Securing Assets for
Grassroots Empowerment (SAGE)

Nine organizations participated in SAGE during the 2003-2004 cycle.The organizations are listed below:

• Centro Pedro Claver
• Citizens Advocates, Inc.
• Christian Association
• Girls Action Initiative
• Group Motion Multi-Media Dance Theater
• Media Tank
• Pennsylvania Abolitionists United Against The Death Penalty
• Reboot Philadelphia
• National Coalition of Blacks for Reparation in America/ A Year of Black Presence Coalition

Past SAGE participants include:
Act Up Philadelphia, After School Program at St. Gabriel, Anna Crusis Women's Choir, Asian Arts Initiative, Big Sisters of Philadelphia, Black Women in Sports, Books Through Bars, Bucks County Peace Centers, Center for Hearing and Deafness, Community Design Collaborative, Fellowship Farm, Housing Consortium for Disabled Individuals, Interfaith Housing Development, La Communidad Hispana, PA Home of the Sparrow, Regional Council Neighbor Organization, Spiral Q Puppet Theater, Inc., The Village of the Arts and Humanties, Urban Retrievers, West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, William Way Community Center,Women's Anti-Violence Education (WAVE), Women's Community Revitalization Project, Women's Institute for Self-Empowerment, YWCA of Chester

Collectively since 1997, these organizations have raised $482,589.30 including The Philadelphia Foundation's match of $110,479!

Joining the SAGE Program
Applications for the periodic SAGE Program can be obtained by clicking here or calling our office at (215) 925-6140 or for further information, please complete this intake form and send it to us for review. Successful applicants will receive twelve months of consultation from the Center for Responsible Funding. When funding permits, The Philadelphia Foundation provides matching funds upon the successful completion of the SAGE program.

Preference for participation in the SAGE program includes but is not limited to:

• Attendance at our annual Kim Klein seminar by 1-4 individuals, including 3 board members;

• Operating budgets under $500,000;

• Agreeing to contribute a nominal fee (sliding scale ranging from $200 to $500) to demonstrate commitment of the organization to the year-long training;

• A firm commitment from at least 6 people (4 of whom must be board members) or one third of the board to participate in a follow-up seminar and the full training program;

• Eagerness to work with professional fundraisers and to share experiences with other participant groups.

"The tools were excellent, the training sequence was helpful, and the process showed us that fundraising is collaborative work." Rebecca Ewing, Member ACT UP Former SAGE Graduate "The trainings showed a real practical side of fundraising and offered us a different language to raise funds." Bruce Martin, Board member Fellowship Farm Former SAGE Graduate "Individual giving has almost doubled. These trainings were catalytic in our professional development." Kelly Brooks, Former Director of Development Village of Arts and Humanities Former SAGE Graduate "Kim Klein is an absolute joy. These sessions helped our board to understand that fundraising is their primary responsibility." Jerry Macdonald, Former Board Co-Chair William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Community Center Former SAGE Graduate

The Center for Responsible Funding
CRF expands the funding base of organizations working for social and economic justice in a number of ways. CRF promotes worksite combined charity campaigns which allow umbrella organizations to solicit in the workplace on an equal basis; networks on common problems; trains grassroots organizations to increase their fundraising capacity; and manages the City of Philadelphia Employees' Combined Campaign, one of the most successful municipal campaigns in the country.

For more information, please contact the Center at info@responsiblefunding.org.