Coalition of Communities of Color: Building a Path to Sustainable Advocacy

The Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) is a Portland-based nonprofit alliance of culturally specific community-based organizations working together to advance racial justice and improve outcomes for communities of color. CCC exists to build collective power across diverse communities of color and drive systemic change through research, advocacy, and organizing. Its core purpose is to address systemic inequalities—including socioeconomic disparities, institutional racism, and unequal access to services—and to organize communities for collective action that leads to meaningful social change.

Overview

While their 501(c)(3) has an established donor base, their 501(c)(4) arm—Building Power for Communities of Color—has remained underutilized, sending few communications and solicitations each year. With new development and communications staff in place and technical assistance from Progressive Multiplier, B/CCC is building a lead generation and conversion project to grow their c4 list and convert c3 donors into advocacy supporters.

Key Strategies & Tactics

CCC is deploying a comprehensive approach to build their c4 donor base:

• Petition-based lead generation to capture new supporters through issue-based campaigns
• List-sharing agreements with their c3 and partner organizations to identify potential c4 donors
• Welcome series development with automated email sequences introducing new leads to their c4 work
• C3-to-c4 donor conversion pathway to move existing charitable supporters into advocacy giving
• Increased solicitation cadence to move beyond newsletter-only communications
• Enhanced engagement communications that balance mission messaging with fundraising asks
• CRM optimization using Neon and Constant Contact integration for better tracking and targeting

Lessons Learned

CCC's organizational inventory revealed critical gaps driving this project. With 70% of their funding coming from grants, the organization identified an urgent need to diversify revenue and build financial resilience. Their c4 had been sending very few solicitations annually—a significant missed opportunity given their existing infrastructure. The team lacked experience with individual donor strategy and had no membership structure, despite having a basic website, CRM system, and social media presence. Their board structure, composed of culturally specific coalition member leaders who contribute expertise and time rather than following traditional give-get models, meant their approach to donor engagement needed to be equally innovative. The data showed they were "throwing spaghetti at the wall" without systematic tracking—a pattern this project aims to change through intentional stewardship planning and data-driven decision-making.

By the Numbers

Digital Reach (as of October 2023):

• 10,987 total email contacts
• 6,509 Facebook followers
• 3,156 Instagram followers
• 3,835 Twitter/X followers
• 45% email open rate
• 1,663+ new email subscribers (year-to-date)

Donor Base Snapshot (2020-2021):

• 400+ individual donors in end-of-year mailing list
• $5–$1,200 donation range
• $100 median gift size
• 50 donations received in December 2021 year-end campaign
• $8,647.57 raised in final two weeks of 2021

Impact

Success for CCC means converting 2% of leads acquired through petitions and list-sharing into active c4 donors—a modest but achievable goal that could transform their advocacy capacity. With over 10,000 email contacts and thousands of social media followers, even a 2% conversion rate would create a sustainable base of engaged advocates who can amplify the organization's voice and support long-term campaigns. Growing the c4 list matters because it provides the financial resilience to respond quickly to emerging issues affecting communities of color in Oregon, regardless of the grant funding landscape. As CCC implements their welcome series, optimizes their donation forms, and increases their solicitation frequency, they're not just building a donor program—they're creating a model for how racial justice organizations can grow their advocacy capacity while staying true to their mission and values. In a moment when communities of color need strong, sustainable advocacy more than ever, this foundation-building work positions CCC to be responsive, resilient, and ready for the long haul.