Donor Engagement

Keeping Up the Momentum: Critical Insights on Transitioning From Crisis Response to Sustainable Rebuilding and Structural Change

A Brief Report on Donor Involvement in Gulf South Allied Funders

In 2006, Twenty-First Century Foundation (21CF) embarked on a groundbreaking partnership with Resource Generation, Threshold Foundation, and Women Donors Network to launch Gulf South Allied Funders (GSAF). Each year donors from around the country organized their friends and networks to raise $1 million dollars to strategically invest with 21CF.

After three successful years of donor organizing, 21CF convened key donor leaders last winter to discuss the transition from GSAF, a grassroots movement of activists in partnership with 21CF to respond to urgent relief needs in the Gulf Coast, to GOAL—an initiative committed to longterm sustainability of communities of color in the region that provides opportunities for continued donor activism and advocacy. The meeting was a chance for investors and 21CF staff to celebrate and acknowledge GSAF members’ achievements; to reflect together on the partnership’s biggest accomplishments and most critical lessons; and to appreciate the GOAL charge and work plan and ways donors can support 21CF’s next steps.

Overview: GSAF demonstrated an important model for resource development, donor engagement and movement building. Along the way $3.8 million was raised and multiple creative advocacy and investment strategies were utilized. The election of President Barack Obama creates a climate change and a set of opportunities for engaging the issues of infrastructure, community organizing, poverty alleviation, and many others. GSAF participants particularly valued the opportunities to work across race and class to make a difference. Many people made GSAF happen and are continuing the work, and we will continue to lift up their names.

Leveraging Funds and Networking Donors–The Ripple Effect: We learned through this experience that donor organizers are powerful and inspirational. Moving forward we have to expand ways to engage donors beyond their checkbook (in a balanced way). We need collaboration not competition, and we must continue to build on each other’s knowledge and success.

Funding Impact and Innovation: We recognize the importance of building respectful relationships with grantee partners and allies for long-term movement building. Throughout our process we built trust, brought people together, challenged notions of power and control, and redefined the ways in which we engage in solidarity. Donors’ choice to invest in a Black-led philanthropy resulted in increased capacity for 21CF and greater visibility and legitimacy for grantees, and in a vision for cross-race and cross-class partnership models.

Visibility and Awareness of Gulf South Issues and Racial Justice Philanthropy: There is room to raise more awareness of the centrality of Gulf Coast issues. Going forward, a top priority is to develop a clear description of the GSAF model and to use our allies to reach wider networks. We are mobilizing people to become organizers, but not just for charity—we are investing in an engine for social change. In addition to considering these suggestions as a part of our larger strategic planning, 21CF has been actively planning a robust slate of activities for investors, including: site visits, briefings, conference calls, donor newsletters, and fundraising trainings.