For the Many - Doors for Donors

For the Many (FTM) is a grassroots organization working to build progressive power in New York's Hudson Valley region. Their work focuses on community organizing, issue advocacy, and electoral engagement to create lasting change in their communities. Through strategic base-building and innovative approaches to fundraising, FTM has established itself as a model for sustainable movement organizing in rural and suburban areas.

Overview

For the Many developed an innovative donor acquisition strategy through targeted door-knocking in areas with recent in-migration of progressive, well-resourced families from New York City.

This initiative combined grassroots organizing with strategic fundraising to build financial sustainability while expanding their base into new geographic areas. 

Key Strategies & Tactics

• Data-Driven Targeting: Using FEC data, parcel maps, wealth engine data, and information about existing supporters' locations to identify promising neighborhoods for canvassing
• Relationship-Building Approach: Designing door-knocking conversations to generate contacts and introduce people to FTM's work rather than seeking immediate donations
• Multi-Touch Conversion: Capturing information during initial conversations, inviting prospects to local events, and following up with one-on-one meetings
• Strategic Follow-Up: Conducting personalized outreach regardless of event attendance, with emphasis on one-on-one conversations for major gift solicitation
  
  
  

Lessons Learned

Rural Advantage: Rural areas had a higher door open rate (approximately 50%) despite the ability to knock on fewer doors per hour, making them surprisingly efficient for donor prospecting

Relationship-Building Over Direct Asks: The most effective fundraising approach was not immediate solicitation but building relationships through multiple touchpoints

Events as Cultivation Tools: Events served as helpful cultivation opportunities, but one-on-one follow-ups proved most effective for securing donations

Contextual Relevance: Grounding conversations in current political context helped engage potential donors, even for organizations not directly involved in federal work

The Multiplier Effect

Impact

For the Many demonstrated how traditional organizing tactics can be adapted for fundraising success in rural and suburban communities. Their approach not only generated immediate financial support, but established a foundation for long-term base-building in previously untapped geographic areas.

The rural advantage discovered through this project challenges conventional fundraising wisdom that typically prioritizes dense urban areas for efficiency. For the Many found that in rural areas, where door-knocking is less common, residents were more likely to engage in meaningful conversations that could lead to donor relationships.

Beyond the financial impact, this project created multiple benefits for the organization's broader mission. The new relationships established are helping to lay a foundation for permanent base-building in new geography, expanding For the Many's political influence and organizing capacity throughout the Hudson Valley region.

The success of this model offers valuable insights for other progressive organizations working in rural and suburban areas, demonstrating that with the right approach, these communities can become significant sources of both financial support and movement power.