Keep Rainbow Rumpus Rolling!
by Laura Matanah
Rainbow Rumpus is being challenged by the economic recession. Like many nonprofit organizations in the U.S., we've experienced a severe drop in our funding from foundations this year. We're determined to rise to the challenge and to emerge from this period as a stronger organization. In response to the current economic situation, our board has set a goal to raise $12,000 by October 31, 2009. Because our readers are valued members of our community, I want to give you more information about where we stand.
Already board members, volunteers, donors, and readers like you have stepped up to the plate and committed to individual fundraising goals, worked on great materials about Rainbow Rumpus, and planned fundraising events. Thanks to everyone's efforts we have raised the first $4,000 of our goal.
This year has been a time of tremendous momentum for our organization. There are now 25 volunteers who give three to five hours a week of their time to produce each issue. The Young Adult section has taken off, with a full slate of new stories, interviews, staff picks, and media reviews every month. Our board of directors is thriving and is in the process of producing our first three-year strategic plan. We remain the only online magazine for youth in LGBT-headed homes and the most prolific publisher of LGBT-family fiction in the English language, publishing more new work each year than all other publishers combined.
You have let us know that you want new features. We’re in the middle of creating printable picture books that you'll be able to read offline and redesigning a more interactive website that will allow readers to personalize the site, upload content, comment on stories and features, participate in forums, and more. We can’t wait for you to see it all, but to continue our momentum, we?ll need your help.
We have managed this growth on a shoestring, with an annual cash budget of just $41,500 and with much of our support coming from in-kind donations by volunteers. While we have brought in just over a tenth of the $10,000 we expected to receive from foundations by this point in the year, we have seen increased giving (despite the recession!) from individual donors compared to 2008. We have a strong community that values the way we connect kids and teens in LGBT-headed homes and steps up to support us when times get tough.
Here's how you can help Rainbow Rumpus keep rolling forward:
- Spread the word about Rainbow Rumpus! Join our Facebook Cause and LinkedIn Group. Post messages on our groups, in your Facebook status, or on Twitter about our content. Tell people why Rainbow Rumpus is important.
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- If you have not made a financial gift this year, please consider making one today. We need 100 people who will give 100 dollars: 35 people who can make a $100 gift today and another 65 people who will give $8.33 a month ($100 over the course of a year), providing the ongoing support that allows our momentum to continue.
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- Consider asking your friends and family to join you in supporting our work. I'm more than happy to help you organize a house party or event, and we always have a good time.
Your participation in any form is deeply appreciated by kids and teens who read Rainbow Rumpus every month.
“I am thankful to be a part of Rainbow Rumpus. … I don’t want anyone else to feel isolated because they have never met another person with a gay/lesbian/bi/trans parent.”
—Elayna Rice, age 23, Rainbow Rumpus volunteer
With your help, we'll make sure all youth with LGBT parents can find stories and other media that reflect their families and their lives, far into the future. Thank you for helping us come out of these troubled economic times stronger than ever.
