Founded in Los Angeles, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice has spent two decades centering Latina voices in the fight for reproductive freedom. The organization works at the intersection of reproductive health, immigrant rights, and economic justice, building power with communities most impacted by barriers to care.
With support from Progressive Multiplier, CLRJ pursued a dual approach to building independent revenue. The organization institutionalized their training program as a fee-for-service offering while leveraging their 20th anniversary celebration to expand their donor base. This work came at a critical moment when the organization temporarily lost state funding for their abortion-focused project, underscoring the need for financial autonomy. The combined initiatives helped CLRJ develop sustainable revenue streams that support community-responsive programming beyond what traditional funders will support.
CLRJ's revenue generation work centered on two integrated initiatives. Their training program shifted from taking ad-hoc requests to proactively marketing reproductive justice education to universities, medical institutions, nonprofits, and community groups. The organization developed a sliding scale pricing model with different tiers for community groups, nonprofits, universities, and corporate entities. They expanded their trainer capacity from three senior staff to seven by creating study guides and transcription resources from recorded sessions, making it possible for newer staff to deliver content confidently. The organization also translated five trainings into Spanish, including their foundational RJ101 course, opening access to Spanish-speaking communities.
For their 20th anniversary fundraiser, CLRJ trained program staff to conduct sponsor outreach, moving this responsibility beyond the executive director role. They reached out to local businesses encountered during community research rather than only pursuing larger institutional sponsors. This approach expanded their sponsor base from roughly 15 organizations to 35-36 contributors. To maintain accessibility alongside their $100 ticket price, they gave sponsors the option to donate tickets to community members. The campaign combined email outreach, phone banking, and physical materials, with the organization learning that printed materials and in-person connections were more effective than email alone for their Spanish-speaking audience.
Connect Revenue Work to Organizational Values
Staff buy-in increased significantly when the team understood how independent revenue could fund healing justice initiatives and other community-identified needs that government grants don't support. The financial safety net allows program staff to take mission-aligned risks.
Match Communication Methods to Audience
Email campaigns showed low engagement for certain populations. Physical materials at community events and in-person conversations proved essential for reaching Spanish-speaking community members effectively.
Build Internal Capacity Before External Growth
Creating training archives and transcription resources helped preserve institutional knowledge during staff transitions. This foundation made it possible to expand trainer capacity and scale offerings sustainably.
Leverage Organizational Milestones
The 20th anniversary provided a natural opportunity to strengthen donor relationships and expand the funding base while celebrating the organization's history and introducing new leadership.
The revenue independence CLRJ built through these initiatives created freedom to respond to community needs in real time. When their base called for healing circles following immigration enforcement actions, or when young parents needed gathering spaces, the organization could move quickly without waiting for grant approval. The training program positioned CLRJ as subject matter experts on reproductive justice in the post-Dobbs landscape, strengthening relationships with medical schools, universities, and community organizations while generating income. This work allowed them to weather the temporary loss of significant state funding without halting their programs. The 20th anniversary campaign expanded their donor base at smaller but more frequent giving levels, building a financial cushion against the unpredictability of institutional funding. Staff now allocate time for revenue generation work because they've seen how it creates programmatic flexibility and organizational stability. The combination of training revenue and grassroots fundraising means CLRJ can pursue the healing justice work their community identifies as urgent, even when foundation funders won't support it.