DPP's 2026 Fundamental Accelerator​
Overview
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The 2026 Fundamentals Accelerator is a cohort-based program designed to support community-based organizations in building sustainable, people-powered fundraising programs.
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Over the course of the cohort, participating organizations will strengthen their ability to grow and engage their supporter base, convert supporters into small-dollar donors, and build the systems needed to sustain their work over time.
Through a combination of workshops, coaching, and peer learning, organizations will move beyond one-off campaigns toward durable, values-aligned revenue strategies rooted in organizing, storytelling, and community trust.
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Cohort Timeline
Program Duration: Approximately 7 months, split into two parts with a break over late summer.
Cohort Start Date: May 13th, 2026
Cohort End Date: December 16th, 2026
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Participants can expect to engage in:
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Biweekly cohort workshops
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Ongoing coaching and support
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Implementation work between sessions
A full schedule will be shared prior to the start of the program.
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What Participants Will Gain
By the end of the Accelerator, organizations will have:
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A stronger, more engaged supporter base
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Clear strategies for converting supporters into small-dollar donors
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Core fundraising infrastructure in place (e.g. welcome series, segmentation, CRM improvements)
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Increased confidence in digital fundraising and experimentation
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A deeper understanding of how fundraising supports long-term power-building
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Program Components
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The Accelerator combines multiple forms of support to ensure both learning and implementation:
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Interactive Workshops: Focused sessions on key fundraising strategies, systems, and concepts
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Hands-On Coaching: Direct support to help organizations apply what they are learning in real time
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Peer Learning: Opportunities to learn from and alongside other organizations facing similar challenges
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Implementation Support: Guidance and accountability to ensure progress between sessions
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Capacity-Building Grants: Financial support to help organizations implement strategies developed during the cohort
Topics Covered
Topics include:
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Building a sustainable everyday giving program
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Fundraising as organizing
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Email strategy and messaging
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List growth and audience development
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Donor conversion and welcome series
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Recurring donor programs and retention
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CRM systems and data practices
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Testing, experimentation, and iteration
Who This Is For
The Accelerator is best suited for organizations that:
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Are working to advance equity and support underrepresented communities
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Have an existing supporter base and are ready to grow it
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Have staff capacity to participate and implement strategies
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Are interested in building sustainable, small-dollar fundraising programs
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Are willing to experiment, test new approaches, and learn alongside peers
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Participant Expectations
Participating organizations are expected to:
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Attend and actively participate in cohort sessions
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Dedicate time between sessions to implementation
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Engage in coaching and peer learning
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Track and share key fundraising metrics
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Communicate openly about progress, challenges, and needs
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The program is designed to support organizations that are ready to engage deeply and apply what they learn in real time.
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Interested in joining this year's cohort? Fill out our Pre-Screening Assessment here and someone from our team will be in touch!
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2025 Accelerator Impact
Overview
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In 2025, the Fundamentals Accelerator supported a cohort of organizations working to build sustainable, people-powered fundraising programs.
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Across the cohort, organizations strengthened their fundraising infrastructure, expanded their supporter base, and increased their ability to generate small-dollar revenue in an increasingly challenging political and funding landscape.
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Key Outcomes
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Across the 2025 cohort:
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Organizations saw an average 55% year-over-year increase in small-dollar donors
70% of donations in 2025 came from new donors
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Participants implemented core fundraising infrastructure, including:
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Welcome series and donor journeys
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CRM improvements and data hygiene projects
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List segmentation and targeting strategies
Organizations reported increased confidence in fundraising and greater internal alignment across teams
Many participants began shifting from reactive fundraising to intentional, year-round strategies.
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What We Heard from Participants
“Before this cohort, fundraising felt reactive and stressful. Now it feels like organizing—something we plan for and feel confident in.”
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"Ultimately, DPP equips partners to move at a pace that protects our core mission and constituency, strengthens internal alignment, and builds more sustainable, values-aligned funding partnerships over time."
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"Overall, the program was a great learning opportunity. I learned a lot and it was nice to know the challenges that I was facing were also things other organizations were experiencing. It helped to know I wasn’t alone."
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Key Learnings
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Across the cohort, several themes emerged:
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Fundraising Is a Cultural Shift
Organizations moved from viewing fundraising as transactional to seeing it as a core part of organizing and movement-building.
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Infrastructure Drives Sustainability
Investments in systems—CRMs, welcome series, segmentation—were critical to long-term success.
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Storytelling Drives Engagement
Organizations that centered their messaging in community voice and lived experience saw stronger engagement and connection.
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Capacity Still Matters
Organizations made the most progress when they had dedicated staff time and internal alignment.
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Why This Matters
At a time when many organizations face increasing pressure and uncertainty, building sustainable, people-powered revenue is critical.
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The 2025 cohort demonstrates that with the right support, organizations can:
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Grow their base of supporters
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Build reliable revenue streams
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Strengthen their ability to respond to community needs
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