About Fertile Soil Strategies

Our Mission

Fertile Soil Strategies is a strategic intervention intending to support the resource mobilization efforts of community based organizations and grassroots groups in an increasingly challenging and shifting political and economic landscape.

Partnerships and Strategic Investments

The organizations we seek to support are weathering the after effects of the pandemic, a severe and prolonged inflation crisis, and are increasingly seeing reduced giving and shifting funding priorities from the foundations they count on to keep their doors open. Though the effect we are seeing is more visible than usual, it is part of a predictable pattern that can be navigated with planning from organizations and sensitivity from the philanthropic community to the long term needs of organizations and movements.

In our time doing this work, we have seen dozens of community organizations spring up, do amazing work, and collapse without proper resourcing and organizational support. The challenges faced by all non-profit leaders are compounded by the effects of racism and anti-Blackness and a lack of access to institutional support (including but not limited to foundation support) leading to even worse outcomes for organizations led by Black folks and other marginalized groups. According to a recent report by Candid, this effect is especially pronounced with Black leaders who “account for 15% of nonprofits in the data set but lead 28% of nonprofits with revenue below $50,000.” The disparity between white and BIPOC led organizations is significant with white led organizations pulling in 5.5 times as much sector-wide revenue as BIPOC-led organizations.

Many of these leaders are so committed to what they do that a lack of resources will not deter them. They will find creative ways to impact their community regardless. We believe that, with the right support and training, this innate ability, and deep connection to their community can be bolstered with the abundant resourcing it deserves and that impact can be amplified. Not allowing space for these organizations to grow, sustain, and refine their work over time does a great disservice to these leaders and the communities they work with and for. Organizations that sustain over years and decades have the potential to build critical relationships inside and outside the community and, with proper support, will learn from their successes and challenges and become more effective over time.

Our Plan

In order to foster healthy abundant growth in our movement, we at Fertile Soil Strategies are developing trainings and workshops to share what we have learned in our time in the field. In coming years we plan to add to this work by hosting study sessions and panel discussions to generate new ideas, foster connection, and experiment with traditional and less conventional resource mobilization strategies (giving circles, mutual aid, donor collectives).

We are kicking off our workshop and training series this year with a set of offerings around Resource Mobilization (RM). These sessions will provide leaders with tools and strategies they can use to build a sustainable base of individual donors, get more out of fundraising events, secure grant funding, and mobilize resources in their immediate community through grassroots fundraising and mutual aid.

The benefit of investing in resource mobilization training is clear: well resourced organizations are more stable and with proper financial management, can establish themselves, grow and build their impact over time. Our unique approach illuminates pathways to alternative resources, building organizational resilience and ability to withstand shifts in foundation priorities and a fluctuating economy. And due to the fact that these funding streams are often more flexible, they can be used to prepare for emergencies or enable important work that may fall outside of most foundation’s focus areas or ability to contribute.

What makes FSS unique?

Fertile Soil Strategies’ approach to resource mobilization is informed by our roots in Black and multiracial movement work and built upon a foundation laid by those who have come before us - our ancestors and elders who make time to teach and guide us. We come to this work as part of a lineage of resource mobilizers that includes leaders like Harriet Tubman who mobilized a massive amount of resources (including money, food, housing, and volunteers willing to risk their lives and freedom) to save people from bondage through the Underground Railroad. We build upon the legacy of great leaders like Rosa Parks and Ella Baker who contributed to building critical infrastructure to support sustainable long term acts of collective resistance like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the development of key movement organizations like SNCC.

We understand the importance of teaching resource mobilization in a way that acknowledges how Black communities and other marginalized groups have engaged creatively with resources throughout history. We seek to engage with the ways people are already moving and accessing resources, illuminate what we already have access to, and build upon that foundation.

Meet Our Principal Consultant

Camelle Scott, Principal Consultant

After nearly two decades as a movement leader and resource mobilizer, our Principal Consultant, Camelle Scott, has amassed a wealth of experience working with individual and institutional donors, elected officials, grassroots leaders, and mutual aid collectives.

Camelle is eager to share what she’s learned in her years as an Executive Director, Major Gifts Officer, and Development Director and to provide support to leaders who are seeking to diversify their funding base, open up new sources of revenue, and build sustainable long term growth plans for their organizations.

"Building a robust funding base isn't about applying for the most grants or organizing expensive galas, it's about building relationships and being creative and strategic with your time (and money) as you pursue resource opportunities."