United Women of Color: Diversifying Digital Fundraising

United Women of Color (UWOC) is dedicated to advancing the rights of women of color through advocacy, community engagement, and leadership development. The organization works to amplify voices, create systemic change, and provide resources to support its diverse community of women of color. UWOC focuses on organizing, education, and providing spaces for empowerment, particularly for marginalized women.

Project Overview 

United Women of Color used this grant to enhance their independent revenue generation efforts through digital fundraising. The initiative aimed to diversify income streams and reduce reliance on grants by focusing on three key strategies:

• E-commerce: Selling merchandise three times a year, aligned with symbolic dates like Women’s History Month, Pride, and Juneteenth.
• Monthly Giving Program: Aiming to grow monthly donors from 10 to 50 at $25/month, generating steady recurring income.
• SMS Campaigns: Using text messaging to solicit donations and encourage action through push polls.

The initiative also focused on improving their social media campaigns to expand their donor base and increase online engagement.

Key Strategies and Successes

• E-Commerce Strategy: Merchandise was marketed three times a year, coinciding with important cultural and social justice events. Themes included Women’s History Month, Pride, and Juneteenth, helping to align the campaigns with UWOC's mission and engage their audience.
• Monthly Giving Program: UWOC aimed to grow its monthly donor base to 50, increasing monthly contributions to $1,250. While the target was not fully met, the groundwork for future growth was solidified.
• SMS Fundraising: SMS was used to reach the broader audience with donation requests, and push polls provided an interactive way to drive donations and engagement.

Although the fundraising goals weren’t fully realized, the project allowed UWOC to boost its outreach and donor cultivation efforts significantly.

Lessons Learned

The team learned that successful digital fundraising requires detailed planning and consistent effort. They are now focused on improving their outreach strategies and scaling their efforts going forward. 

By The Numbers

UWOC aimed to grow monthly donors from 10 to 50, generating $1,250/month, while e-commerce sales provided a foundation for future growth. The initiative successfully expanded its donor base, enhanced online engagement, and set the stage for future revenue growth.

The projected 3-year ROI is 5.1.

Looking Ahead 

The revenue generated through this project will help offset operating costs as UWOC continues to seek grants for programmatic work. They aim to make independent revenue account for 50% of their income in the next five years, ensuring long-term sustainability.

UWOC has gained valuable insights into digital fundraising and is now better equipped to execute a more focused, long-term strategy. With plans to expand their e-commerce platform and refine their donor engagement tactics, they are poised for greater success in diversifying their revenue streams and reducing their reliance on grants.

United Women of Color exists to provide opportunities for advancement and equity through educational programs, civic engagement, and the provision of community resources to fill gaps of need.