In this series, you will…
Develop a better understanding of fundraising principles and effective strategies for raising funds.
Learn the best practices for communicating with donors and establishing long term relations with donors.
Improve proposal writing skills.
Gain an in-depth knowledge on issues with respect to global food systems, areas that are getting funded and opportunities.
The content is tailored towards newer and smaller organizations.
Session 1: Fundraising Essentials
In this session we will cover the basics of fundraising and the key elements to be included while developing their fundraising strategy.
Monica Chen is Executive Director of Factory Farming Awareness Coalition, which contributes to the eradication of factory farming through educational programs on the devastating impacts of animal agriculture. Under Monica’s leadership, FFAC has developed comprehensive and synergistic programs that empower high school and college students to become effective advocates for just and sustainable food systems.
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Nisha Purushothaman has over twenty years of consulting, training and leadership experience concentrated in helping civil society organizations with fundraising and donor communications. She works with organizations to strengthen their strategic focus, connect with and engage their supporters – both corporate and individual and put in place systems to strengthen their communication strategies, project reports and local fundraising.
Recording coming soon.
Session 2: Donor Communication, Relation, and Retention
Join us to learn the basics of how to build successful long term donor relationships. We will cover the entire cycle of donor cultivation starting from identifying prospects to making the final ask. This easy step by step process will help ensure better donor relation management for nonprofits, even with a small team.
Facilitated by Unny Nambudiripad who cultivates wellness, health, love, compassion, justice, and equity among social change makers, including himself, so that we are more loving and empowered to improve the lives of nonhuman and human animals. Unny likes variety and fun, creating new ideas and cultivating creative inspiration, working closely with a diverse group of people, and moving his body.
Unny has investigated factory farms, planned veg fests, cultivated racial justice in the animal protection movement, and hosted healing retreats for animal advocates. Unny is a long time fundraiser and fundraising consultant for animal protection and many social causes.
Session 3: Writing Winning Proposals
Where to start, what is included, and how to share your unique voice.
Meghan O’Brien Lowery is Director and Partner at The Greenbaum Foundation, that focuses on ending factory farming and reimagining a more sustainable food system. Meghan has spent the past decade working in the philanthropic and non-profit space cultivating a unique perspective around grant making. She focuses on the intersection of animal, human and environmental injustices, where these issues often collide and create an immense amount of suffering.
In a previous life, Meghan graced the stage studying musical theatre in undergrad and graduate school and then working professionally. Her early passions for storytelling influence her work. In the creation of MegLow Consulting, Meghan provides philanthropist, organizations and individuals guidance, support and vision in creating their own narratives. Passions include public speaking, tailoring the perfect elevator pitch and jazz hands, of course.
Join us to learn how to write grants and funding proposals, some things to avoid, and basic elements to include to improve your chances of standing out and receiving funding.
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Myron Mendes is the National Facilitator for the Indian Network on Ethics and Climate Change (INECC) and Communications Manager for LAYA Resource Centre.
Recording coming soon.
Session 4: Donors Supporting the Food Systems and Animal Rights Movement
Join us to learn more about the donors supporting the sustainable food system and animal rights movement, explore case studies of what projects and topics are being funded in the movement, and learn how to integrate your work into more prominent global topics, including climate change and food insecurity.
Meet our speaker:
Scott is the director & founder of Sống Thuần Chay (STC), Vietnam's largest vegan advocacy organisation. Since STC was founded in 2018, they have convinced over 25,000 people to try a plant-based diet, over 25 food service providers to change their menu, organized events totaling over 10k attendees, and engaged millions with their educational, informative, and engaging social media content.
Recording coming soon.
Session 5: Pulling Back the Curtain on Funder Decision Making
This session will share insights into funder decision-making and other aspects of the funding process from a funder point of view. Between power dynamics, unspoken expectations, and different funders’ styles, funder-nonprofit dynamics can be challenging to understand and navigate. Verónica, Tom, and Lauren will draw from their experiences in the grantmaking and philanthropy service spaces to share insights into how funders approach aspects of the funding process, with the goal of making communication and relationship-building with funders more accessible and inclusive.
Meet the speakers:
Verónica Díaz Carrai – Partner & Executive Director, Tipping Point Private Foundation
Tipping Point Private Foundation invests its resources in causes that most support our mission: to improve animal welfare and reverse climate change by the displacement of factory farming. We support a variety of causes and initiatives that aim to reduce, or eliminate animal agriculture, as well as efforts to shift the demand for meat through development of plant based and cultivated meat. Verónica’s work at the foundation sits at the intersection of animals, people, and the environment as they relate to the industrial food system. Verónica's volunteer work and affiliate organizations include serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, the Board Chair of Animal Charity Evaluators, a Board Member of Beyond Carnism, and a Steering Committee Member of Farmed Animal Funders.
Tom Conger – Executive Director, Stray Dog Institute
As Executive Director, Tom oversees Stray Dog Institute’s grantmaking, research, and collaborations. Tom began his career in philanthropy service ten years ago when he founded a social venture to help donors and nonprofits make the best use of charitable giving. The venture sponsored donor-advised funds, provided investment advisory services, and developed a software platform to reduce the cost of donating, raising, and investing funds. The affiliated 501(c)(3) now operates as the Blackbaud Giving Fund, which granted $266 million to more than 100,000 nonprofits in 2020. Before philanthropy service, Tom founded and led a boutique research and consulting firm with offices in Washington, DC, London, Shanghai, and Tel Aviv. The firm specialized in foresight and its application to strategy and innovation primarily for Fortune 500 companies, including many in food and agriculture.
Lauren Kohler – Director of Food Systems Philanthropy, Stray Dog Institute
As Stray Dog Institute’s Director of Food Systems Philanthropy, Lauren develops and executes Stray Dog Institute’s food system-related grantmaking, activities, and strategy. Lauren brings an academic and professional background in food systems and environmental studies to her work. Previously, Lauren worked for the Yale Sustainable Food Program as a Senior Advisor, Farm Manager, and Volunteer Coordinator, leading community engagement in food systems learning. Lauren’s work is motivated by a deep care for people, animals, and the environment and a lifelong interest in the interconnections between people and the natural world.