Nonprofit Lowdown Episode #336: Values-Driven Fundraising with Carla Altmayer

Released on May 5, 2025

In episode #336 of Nonprofit Lowdown, host Rhea Wong delves into the intricacies of values-driven fundraising with Carla Altmayer, the co-founder and co-director of Healing to Action, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to ending gender-based violence. This comprehensive discussion explores community building, relationship-based fundraising strategies, challenges in the philanthropic landscape, and the pivotal role of organizational values in driving impactful fundraising efforts.

1. Introduction to Healing to Action

Rhea Wong opens the conversation by welcoming Carla Altmayer to the show. Carla introduces Healing to Action, outlining its mission and foundational principles.

[01:21] Carla Altmayer: "Healing to Action was founded in 2016... It's a grassroots organization in Chicago working to end gender-based violence by building the leadership and collective power from communities most impacted."

Healing to Action emphasizes centering survivors from marginalized communities—Black and Brown survivors, LGBTQ individuals, those with disabilities, immigrants, and others from underinvested backgrounds. The organization aims to transform the narrative around survivors, positioning them as empowered leaders in the movement to eradicate gender-based violence.

2. Building Community Through Underground Dinners

Rhea transitions the discussion to a strategic initiative known as Underground Dinners, a tactic analogous to the Jeffersonian Dinners model, rebranded as community-based dinners.

[03:04] Carla Altmayer: "One of the core tenets of Healing to Action is building relationships... When we're thinking about what we do as an organization, it's critical for our fundraising efforts to mirror that same environment of trust and mutuality that we create with our leaders."

These dinners serve as intimate gatherings where Healing to Action fosters authentic and meaningful relationships with both survivors and supporters. Unlike traditional fundraising events, these dinners prioritize connection over solicitation, creating a community of care where donors become integral partners rather than mere financial contributors.

3. Transitioning from Transactional to Relationship-Based Fundraising

Carla shares her transformative journey from viewing fundraising as a transactional process to embracing a relationship-centric approach, influenced significantly by Rhea’s course.

[11:49] Carla Altmayer: "I really started to understand more about what your course taught me... you can actually build authentic relationships with your supporters. That was shocking to me that that's a possibility."

This shift involved moving away from conventional fundraising methods, such as large in-person events aimed at raising substantial funds, to more nuanced strategies like virtual gatherings and value-centered in-person events. The emphasis is on cultivating deeper connections, leading to increased donor loyalty and sustained financial support.

4. Overcoming Challenges in Fundraising for Gender-Based Violence Causes

Rhea probes into the unique challenges Healing to Action faces in fundraising, especially given the low percentage of philanthropic dollars allocated to advancing women and girls.

[20:09] Carla Altmayer: "As of 2024, only less than 2% of all philanthropic dollars in the US go towards the advancement and betterment of women and girls... only 4% of that 2% actually goes into initiatives like leadership development for women and girls."

This stark statistic highlights the systemic underfunding of gender-based violence initiatives. Carla discusses the compounded difficulties stemming from political headwinds and the broader societal undervaluation of issues like reproductive justice and grassroots community organizing.

5. Strategies to Engage Broader Audiences

To address these challenges, Healing to Action employs strategies aimed at broadening the narrative around gender-based violence and making it more relatable to a diverse audience.

[24:38] Carla Altmayer: "We define gender based violence as behavior that is intended to punish someone for not conforming to gendered expectations... When people start to understand how deep and rooted these expectations are, they begin to grasp the full scope of gender-based violence."

By expanding the definition of gender-based violence to include psychological and societal pressures, the organization helps individuals recognize these issues within their own lives, even if they haven't directly experienced them. This approach fosters empathy and encourages broader community support.

6. The Role of Organizational Values in Shaping Practices

A pivotal part of Healing to Action’s strategy is the integration of organizational values into every facet of their operations, from programming to fundraising.

[29:02] Carla Altmayer: "We look at our values when we think of our programming and how our strategy aligns with our values... We are committed to saying, okay, how do we put these into practice?"

These values, co-developed with survivor leaders and board members, serve as a framework for accountability and guide the organization's interactions and decision-making processes. By embodying these values, Healing to Action ensures consistency and integrity in their mission-driven efforts.

7. Building and Growing a Passionate Donor List

With a donor list comprising approximately 1,000 individuals—primarily friends, family, and board members—Healing to Action boasts a high conversion rate of 14%. Carla attributes this success to intentional relationship-building and maintaining deep connections with supporters.

[33:13] Carla Altmayer: "The first list of a thousand people is really friends and family and extended family and people we know... How do we plan to grow this? We're working on a strategy to think about how do we build in more thought leadership."

Future strategies include expanding their impact manager role to enhance communications, leveraging social media, publishing thought leadership pieces, and leveraging board members' networks through network mapping. These efforts aim to grow the donor list while preserving the authenticity and trust that underpins their current support base.

8. Conclusion and Call to Action

As the episode wraps up, Rhea commends Healing to Action for their unwavering commitment to values-driven fundraising and discusses the importance of finding the right community fit.

[36:53] Rhea Wong: "Ultimately that's what it's about... you want to find your people and your people can only find you when you are clear and loud, unapologetic about, this is what we do, this is what we stand for."

Carla echoes this sentiment, emphasizing transparency and alignment of values as key to building a supportive and engaged community.

[36:38] Carla Altmayer: "We're saying, here's what we value. You're either in or you're out."

Rhea concludes with a call to action for nonprofit leaders to engage with their donors authentically and build relationships that extend beyond financial transactions.

Key Takeaways

• Community-Centric Fundraising: Building authentic relationships with supporters fosters trust and long-term commitment, essential for sustainable fundraising.

• Values Integration: Clearly defined organizational values guide all practices, ensuring alignment and accountability within the team and with donors.

• Redefining Narratives: Expanding the definition of gender-based violence to include psychological and societal aspects makes the cause more relatable and urgent to a broader audience.

• Strategic Donor Engagement: Personalizing interactions and offering diverse ways for donors to contribute deepens their investment and loyalty to the organization.

Show Notes:

• Healing to Action Website: healingtoaction.org
• Carla Altmayer on LinkedIn: Carla Altmayer
• Rhea Wong’s Fundraising Program: riawong.com/bag

Don’t miss the next episode of Nonprofit Lowdown for more insights and strategies to elevate your nonprofit’s impact!