Resource Alert: CCF Aligned Actions List

In the last several years community-centric fundraising (CCF) has emerged as an antidote to the long-lasting trend of “donor-centric fundraising.” If donor-centric fundraising says to focus on the donor and their needs, community-centric fundraising focuses on the entire community and doesn’t place any individual as more important than another. If donor-centric fundraising highlights the benefits of charity to a donor, community-centric fundraising challenges us to think of our “giving” in the sense of reparations.

The creators of CCF state, “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.”

In my fundraising roles, I don’t subscribe to any one style of fundraising. I think donor-centric fundraising and community-centric fundraising can exist together, and the tension among them makes me a better, more nuanced storyteller, relationship-builder, and resource mobilizer. I’m still going to write thank you notes to donors that use “you” language because I truly think their financial gifts do make the world a better place. But I am going to challenge when I hear a donor share an unnuanced, racist view of the people my organization works with. I’m still going to focus on meeting donors to share with them stories of our work, but I will not pretend my organization’s mission is in alignment with a potential donor’s interest and values to secure funding, if it is, in fact, not.

When CCF was formulated in 2015 the brilliant team to do so created an “Aligned Actions List.” I frequently run through this list to test my fundraising activities and challenge my thinking - am I advancing justice and equality in my daily work? In my strategic planning? Or am I furthering the harmful tropes of fundraising?

I hope you find this resource as useful as I do!