Last week, 74 people contributed a total of $14,190 to the Holiday Fund Drive, but we still have long way to go to meet our $150,000 goal. Maybe you’ve received a letter from us and haven’t yet responded. Don’t let it sit. We’re counting on you to renew your support. Please take a moment now to show us you care.
Or maybe you’ve never taken that next step toward support after buying the paper. If so, please consider becoming a Real Change donor. This is a time when your help would really make a difference.
We’re doing great things here, and with your help, it’s only going to get better.
I can’t remember a time when I’ve been more excited by the work we’re doing or the possibilities before us.
The newspaper is the best it’s ever been. We won seven awards this year from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Washington News Publishers Association.
Our groundbreaking Occupy CEHKC (Committee to End Homelessness-King County) campaign demanded that we keep homeless people safe and alive now, and our organizing this year has led to the first city budget in years that adds real capacity to survival shelter and services. We are changing the debate in Seattle on homelessness.
We’ve improved our vendor training and support and paved the way for some big changes that will dramatically increase the success of our vendors and the health of our organization.
But these are uncertain times. The skittish economy and competition with election-year giving have suppressed donations to nonprofits. Our donor support has taken a hit this year, too, and we’re hoping to make that up during this fund drive. We have a great plan that will create greater success for our vendors, but we can’t do the work without new community support.
Please help us to make 2013 the game-changing year for Real Change that our vendors deserve. Strategic plan goals for this year include:
Regional expansion into Kitsap County and the Eastside
New grassroots organizing capacity that builds upon recent successes
New income opportunities for vendors, including an app for Android and iPhone to enable cashless transactions
Integration of support services such as access to health care into our vendor program.
We have a thoughtful, concise, strategic plan that leads Real Change into regional distribution, expanded cross-class, grassroots organizing and long-term stability. With this plan we can weather anything the economy throws at us. But we can’t do this without your help.
Donations from readers like you, who want to help our vendors succeed, account for roughly 60 percent of our budget. Please make a difference by taking a moment now to support the work you know and believe in. You can make a secure, tax-deductible gift at realchangenews.org, or mail your donation to Real Change, 219 First Ave. S., Suite 220, Seattle, WA 98104.
Thank you.