Be realistic about what it will cost, then find allies to help raise the money from donations and grants. Good resources are other non-profit groups, community foundations, and public interest attorneys in your area. Sign up new members. The Institute's Grassroots Support Center provides technical, communications, fundraising, and organizational assistance to citizen groups throughout Michigan. The staff leads a series of three workshops for groups interested in cultivating these skills.
Members are the soul of any successful public interest organization.
A growing membership is the most visible indication of a group's influence and success. Members provide new ideas, civic energy, financial support, and much-needed emotional strength. Attracting new members and keeping existing members involved and satisfied is a core activity of a successful public interest organization. At the Institute, all of our staff and board participate in the organization's member services program.