As a nonprofit, Protect Democracy relies on donations to make our efforts possible. Our community fundraising program, Friends Fund Democracy, invites everyone who believes in our work to raise money and awareness through online fundraisers and in-person events.
Why is community fundraising so important?
It amplifies our mission.
By activating your community and personal network, you help build awareness about Protect Democracy at a critical juncture for our country.
It’s based on trust.
Your words resonate with the people you know better than anyone else’s, and your commitment encourages them to lend their support.
It’s fun and fulfilling.
Community is essential to democracy, and bringing people together for a good cause is a great way to strengthen these ties.
Read on to learn more about how it works or download our toolkit now to get started.
Our Friends Fund Democracy program makes community fundraising simple, whether you’re a first-time fundraiser or a seasoned planner ready to host a big event.
1
Decide if you want to host an event or fundraise online.Online fundraisers are a great way to start and keep time commitment low, while in-person events are ideal for building community. Both are great ways to support our mission.
2
Set up your personal donation page.Use the form below to request your own Protect Democracy fundraising page. Customize it with information about why our work matters to you and use it to keep track of who in your network has made a gift.
3
Use our toolkit to plan your fundraiser, step by step.Download our Friends Fund Democracy toolkit to find detailed planning guides and checklists for both online fundraisers and in-person events, as well as message templates and other helpful resources.
4
Reach out to your friends, family, and community.This is the fun part! Your fundraiser is an ideal opportunity to connect with friends, family, and your community and share why Protect Democracy’s nonpartisan, anti-authoritarian work is so important to you.
Your fundraising efforts support the work of Protect Democracy United, our 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization. These gifts allow us the greatest flexibility, funding litigation, public communications, and organizing efforts as well as allowing us to advocate and lobby in legislatures at the federal and local level to strengthen and defend our democracy. To learn more about all the kinds of work we do, visit the Our Impact page on our website.
Start by completing the fundraising page request form on our website. Within three business days you should receive an email invitation to create a Donorbox account and set up your page. Follow the steps in the donation page setup section of this guide to add your event information, customize with images, and get your personal donation link to share.
Yes, only U.S. citizens may donate through personal fundraising pages. This is important to maintain our status as a tax-exempt organization.
Once you’ve set up your personal fundraising page, you can check your progress anytime by logging in to Donorbox at:
You’ll be able to see a list of everyone who has made a donation to your fundraiser as well as the amount they’ve given.
No. All donations made through your personal donation page go to Protect Democracy United, our 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. This designation allows us the greatest flexibility to fund the work that’s most urgent.
If you or someone in your network would like to make a tax-deductible donation, they can give to Protect Democracy Project, our 501(c)(3) charitable organization. But these donations will not be reflected in your fundraising total.
If donors have other questions about how their gift affects their taxes, they may consult with a tax professional. We are not able to give tax advice.
Yes, anyone who gives through your personal donation page will receive a receipt from Donorbox at the email they provided.
We can accept donations by personal check, though they won’t be reflected on your personal fundraising page. Checks should be made payable to “Protect Democracy United” and mailed to:
Protect Democracy United 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, #163 Washington, DC 20006
We are not able to accept cash donations. If one or more of your guests wishes to give cash and it’s not important that they receive a receipt in their own name, we suggest you collect it and then make an online donation for the same amount.
No, please do not use Protect Democracy’s logo or branding to promote your event. This is important to maintain our status as a tax-exempt organization.
No. Fundraisers are independent volunteers, not agents, employees, legal representatives, or contractors of Protect Democracy. Our insurance does not cover third-party events hosted by individual fundraisers and you are responsible for obtaining any applicable permissions, permits, or other compliance needs.
Yes, absolutely! Your personal fundraising page is yours to reuse as often as you’d like. Simply log in to Donorbox to update your event information and, if you’d like, swap in a new header image to give it an easy refresh.
Reach out to [email protected] and include “Event Support” in the subject line. We’ll make an effort to respond within two business days.
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