Reflections on Forward Project - Susannah Darrow
Mailchimp first reached out to Purpose Possible in 2019 to talk about what we saw as the biggest challenges nonprofits in Atlanta were facing. A thirty-minute meeting turned into a 2-hour conversation, followed by several months of deeper conversations about how Mailchimp was looking at their own role as philanthropists and how they might help solve a piece of this problem. As expected from a dedicated community partner like Mailchimp, it was no surprise when these conversations turned into action.
In 2020, Mailchimp launched Power2Grow (which has now evolved into Forward Project) which provided an unrestricted two-year grant, resource development strategy, and the hiring and subsequent coaching of an inaugural Director of Development for Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and re:imagine/ATL. In this initial iteration of the program, we worked with Mailchimp and the awardees to test the theory that investment in resources (both capital and staffing) would help to spur future sustainable growth at an organization. The Executive Directors and Development Director/Managers at both agencies reported that without Power to Grow, they would not have been as successful, nor would the agency have benefited as greatly. Specifically, it would have taken considerably more time to execute the recruitment and hiring process and achieve the results they have achieved thus far. Having fundraising plans already developed and having the wraparound services from end to end – e.g. hiring, onboarding, coaching, training, etc.- was very beneficial.
As COVID-19 hit and nonprofits and small businesses were grappling with unprecedented economic issues, the inequity that has been ever-present in philanthropy was put into dramatic focus and the opportunity for Mailchimp to re-evaluate this program became momentous. While we know that funding is always a need, the importance of listening to nonprofits and small businesses about their needs and giving them the agency to dictate how they invest in resources became immediately apparent. It also became clear that community-driven investment through a participatory grantmaking model was something that was desperately needed in Atlanta.
We are honored to work alongside Mailchimp and Indwell Collaborative on Forward Project - a grant that empowers community changemakers who make Atlanta a place where everyone can thrive. Grantees will receive financial and consultative support. By supporting awardees that Mailchimp will invest in financially, Purpose Possible hopes to create big change on a small, local level that will have a generational ripple effect for our communities.