ONE Northside: Building Infrastructure to Grow Grassroots Membership

The Organization

Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality Chicago (ONE Northside) is a progressive social justice organization in Chicago
that brings community members together to build power through grassroots organizing. The organization focuses on political advocacy, environmental sustainability, and systemic change through collective action, working to empower communities through direct organizing and leadership development.

The Goal

With a $10,000 grant from Progressive Multiplier, ONE Northside is testing whether strengthening the infrastructure of its membership program can create more pathways for individuals to join at levels that feel personally impactful. The organization set out to increase grassroots donors by engaging existing community members and tapping into the networks of trained leaders.

Strategies & Tactics in Motion

The experiment employs three parallel strategies to test what drives membership growth. Phonebanking efforts focus on reaching people who have engaged with ONE Northside within the last three years, testing scripts, timing, and follow-up methods. A peer-to-peer approach trains five to six leaders to each recruit at least two new members through house parties and digital outreach. Event-based tactics incorporate tabling, spotlight asks during meetings, and collateral distribution to convert attendees into members. Behind these strategies, the organization is building essential infrastructure including CRM capacity, tracking systems, staff training, and collateral development to support consistent member engagement and stewardship.

In-Flight Multiplier Signals

Early results show meaningful momentum. From fiscal year 2025 to 2026, ONE Northside has achieved a 37% increase in annual members, a 93.75% increase in monthly members, and a 20.6% increase in overall new members. The organization is maintaining 80% retention from the previous fiscal year, suggesting that the infrastructure improvements are supporting not just acquisition but sustained engagement.

What We’re Watching Next

As the experiment continues through March 2026, key questions include which of the three strategies proves most effective at converting community members into dues-paying members, whether trained leaders can sustain peer-to-peer recruitment over time, and how the ratio between new member acquisition and event attendance evolves. The organization is also tracking whether monthly versus annual membership commitments shift as infrastructure improves and whether different ask timing during meetings affects conversion rates.

Why This Matters Now

At a moment when traditional funding sources remain volatile and movement organizations face increasing pressure to demonstrate sustainability, ONE Northside is building a model for grassroots financial resilience. This experiment offers early insights into how strengthening internal systems and engaging existing networks can create durable revenue streams that keep progressive organizing independent, stable, and community-rooted.