Our members are always finding new and exciting ways to raise the dollars they need. From clever campaigns to effective events -- we consistently see state groups exceed their goals, deepen relationships with their supporters, and fund the fight for equality.

This year, Jeff Graham and his team at Georgia Equality harnessed the excitement and energy from the Supreme Court decisions into their most successful Evening for Equality gala ever.
 
On June 29, Georgia Equality hosted their 9th Annual Evening for Equality gala in downtown Atlanta. The evening brought together LGBT Georgians, allies, and elected officials to enjoy time with friends, a delicious dinner, and an awards ceremony recognizing leaders in the fight for equality.

This year, Jeff and team set two clear goals: they wanted to raise $40,000 for the entire event through sponsorships, ticket sales, and silent auctions -- and bring in $5,000 from a special ask at the event. So the team got to work.

They talked with corporations and major donors to secure sponsorships. They promoted the event through email and social media. They encouraged supporters to spread the word and invite friends.

Knowing that support from the Board was critical to success, Jeff invited in the Federation’s Ian Palmquist and independent fundraising consultant Kay Flaminio. Ian and Kay worked with the organization’s board -- training them on how to effectively solicit gifts and matching them with prospective donors. The assistance that Ian and Kay provided helped the organization really boost the return on their event.

Thanks to the hard work of the staff and board, Georgia Equality far surpassed their goals. They raised $66,000 for the entire event and brought in an incredible $25,000 from their pitch -- making the gala their largest and most successful event ever!

Field Organizer /Development Associate Wes Sanders believes that this incredible accomplishment revealed “not only that we had the capacity to raise that sort of money, but also that our supporters believe enough in our organization to donate.”

The dollars raised will support Georgia Equality’s amazing safe schools campaign and its efforts to promote workplace fairness. With this strong financial investment, the team is more equipped than ever to create meaningful and lasting change in the Peach State.
 
Congratulations to the team at Georgia Equality for an incredible success!