Nonprofit Adviser

North Texas Food Bank

Roughly 14 percent of U.S. millionaires come from minority populations, so it would be wise for major-gift fundraisers to connect with such donors. Yet many say they don’t know how to reach or connect with donors from a variety of cultures. In How to Create a Culture of Inclusive Fundraising, my colleague Lisa Schohl shares insights from donors, fundraisers, and other experts on how to win support from well-off supporters from diverse backgrounds.

Armando Castellano, a trustee for the Castellano Family Foundation, which supports Hispanic causes in Silicon Valley, advised nonprofits interested in this work to make sure top leaders — not just those in the lower ranks — reflect the kind of people you want to reach. You have to put them in power, listen to their ideas, and be willing to change how you do things, he says. Castellano also is the founder of Quinteto Latino, a nonprofit that promotes Latino classical music. Six out of seven of Quinteto’s trustees are Hispanic, and the organization’s donors are diverse, too. “It was not hard [to attract these supporters] because we have a diverse staff and a diverse ensemble, and we very intentionally serve diverse communities,” he says.

Raj Asava agrees. He and his wife, Anna, are Texas philanthropists from India who encourage giving by other Indian Americans. Raj Asava says the couple might make a first gift to a cause even if it lacks diversity, but if they don’t see more diversity among leaders over time, they stop giving.

Read the full article for more insights from Castellano, the Asavas, and others.

Seeking donors from many demographic groups is just one way to make fundraising more inclusive, according to a new article by Armando Enrique Zumaya, the founder of Somos El Poder!, a Latinx fundraising institute. Zumaya explains how grant makers, individual donors, and nonprofit leaders can make philanthropy more equitable. To learn more, read To Achieve Racial Justice in Philanthropy, We Must Invest in Fundraising and Make It Inclusive.

Regards,
Maria Di Mento
Senior Reporter

Tip of the Week

Before buying a new donor database, take a second look at what your organization already uses and compare it to your list of needs. It’s possible that your current system works well but your staff is not using it properly, says Laura Quinn, former director of Idealware, a nonprofit that provides information about software for charities. Maybe “messy” data is cluttering it up, you haven’t installed important updates, or it has functions you don’t know about or have never used.

Realizing that your nonprofit can improve the system it already has can save a lot of time and money. Learn more in 7 Steps for Picking a New Donor Database. And don’t forget: You can find more than 1,150 advice articles and tools online.

New Grant Opportunities

Your Chronicle subscription includes free access to GrantStation’s database of grant opportunities. Among the latest listings:

• Technology. The Citi Foundation supports nonprofits that provide direct technical assistance to small businesses owned by people of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the unprecedented health, social, and economic events of 2020. Grantees will receive up to $500,000 in unrestricted support. Applying organizations must have a current portfolio of small-business clients in South Dakota, Puerto Rico, or Washington, D.C., or in certain counties in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Texas, or Virginia. The application deadline is April 12.
• Recycling. The Can’d Aid Crush It Crusade supplies grants to help get community recycling programs off the ground. Crush It Crusade grants provide recycling bins, training in how to launch and manage a recycling program, and seed funding, typically $5,000 to $7,000. Seed funding can be used for staff and volunteer training as well as various supplies needed to get a recycling program started. Applications may be submitted at any time.