Diversifying Nonprofit and Movement Revenue: A Call for Conversation and Action

The LeadersTrust, an organization that supports nonprofit leaders with responsive, high-touch, long-term capacity-building collaborations, commissioned an independent report that spoke with leaders to understand what it would take—in philanthropy, capacity building, changes in practices—to truly expand traditional revenue streams.

Leaders increasingly seek to diversify funding beyond traditional revenue sources, like foundation grants and government contracts, and increase independent revenue, which provides greater flexibility to build community power and achieve long-term policy goals. But many organizations do not have the resources to tap these flexible streams of support.

The independent report - “Diversifying Nonprofit and Movement Revenue: A Call for Conversation and Action” - in partnership with The James Irvine Foundation, asks nonprofit and movement leaders, consultants, and funders what it would take—in philanthropy, capacity building, changes in practices—to truly expand traditional revenue streams. Key themes include:

1) how mindsets about fundraising are shifting and need to take root and grow

2) what organizations need to increase independent revenue

3) questions to ask for moving forward

The report aims to lay the groundwork for conversation, answers, and coordinated action among practitioners, funders, and capacity builders to transform fundraising for social change.