How We Grow Sustainable Organizations Through a Friendly Competition

We have a treasured tradition here at the Alliance for Youth Action. Each year, we invite our network organizations to a friendly competition where they compete against each other to grow their monthly donor base.

Over the past eight years, this competition has grown to a week of innovative fundraising tactics, creative content, witty banter between organizations, and more opportunities to win prizes.

Last year, organizations collectively grew their monthly donor dollars by $3,121. That is $37,456 in annual dollars from new monthly donors due to just a week of outreach!

Why do we host this competition each year?

We continue to run this competition because monthly sustainers are critical to our youth-led and locally-focused network. To continue running sustainable organizations committed to the long haul, we need a steady, predictable stream of funding. Organizations can count on monthly donors. Monthly donor programs also ensure organizations rely on something other than big philanthropy to fund their work.?

Monthly donors are often individuals from the community whom the organization serves. The monthly donors are invested in the organization's success because of their amazing mission-driven work. Monthly donor programs are another way for organizations to engage with and grow their community. And receiving funding directly from the community makes them accountable to their people.

We asked the Alliance Network what they appreciated most about the competition. Here's what they said:

"I learned so much about targeted fundraising and creating fundraising activations and how to promote events and special promotions."

"I enjoyed seeing all the other organizations' social media channels and designs. I also appreciated the Alliance staff's enthusiasm and updates during the week!"

"Opportunities for everyone to get money regardless of org size, capacity, etc"

"I learned so much about targeted fundraising and creating fundraising activations and how to promote events and special promotions."

But why make it a competition?

The Alliance for Youth Action was founded on the idea that we are stronger together. Our network is at its best when we are learning from each other. Despite our differences, we are all driven to do this work for the same reason: building young people's political power. And there is so much we can learn from sharing our experiences, programs, wins, and struggles.

The Monthly Donor Competition provides a space for like-minded organizations to get together and continuously learn how to fund their work and remain true to their values. For example, our network is learning more about Community-Centric Fundraising?and how to ground our work in racial and economic justice.

Peer-to-peer learning aside, we're a network of young people who love a little friendly, sometimes feisty, competition.

One of our organizations said,

"Everyone was so supportive! I loved the energy it created amongst affiliates; we were all so hyped to grow our monthly donor programs and it shows in the results!”?

Additionally, the Alliance National staff loves getting in on the competition. Our staff members join a team that we can excite and help with their outreach efforts. It truly is an all-hands type of event.

What does our Monthly Donor Competition look like in 2023?

In 2023, we have 11 organizations competing in two different leagues. They will be competing from October 2 - October 8. Stay up to date on the scoreboard here: https://allianceforyouthaction.org/the-2023-alliance-network-monthly-donor-competition/?

Participating players this year include:

• Minnesota Youth Collective
• New Era Colorado
• Chicago Votes
• Forward Montana
• Leaders Igniting Transformation
• New Hampshire Youth Movement
• Florida Student Power Network
• Loud Light
• The Washington Bus
• Next Up
• Georgia Youth Justice Coalition