Past Programs: The Academy For Fundraising Training (TAFFT)

Among the past services of the Center for Responsible Funding (CRF) is the Academy For Fundraising Training. The Academy encompassed three programs: Securing Assets for Grassroots Empowerment (SAGE), the Agenda for Progressing Philanthropy, and Money for the Movement. Each of these programs was expanded in an effort to meet the growing needs of social justice organizations in finding adequate funding resources. SAGE taught day to day skills, the Agenda worked to establish a more equitable basis for social change grantseekers to gain access to grantmakers, and Money for the Movement expanded the reach of the Academy by creating a pool of trainers of color to work with their constituencies in the nonprofit sector.

The Academy also offered specialized training to social justice groups which had particular fundraising needs. A trainer met with each organization requesting assistance, evaluated their needs, and thereby created a training program suited to their exact needs as requested. These programs ranged in scope from a two to four hour board orientation/staff training to a series of consultations. The Academy also provided referrals for consultation on matters outside of the scope of fundraising as necessary to nonprofit organizations.

Program Descriptions

• Securing Assets for Grassroots Empowerment (SAGE) was a periodic year-long program funded by The Philadelphia Foundation. Its goal was to improve the capabilities of social justice organizations to mount effective annual donor campaigns. Combining intensive seminar training with one-on-one consultation, CRF staff worked with organizations to plan, develop and manage major individual donor campaigns. More than 30 grassroots organizations were able to raise more than $480,000 as a result of their participation in SAGE.

• The Agenda for Progressing Philanthropy was a coalition of approximately 20 social end economic justice organizations working to open up dialogue, mutual access and an exchange of resources between affiliated nonprofits and prospective grantmakers.

• Money for the Movement was a program to train primarily people of color how to become fundraising trainers.