--- title: Equality Ohio - Defenders Sustainers Program description: Engage Miami is developing a storytelling campaign to build a low-dollar sustainer program and a major gifts program. --- Mar 25, 2026 3:43:44 PM # Equality Ohio - Defenders Sustainers Program ![Picture of Evelyn & Walter Haas Jr.](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/hs-fs/hubfs/Web%20Assets/Iconography/Achieving%20Justice-5.png?width=50&name=Achieving%20Justice-5.png) [ Evelyn & Walter Haas Jr. ](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/author/evelyn-walter-haas-jr) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/equality-ohio) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/equality-ohio) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/equality-ohio) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/equality-ohio) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/equality-ohio)   [Equality Ohio Education Fund](https://equalityohio.org/) works to secure rights and protections for LGBTQ+ Ohioans through education, civic engagement, and community building. Operating across Ohio, the organization advances equality through direct action, storytelling, and grassroots organizing. #### *Overview* With a grant from Progressive Multiplier, Equality Ohio launched a monthly giving program called Defenders of Equality, using LGBTQ+ superhero-themed branding and storytelling to recruit and retain sustainers. The organization exceeded their initial goal of 100 defenders by acquiring 236 monthly donors, generating $9,700 per month in unrestricted revenue. The program demonstrated that monthly giving initiatives succeed when they prioritize donor stewardship and relationship building alongside revenue generation. By pairing the program with their #TransJoy storytelling project, Equality Ohio created pathways to deepen relationships with donors while shifting narratives around trans rights from combating hate to sharing love. ** #### *Key Strategies & Tactics* Equality Ohio's Defenders of Equality program consisted of several integrated components designed to recruit and retain monthly donors while building community: - **Superhero Branding:** Developing LGBTQ+ superhero-themed messaging and visuals that positioned monthly donors as defenders of equality - **Tiered Giving Structure:** Creating accessible entry points with lower giving levels to ensure equity and inclusion in the program - **Storytelling Integration:** Launching the #TransJoy project to share stories of love and community rather than only responding to attacks - **Email Campaigns:** Testing appeals during and around Pride Month to identify what messaging resonated with different donor segments - **Happy Hour Events:** Building out in-person gatherings to strengthen relationships with existing and prospective donors - **Process Automation:** Implementing systems that gave donors options while saving staff time and organizational resources #### *Lessons Learned* **Stewardship Drives Retention:** Treating the Defenders program as relationship building rather than just revenue generation created a foundation for long-term donor engagement **Lower Barriers Increase Access:** Adding more accessible giving levels allowed the organization to be equitable and inclusive in who could participate **Different Communications Serve Different Purposes:** Urgency-driven appeals converted immediately, while backstory content built trust that improved future appeal performance **Accountability Creates Momentum:** Regular reporting to Progressive Multiplier helped the team prioritize development work even when other urgent issues arose **Development Must Be Organizational Priority:** The project required buy-in across the organization and demonstrated that fundraising cannot be managed as a side project **Data Informs Strategy:** Tracking open rates, click rates, and conversion metrics allowed the team to understand what worked and refine their approach   #### *The Multiplier Effect* *![ROI (5)](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/hs-fs/hubfs/Equality%20Ohio/ROI%20(5).png?width=960&height=300&name=ROI%20(5).png)* #### *Impact* The Defenders of Equality program created sustained unrestricted revenue that allows Equality Ohio to plan for organizational growth, including adding one to two staff positions. The program reached beyond traditional fundraising by becoming what staff described as "activism out of the development department." Monthly donors feel more connected to the organization than ever before, with the program creating space for everyday people to make an impact through consistent participation. The #TransJoy storytelling project provided an opportunity to build more intimate relationships with donors and constituents while helping shift narratives around trans rights from a defensive posture to one centered on love and community. The organization found their voice through the project, developing confidence in their ability to execute campaigns and trust in their own judgment. The structured planning and regular accountability to Progressive Multiplier proved essential, with staff noting that the most productive work happened in preparation for monthly check-in meetings.   [LGBTQ](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/tag/lgbtq), [Achieving Justice](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/tag/achieving-justice), [Informal Membership Dues](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/tag/informal-membership-dues), [Monthly Giving Campaign](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/tag/monthly-giving-campaign), [Mid West](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/tag/mid-west), [Independent Revenue Generation](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/tag/independent-revenue-generation), [Ohio](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/tag/ohio) ## More Stories [![](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/hubfs/Photography/Grantee%20Photos/Advocates%20for%20Youth/IMG_4377%20(1).jpg) ](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/advocates-for-youth-individual-giving) [Donations from Individuals](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/tag/donations-from-individuals), [Reproductive Justice](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/tag/reproductive-justice) ## [Advocates for Youth: Building Independent Revenue Through Donor Development](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/advocates-for-youth-individual-giving) ![Picture of Reproductive Justice](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/hs-fs/hubfs/Achieving%20Justice-5.png?width=50&name=Achieving%20Justice-5.png) [Reproductive Justice](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/author/reproductive-justice) Sep 19, 2025 11:44:10 AM Advocates for Youthstands as a national leader championing young people's rights to sexual health... 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[ Read more ](https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/equality-florida-converting-lightning-in-a-bottle-to-bequests) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Evelyn & Walter Haas Jr.", "url" : "https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/author/evelyn-walter-haas-jr" }, "dateModified" : "2026-03-25T19:43:44.180Z", "datePublished" : "2026-03-25T19:43:44.000Z", "headline" : "Equality Ohio - Defenders Sustainers Program", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://progressivemultiplier.fund/partner-projects/equality-ohio", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://progressivemultiplier.fund/hubfs/Funder%20Logos/Progressive%20Multiplier_Logo_RGB.png" }, "name" : "Progressive Multiplier Fund" } } ```