Carter Center Engages CSS and PartnersGlobal

By CSS and PartnersGlobal

Quick question for nonprofit leaders: When was the last time you attended a working session where you weren't also responsible for making it happen?

No agenda to manage. No breakout rooms to facilitate. No discussion to steer back on track. No notes to capture. Just thinking. And even better? Thinking with your peers from around the country.

This week, Civic Safeguard Strategies and PartnersGlobal had the privilege of facilitating a fundraising resilience session for a cohort of U.S. organizations working to promote and defend democracy, convened by The Carter Center’s Rule of Law Team.

We explored a three-part fundraising framework, including financial preparedness, entrepreneurial mindset, and the landscape of revenue diversification strategies, including innovative finance. Then we moved onto whole-of-organization responsibility for fundraising. Then participants discussed their own pressure points, assumptions, and risks, and – together – identified ways to solve them. 

But some of the strongest feedback had little to do with fundraising itself.

One participant shared that they appreciated having a facilitator in their small group so they could focus on their organization instead of facilitating the conversation.

Another said they were grateful for the opportunity to slow down and think because they rarely get the chance.

The organizations in this cohort are top notch. They are navigating complex challenges while carrying multiple responsibilities, often at the same time. The pressure points they identified were real. So was the generosity they showed one another in sharing experiences, assumptions, and practical ideas for concrete action.

Our thanks to The Carter Center for creating this cohort and the space for peer learning, reflection, and connection among organizations doing important work.

#NonprofitLeadership #CivilSociety #PeerLearning #LeadershipDevelopment #FundraisingStrategy #OperatingUnderPressure