News + Events
To get right to the point, our annual fundraiser was a huge success! We set a goal that felt considerable given the state of the world, $50,000, and you all showed up by helping us raise over $92,000!
But let’s also talk about how we got here.
We originally planned on an in-person event, but with guidance from staff we settled on going fully remote. There was a lot of uncertainty, but we still wanted to highlight our grantees’ work, connect with each other, and celebrate the year, all while engaging our donor base.
Moving fundraising revenue to Fund 4 the Frontlines.
As more folx became aware of the economic impacts of the pandemic, many of you stepped up your giving to SJF’s Covid-19 Crisis Fund (now transitioned into the Eradicating Anti-Blackness and COVID Recovery grant) and many others gave to our annual fund. Recognizing that we were at a place of privilege and prominence, our board suggested that we use the revenue from our annual fundraiser for something other than our annual fund. After intentional discussions with staff we decided to move the revenue from our annual event to the Fund 4 the Frontlines campaign.
How it played out.
Instead of doing our regular single dinner event, we decided to do three different events on three different days. First was the Voices from the Frontlines panel featuring grantees from four of the first six Fund 4 the Frontlines recipients, highlighting the interconnectedness of basebuilding work being done in the region (watch the video below!). Next up was Build, Connect, Give, our annual evening celebration where you got to connect in virtual “tables,” hear from some amazing presenters, and give to support our goal. We closed out our week of celebration with a Virtual Dance Party, because we always have a dance party… and also because we thought it would be a great opportunity to launch the Fund 4 the Frontlines publicly.
We are so grateful for our community’s incredible support. If you want to make a gift, it’s not too late— click here to help us go even further.
Let’s close it out.
It’s been a heavy year for all of us, including here at Social Justice Fund. What has helped me through all of it at SJF is our community of grantees, members, collaborators, staff, and board. Community is the only way I know through all of this, and it was an honor to have community come together to help celebrate the work of our grantees while supporting our Fund 4 the Frontlines Campaign.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
mano, Donor Organizing Manager
