DPP's 2026 Fundamental Accelerator
Overview
The 2026 Fundamentals Accelerator is a cohort-based program designed to support community-based organizations in building sustainable, people-powered fundraising programs.
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.
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
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.
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
Program Components
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
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.
Interested in joining this year's cohort? Fill out our Pre-Screening Assessment here and someone from our team will be in touch!
2025 Accelerator Impact
Overview
In 2025, the Fundamentals Accelerator supported a cohort of organizations working to build sustainable, people-powered fundraising programs.
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.
Key Outcomes
Across the 2025 cohort:
Organizations saw an average 55% year-over-year increase in small-dollar donors
70% of donations in 2025 came from new donors
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.
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.”
"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."
"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."
Key Learnings
Across the cohort, several themes emerged:
Fundraising Is a Cultural Shift
Organizations moved from viewing fundraising as transactional to seeing it as a core part of organizing and movement-building.
Infrastructure Drives Sustainability
Investments in systems—CRMs, welcome series, segmentation—were critical to long-term success.
Storytelling Drives Engagement
Organizations that centered their messaging in community voice and lived experience saw stronger engagement and connection.
Capacity Still Matters
Organizations made the most progress when they had dedicated staff time and internal alignment.
Why This Matters
At a time when many organizations face increasing pressure and uncertainty, building sustainable, people-powered revenue is critical.
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