Using Fundraising to Build a Movement
by Ankur Asthana on February 27, 2009
In the United States, philanthropic giving is ingrained into our society with 89% of households giving charitable donations every year. Yet, aside from the most recent U.S. Presidential elections, where a large, broad-based group of people contributed financially for a specific target and became very engaged in the overall idea of ‘change’, most organizations still are focused only on the money. The idea that people can fundraise for an organization and, in the process, become engaged in larger issues is one that only a handful of organizations are beginning to utilize.
One example is Partners In Health’s new fundraising model, which seeks to “[challenge] friends and supporters to create communities of concern that rally around the issues of poverty and injustice.” These ‘communities of concern’ allow groups of people across the U.S. to come together and support PIH financially, as well as become more educated and engaged in other ways. Such a model is powerful because it allows people to continue supporting much-needed action, but at the same time find other avenues, whether it is as professionals, advocates or even part of the political process, to affect change.
As the economy continues to struggle, organizations are going to have ensure that even if people are not giving more financially that they continue to become more engaged and committed to some of the most pressing social issues in the world today. If we think about GlobeMed fundraising in this way -- as a powerful tool to engage and energize people -- then it is very possible to truly build a movement fighting for a much more just and sustainable world.
Ankur is GlobeMed's National Office Director of Development. He is a junior at Northwestern University majoring in biomedical engineering and minoring in global health.
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