NAYA Action Fund, a Native-led advocacy organization, is focused on building a powerful voice for Indigenous communities in Oregon and Washington. To ensure long-term sustainability, they are developing a multi-channel fundraising approach to increase independent revenue and unrestricted funding.

Overview

With a grant from Progressive Multiplier, NAYA Action Fund developed a strategic revenue generation program to build financial sustainability while advancing their mission of political advocacy for the Native American community. By designing a multi-faceted approach that included community events, email campaigns, and institutional partnerships, NAYA Action Fund built a foundation for financial independence while strengthening their movement-building capacity. The project established new pathways for community engagement and demonstrated how Indigenous-led organizations can leverage their community connections to create sustainable funding models.

Key Strategies and Tactics

NAYA Action Fund's revenue generation initiative consisted of several integrated components designed to diversify revenue while engaging different segments of their supporter base:

• Community Events: Organizing gatherings that served as both engagement opportunities and fundraising platforms to build their supporter base
• Email Campaigns: Developing targeted communications to nurture relationships with supporters and convert them to donors
• Monthly Donor Program: Creating a recurring donation program to establish reliable, predictable revenue streams
• Institutional Partnerships: Expanding beyond founding donors with a focus on (c)(4) or hybrid grants in the civic engagement sector
  
  

Lessons Learned

• Invest in Dedicated Capacity
  Revenue generation requires focused staff time and cannot be effectively managed as a side project
• Start with Community Events
  In-person gatherings proved to be an effective way to build their supporter list and engage potential donors
• Value Monthly Donors
  Recurring contributors provide reliable, ongoing revenue that supports organizational sustainability
• Embrace Multi-Channel Approaches
  Using both in-person events and digital campaigns allows organizations to reach different segments of their supporter base
• Set Realistic Goals
  Organizations should consider their capacity constraints when establishing fundraising targets

Multiplier Effect

Impact

Through this initiative, NAYA Action Fund demonstrated how Indigenous-led advocacy organizations can develop sustainable funding streams that align with and enhance their core mission. Their community-centered approach to fundraising created authentic engagement pathways for both their deep base (American Indian Alaska Native community) and mass base (foundations, non-AIAN individuals, unions). This model not only generated financial resources but strengthened community connections and advanced their advocacy work.

Despite operating with limited staff capacity, with the Executive Director splitting his time to manage this project, NAYA Action Fund achieved meaningful results that established a foundation for future growth. The recognition that dedicated fundraising capacity was essential led to the strategic decision to hire a fundraising consultant, positioning the organization for greater success in their future revenue generation efforts.

As a relatively new 501(c)(4) organization still establishing its identity and supporter base, NAYA Action Fund's ability to convert community engagement into financial support while building organizational capacity represents a valuable model for small nonprofits seeking greater sustainability. Their experience highlights how independent revenue generation can help movement organizations reduce dependency on traditional funding sources while expanding their community impact.