Educators' Resource Center for Youth Sexual Risk Behavior Prevention

PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY - Case Study

Fundraising Strategies¹

Despite having multiple funding sources, an organization can find itself struggling to make ends meet. To raise funds effectively, it is necessary to know what resources are available, to be efficient and creative, and always to be prepared.

L.A. Youth (http://www.layouth.com/) is a countywide, independent, teen-written newspaper with a readership of over 300,000. Among the newspaper's many goals are to give youth a voice in civic life as well as a forum to discuss ideas on a broad range of topics, such as racial identity, homophobia, broken families, teen pregnancy, teen prostitution, drug addiction, dilapidated schools, college stress, and censorship. The organization has several funding streams but is primarily supported by grants from such foundations as the Irvine Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and The California Endowment. Although the newspaper receives funds from 25 to 50 foundations overall, no one foundation accounts for more than 20% of the total funds received. Besides this source of income, the newspaper receives small amounts of revenue from advertising, subscriptions, and donations. Despite having developed such innovative and diversified strategies to create income, the organization still does not always feel financially stable; thus, it has developed a strong appreciation for all the monetary support it receives.

¹Source: Adapted from: (1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and National Adolescent Health Information Center (NAHIC). (2001). Improving the Health of Adolescents and Young Adults: A Guide for States and Communities, Chapter 7, page 13. Available at http://nahic.ucsf.edu//downloads/niiah/ch7.pdf. (2) About L.A. Youth Newspaper (http://www.layouth.com).

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Last updated on 2/22/2008 8:00:33 AM