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Fundraising Strategies to Get You and Your Crew to the AMC

Every year we learn about new, inspiring hustles people have devised to get themselves and their communities out to Detroit for the AMC.  Many people stay in fundraising mode all the way through the AMC, printing and selling t-shirts and other merchandise on site.  We've collected some of the most awesome fundraising success stories and resources and grouped them into a few broad "models." For the best success, diversify your strategy by combining more than one model.  

The City-Wide Model

  • The Philadelphia Delegation: Five Philadelphia organizations decided to collaborate on fundraising to cover their AMC travel, housing and registration costs.  There was no single foundation or donor who could fund their entire delegation.  They calculated that they needed $5,000 to subsidize the costs of 48 people's participation, traveling by van, to the AMC. They initially approached Philadelphia's Leeway Foundation. While Leeway was unable to fund the delegation, they supported the delegation by circulating a proposal to other Philly funders and donors.  Through this strategy, the delegation pieced together the full $5,000 through contributions from the S. Fels Foundation, the Philadelphia Foundation and a grassroots fundraiser event. Norris Square Neighborhood Project Prodigies spearheaded the delegation and managed all of the finances. Download their proposal and adapt it for your own city-wide fundraising.  Contact Althea Baird althea.baird (AT) gmail (DOT) com) with any questions about the Philadelphia delegation. 
  • The NYC2AMC Bus: For the past two years, New York City organizations have chartered a 60 passenger bus to get to Detroit.  With small grants from the Media Justice Fund of the Funding Exchange ($2,000 in 2009, and $3,000 in 2008), they were able to reduce out-of-pocket expense, making it possible for more people to afford the trip.  In 2009, the NYC delegation held a NYC2AMC Happy Hour fundraiser to further offset costs and to build community amongst NYC organizers in advance of traveling to the AMC. Through this fundraising, the subsidized cost of a round-trip to Detroit in 2009 was only $80 per person.  Peoples Production House and the Palestine Education Project have been lead coordinators of this process.  Download the form, flyer and spreadsheet the NYC delegation has used to track reservations and payments for the bus. View the survey they're using to start planning for group travel this year.  Contact Kris Ríos (kris (AT) peoplesproductionhouse (DOT) org) with any questions about the NYC2AMC bus. 
  • Seattle Local Organizing: Reclaim the Media and NW MAG-Net in Seattle used the local organizing process of getting to the AMC as an opportunity to develop their local network of media and social justice organizations.  They partnered with Hidmo Eritrean Cuisine (a local restaurant and community hub) to host weekly brunch meetings and fundraisers.  Through those weekly meetings they deepened local relationships, raised awareness about the AMC, and planned other fundraisers including an open mic series and two hip-hop shows.  Two visits to Seattle from AMP organizer, Diana Nucera helped focus the organizing process and build momentum.  Several groups kicked in organizational funds to cover costs, ultimately supporting a nine person Seattle delegation to participate in AMC2009.  Contact Sabrina Roach (sabrinadroach (AT) yahoo (DOT) com) with any questions about the Seattle delegation.

The "Fun" Raising Model

Below are a few awesome examples of this model.  There were other great ones, including: Speak CD listening parties around the country [Brooklyn | Portland | Long Beach], an acupuncture benefit in Detroit, a "Punk Vs. Funk" dance party, a slumber party...

  • Spelling Bee: This took place in conjunction with the Philadelphia delegation's fundraising efforts.
    • Three coordinators planned the event. They charged a $5 entry fee to the spelling bee. Prizes were donated. 
    • They spent $100 on food and liquor, and got an addition $100 in food and drink donated. Approximately 150 people attended
    • From entry fees and refreshment sales they grossed $1,000, leaving about $900 in funds raised after costs. 
    • Special touches: Hand-engraved plaque prizes for the winners
    • Check out the flyer and event details.
    • Contact Hannah Sassaman with questions: hannah.sassaman (AT) gmail (DOT) com
  • Art Auction: This has become an annual tradition in Detroit, organized by local AMC enthusiasts.
    • The coordinator of the event solicited donations of works from local artists.  The show was set up as a silent auction at a local bar/restaurant. Each piece was numbered and had a corresponding sheet of paper with its number, where participants could make silent bids. There was a total of 30 pieces of artwork in the show.
    • They spent $0 upfront.  Approximately 75 people attended and bid on artwork.  The auction was free to attend.
    • They made $900.  
    • Special touches:  DJs and drinking encouraged bidding
    • Check out the flyer and event details.
    • Contact Sarah Sidelko with questions: bikesinspace (AT) gmail (DOT) com
  • Pancake Breakfast: This was a collaboration between Visions to Peace and the Art + Media House in Washington, D.C.
    • They used a free kitchen and secured a crew of volunteers for promotion, set-up, cooking, serving food, clean-up.  They cooked fancy pancakes like blueberry, bannana, etc. Breakfast was open for 5 hours, with cooks working in shifts.  They also screened youth-produced videos and sold hand-made crafts including some very fly earrings made from soda cans. 
    • They charged $10 - 20 as a suggested donation.
    • Special touches: They covered paper tablecloths with questions like "why do we make media?" and gave out markers for people to write their responses.  They also borrowed plates and silverware to cut down on costs and be enviromentaly friendly. 
    • They spent approximately $150 in upfront costs and made $870 in profit. This covered half the costs of a 12-person delegation to the AMC. 
    • Check out the flyer and event details.
    • Contact Johonna McCants with questions: johonnam (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
  • Cincinnati Carwash: This carwash was organized by the youth at Elementz Hip Hop Youth Center.
    • Between 10 and 20 youth volunteered to wash cars throughout the day. 
    • They charged $5-8 per car depending on the size of the car.  They washed approximately 50 cars.
    • They spent $40 on cleaning supplies and raised $300 total.
    • Special touches: Baked goods were also available for purchase and youth DJs showcased their skills. 
    • Contact Brother Abdullah with questions: abdullah (AT) natiyouthcenter (DOT) org
  • Empanada bake sale: This was organized by the Mamas of Color Rising Collective in Austin, TX.
    • They made a variety of specialty empanada flavors and promoted the sale through email lists, and word of mouth through family and friends. 
    • They spent $50 upfront, using food stamp cards.
    • They sold approximately 300 empanadas and made $450 total.
    • Special touches: Empanada orders continued to come in post-AMC, with local organizations asking them to cater their meetings/conferences.  They expanded their offerings to include rice, beans, salsa, chips and drinks. They are now going through a series of trainings with the Third Coast Workers for Cooperation to become a full-on cooperative catering business!
    • Contact Jeanette Monsalve with questions: monsalve.jeanette (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

The Big Grant Model

In 2009, youth media groups in Oakland and Los Angeles jointly approached the Zero Divide Foundation to fund a 30-person California delegation to the AMC. BUMP Records/Bay Area Video Coalition, who had been coming to the AMC for the previous two years, initiated the conversation with Zero Divide about funding a California delegation.  Youth Movement Records stepped-up to write a grant on behalf of the ten organizations in the proposed delegation.  With support from Allied Media Projects (AMP), they wrote a proposal explaining how the trip to Detroit would deepen regional relationships, allow groups to showcase their work to a national audience, and learn skills that they would bring back to their communities.  Zero Divide committed $25,500 to fund the delegation.  As a result, ten organizations were able to come to the AMC with their travel, housing and registration covered.  Youth Movement Records administered the grant and coordinated pre-AMC meet-ups for the delegation.  Coming out of the AMC, the groups who participated in the delegation built lasting relationships.  Download the Zero Divide proposal and budget and adapt it for your local fundraising.  Contact Ryan Peters from Youth Movement Records with questions: rpeters (AT) youthmovementrecords (DOT) org

The Micro-Grant Media Project Model

The Speak! CD: After AMC2008, the Speak! Radical Women of Color Media Collective created a CD compilation of spoken word, poetry, and song with an accompanying curriculum and zine in order to fundraise for mothers within their network. They used profits from the sale of the CD to support mamas in coming with their children to the next AMC. With a $400 mini-grant from AMP, they produced and packaged 200 copies of the CD. AMP promoted the CD online. Members of the Speak network promoted the CD through their blogs and hosted listening parties around the country.  They were able to raise a total of $3,500 from sales of the CD and donations in support of their project.  The CD has also served as a powerful education and organizing tool for academics, organizers, artists and media-makers around the country.  For questions or ideas, contact Adele Nieves: adele (AT) liquidwordsproductions (DOT) com.

Some Fundraising Tools

The 2009 Case Statement can be downloaded here. This document is over a year old, but is still a nice read. Updated version coming soon(-ish). Check out more promotional tools for the AMC here.

Contact us and we will send you copies of this beautiful Create, Connect, Transform poster that you can sell as a fundraiser for yourself / your organization / your community. We also have these stickers that you can sell.

Allied Media Projects are happy to support your fundraising in any way we can. Please get in touch to request support.