Fundraising, Grant Research and Pipeline Development

We’re seeking a volunteer to help us develop a broader, organization-wide fundraising strategy that goes beyond grant research.

We’ve already completed foundational research on potential funding sources and are now looking for support in turning that information into a cohesive, actionable fundraising plan.

By the end of the Project, we’d like to have:

• A written fundraising strategy outlining our priority revenue streams, such as grants, individual donors, and corporate support, and how they fit together
• A 12-month fundraising roadmap with realistic goals, timelines, and sequencing based on our capacity
• Projected revenue targets by fundraising channel to support planning and decision-making
• A short list of recommended next steps and success metrics to guide implementation after the Project ends

This Project will focus on strategy and planning rather than grant research or hands-on fundraising execution.

We anticipate the volunteer(s) will work with our full team (made up of activists, artists and students from across the world) and be involved in different aspects of the project if there is interest. You will help us by dedicating 2-5 hours per week initially for 6-8 weeks, with flexibility to adjust based on you availability and progress.

To ensure the success of this fundraising and grant development project, I will implement the following strategies:


1. Clear Communication and Expectations:
Initial Meeting: A thorough introductory meeting to discuss the project goals, scope, timeline, and expectations.
Regular Check-ins: Schedule consistent weekly or bi-weekly check-ins to monitor progress, address questions, and provide feedback.
Open Communication Channels: Establish clear communication channels (e.g., email, video calls) and respond promptly to the volunteer's inquiries.


2. Providing Necessary Resources and Information:
Access to Existing Materials: Share all relevant organizational documents and website content (we are seeking Taproot support to update our current website).
Access to Databases: Provide access to our current database and any other relevant databases or online resources for grant research.
Access to student support: Student volunteers are on standby to support fundraising efforts.


3. Flexibility and Adaptability:
Adjust to the Volunteer's Schedule: Be flexible and accommodating to the volunteer's availability and schedule.
Adapt to Changing Needs: Be prepared to adjust the project scope or timeline as needed.
Open to New Ideas: Be open to the volunteer's suggestions and ideas.


4. Collaborative and Supportive Environment:
Value the Volunteer's Expertise: Recognize and appreciate the volunteer's skills and experience.
Provide Constructive Feedback: Offer timely and constructive feedback to help the volunteer improve their work.
Encourage Questions and Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment where the volunteer feels comfortable asking questions and sharing ideas.


5. Possibility for a paid position after this initial interaction. While GP does not currently have funds, we promise all our many volunteers they will be considered first for any paid position once initial funding is secured.

Do you like social justice? Adore human rights? Enjoy comics, cartoons, and humor?! Do you want to change the world?

Well, so do we! We would love you to join a small but growing team here at the Graphix Project (“GP”)! We are above all passionate about tapping into the power of graphic novels, graphic op-eds, and short animations that speak to universal audiences and a younger demographic.

In partnership with a range of institutions, including Yale Law School, University of Nairobi, Amnesty International, and the Association of Human Rights Institutes and their network of 80 universities worldwide, we led the largest global comics and activists research in history, with a focus on the nexus between human rights activism and art. This participatory research provided helpful key insights: not only do youth have a burning desire to learn from one another, but ultimately, there is a huge, untapped demand for comics that support activist training, education, and advocacy.

Based on these insights, GP has engaged a global board of subject matter experts and recognized leaders in human rights, academia, and the arts, along with leading universities on all continents. The project is currently working with the University of Toronto to design an interactive website/portal to support, protect, and nurture networks that link up the incredible work of activists and artists leading human rights and social change. We are also working with human rights luminary Aryeh Neier to adapt as a graphic history his seminal work The International Human Rights Movement: A History. With Cartoonists Rights, a US-based nonprofit that protects cartoonists under threat, we are developing graphic biographies as part of a comics anthology with the world renowned publisher Fantagraphics, complete with learning materials, tips, and tools. We can share with you all this material if you are interested as well as an example of our incredible Op Art published in Canada’s top paper the Globe and Mail.

We have waited until our first phase of research was complete to begin fundraising to ensure we knew exactly what our global target audience needs. As such we are currently operating with limited funding and a single staff member (plus student volunteers), making it challenging to dedicate the necessary time to fundraise. We need a strategic approach to ensure our eventual long-term sustainability and expand our reach.