Powering up your fundraising and advocacy muscle
In the fall of 2009, the Stanford Social Innovation Review’s cover story was “Catalytic Philanthropy” which rocked the world of established philanthropy as it means throwing everything you have, beyond your checkbook and grants, to achieve your goals. In the same issue was “The NonProfit Starvation Cycle” which captured the spiral our sector has yet to get out of.
If philanthropy is changing the way they approach their giving, fundraisers better change the way they ask if we want to break the starvation cycle. After twenty years of helping organizations gear up for major campaigns, it seemed like the only time that organizations were organized and excited about their vision was during a campaign. I think our missions deserve that level of excitement all the time, which is why I am now dedicating my professional experience to help advance the fundraising profession to harness their passion and vision in a way that attracts philanthropy, leadership, and opportunities and quite frankly, makes it all worth it. “Catalytic Fundraising” is ownership throughout the organization, led by highly professional development staff, that result in passionate, electric visions, strong cases that are relevant and responsive, transparent goals and honest, ethical relationships with donors. And if we are really fiscal stewards of our organization, we have to embrace the power of advocacy to leverage our missions and our voice, because if we aren’t at the table, we will definitely be on the table.
So stay tuned to blogs, resources, and rants that I hope will be useful to the important work we are all doing. And if they aren’t, I trust you will let me know!
-Sonya

Important information on the 2017 election
Posted onAuthorSonya Campion
Where candidates for Mayor stand on housing and homelessness As Washington prepares for a critical election on November 7, including the election of a new Mayor of Seattle, there is no greater issue on voters’ minds than the unacceptably high
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Alliance of Eastside Agencies: Building Resiliency
Posted onAuthorSonya Campion
The following was presented by Sonya Campion as a speech to the Alliance of Eastside Agencies on June 7, 2017. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a French philosopher and Jesuit priest said that not only do we live with responsibility for
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Published: on Family Giving News
Posted onAuthorSonya Campion
Three shifts toward changing philanthropy’s advocacy narrative (The following post was authored by Laurel O’Sullivan and Sonya Campion and originally published on the National Center for Family Philanthropy Blog on April 11, 2016.) Robert E. Ross, President of the California Endowment pointed out recently that, “philanthropy
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Published: In the Chronicle of Philanthropy
Posted onAuthorSonya Campion
Make Advocacy a Part of Every Board Member’s Duty (The following op-ed was authored by Sonya Campion and originally published in The Chronicle of Philanthropy on August 13, 2015) Advocacy is essential to nonprofit work — but it’s not always
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What is Advocacy?
This fact sheet offers a look at how advocacy is defined, what kinds of activities comprise advocacy work, and what kinds of advocacy projects several tax-exempt groups are currently leading.
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Twelve Principles of Governance That Power Exceptional Boards
The following twelve principles offer chief executives a description of an empowered board that is a strategic asset to be leveraged. They provide board members with a vision of what is possible and a way to add lasting value to
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"We’re saying, ‘This is what I have for you, and I’m going to take the only home that you’ve known for the last however long it is from you.’ We’re not giving options where people would still feel safe to go to.” -- Zaneta Reid, @KC_RHA seattletimes.com/seattle-news…
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Fixing the #housing shortfall in America will increase the availability of #affordablehousing. wsj.com/articles/ameri…
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The Gwich’in have stewarded the Arctic Refuge for millennia. They are leading the fight to protect this sacred place, their traditional homeland. They meet with officials in D.C. this week to restore vital protections. #StandWithTheGwichin #GwichinFlyIn #ProtectTheArctic twitter.com/defendthearcti…
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To facilitate more #affordablehousing, the Biden-Harris Administration is planning incentives and financing to close the housing supply gap in the next five years. 🏠 whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…
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This new bill from @SenatorBennet addresses how to support #EconomicDevelopment & diversification when major fossil fuel facilities shut down. bennet.senate.gov/public/inde…
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