within our community. Through the trainings and the little bit of time that I have given to developing this base, it is clear to me that the community wants to support our organization financially. Overall, the fundraising culture & attitude within our organization has changed. I think staff is more open & willing to fundraise.
- Participant evaluation
What are the benefits of participating in the Fundraising Academy for Communities of Color?
Through eight months of training and coaching (1 day each month) academy participants learn practical skills of developing individual donors, build their organizational strategies to raise contributed income, and develop their own leadership approach to fundraising within their organization. In a peer learning environment that supports multicultural learning in this area, participants share their ongoing work and benefit from hearing how other groups are developing donors in different cultural settings. Participants are invited to stay connected to a larger alumnus of former participants and academy staff, to support ongoing learning. Participating organizations also receive a comprehensive binder, textbooks from CompassPoint and a 12 month subscription to the Grassroots Fundraising Journal.
The Academy faculty and fundraising coaches are seasoned fundraising professionals from diverse backgrounds, who have successfully raised money in communities of color. Through expert sessions, donor panels, case studies and problem solving, we continue to build knowledge on the practices of philanthropy and fund development within distinct cultures, and how these practices evolve.
Past Participant Reviews:
You guys did it right with the Academy. It proved to be informative and inspiring to me, and other staff and board members that I brought from Mayfair. It was hard and it certainly complicated my already over complicated life but it was worth it. You really did something substantial to build new skills within our agency and our community.
- Jaime Alvarado, Executive Director
Somos Mayfair
My coach helped me with the preparation and confidence I needed to secure a large state grant to complete the purchase of our property. Five months after the academy, I am still digesting the information and practicing new skills, especially in introducing prospective donors to the organization.
- Shyaam Shabaka, Executive Director
Eco-Village Learning Farm
Through the Fundraising Academy, we learned new techniques that have increased our response rate to CPEHN direct mail campaigns, ideas on how to broaden our donor base, and skills to effectively implement a comprehensive fundraising plan. The individual coaching helped me act on my own fundraising work to lead the board and staff. The most exciting aspect was seeing how building a donor base is helping CPEHN to build a broader base of support for our mission and policy work.
- Ellen Wu, Executive Director
California Pan Ethnic Health Network
Thanks to the Fundraising Academy, we have received $120,000 already from our annual fund letter. We are also setting up house gatherings hosted by respected leaders in the community. Thank you for your excellent training and encouragement and excellent resources.
- Wes Mukoyama, Executive Director
Yu-Ai Kai Senior Services
BUILDING KNOWLEDGE ON THE FUNDRAISING APPROACHES OF NONPROFITS BASED IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
In September 2008, the academy conducted a study of nonprofits based in communities of color in Los Angeles to learn about their approaches to income generation, their staffing strategies, successes and challenges. This
report underscored the value of ongoing training for staff and board members that is multicultural and models multicultural fundraising leadership. For more information on the academy, contact
Steve Lew or
Byron Johnson at CompassPoint Nonprofit Services.
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
We need to know that your organization is supporting your participation, since the academy will be at least eight full days of trainings, plus additional time for coaching and trying out new ways to raise money and develop donors in your work. Please make sure that the people you report to (board members, executive director, your supervisor) not only support your application and participation, but that they are also receptive to learning and increasing their own fundraising efforts.
Participants are required to attend 8 training sessions from May 2012 - October 2012 for approximately 7 hours per session. While your application is being reviewed, please hold the following session dates on your calendar. Each session will run for the full day.
Sessions 1 & 2: May 22-23, 2012
Sessions 3: June 12, 2012
Sessions 4 & 5: July 10-11, 2012
Sessions 6: August 14, 2012
Sessions 7: TBD September 2012
Session 8: TBD October 2012
If selected, your organization will need to pay a participant fee of $500 - $2,000 based on the size of your annual budget. This represents close to 10% of the total cost to hold the academy, so the other 90% is subsidized by academy funders. Please know that there are no additional discounts or scholarships, and that many groups have successfully raised money for this fee as a first step in conducting grassroots fundraising with their board and supporters!
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
Your organization must meet all or most of the following criteria in order to participate in the Fundraising Academy:
· Organization mission is specific to a community of color.
· More than half of board and leadership staff are people of color communities of color.
· Majority of clients/members are people of color.
· Seek to develop donors from communities of color.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11th.
Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by mid April.
The online application will take approximately 30 – 45 minutes to complete. Please complete each section in full. You will need some basic organizational records to complete the application, such as your annual budget, and your most recent financial statement.
Once you complete the online application, you will be directed to a page where you can download the Organizational Acknowledgement Form that must be signed by your Executive Director, or by your Board Chair if you are the Executive Director.
This form is due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11th. Submission instructions are included on the form.
TO BEGIN THE ONLINE APPLICATION, CLICK HERE.
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Steve Lew, Senior Project Director, at
stevel@compasspoint.org or 415-541-9000 x330.
If you have any questions about the online application or if you'd prefer to fill out a paper application, please contact Erin Lingren, Associate Project Director, at
erinl@compasspoint.org or 415-541-9000 x329.
Join us in Chicago in August or New Orleans in September and spend a
week honing your skills to think strategically and build power to win on
your organization's issues. 
Curious about how Workshop alums are putting the materials and tools to use at home? Find out!
