Equality Ohio Education Fund 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.
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.
Equality Ohio's Defenders of Equality program consisted of several integrated components designed to recruit and retain monthly donors while building community:
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 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.