elizabeth miller, peer-to-peer fundraising consultant

About Me

elizabeth miller (they/she)

I am genuinely just a huge fan and believer in the power of peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, and in using fundraising to support organizing not just by bringing in money, but by base–building. I have fifteen years of knowledge and experience in peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, as a participant, a lead organizer, and a consultant.  

I’ve been on boards and led grassroots fundraising efforts for local and national organizations in reproductive, economic, and racial justice fields–from organizations so small they have no  paid staff to those large enough that their employees are spread across the country–which helps me understand the constraints in organizations of various sizes, and the value of helping everyone involved understand themselves as someone with the power to fundraise. For my day job, i am a public school sexuality educator, and i live in Salem, Mass, home of feminist witches and very overdramatic Halloween celebrations, which is a great combination for me. 

About My Results

In the fifteen years since my first peer-to-peer fundraiser, I’ve moved over $100,000 of my friends’ and family’s money to justice work as an individual fundraiser, in the course of over 20 different campaigns, and helped bring countless people into the organizations and collectives that need their support. 

I’ve run peer-to-peer campaigns that brought in anywhere from just over $5000 to over $80,000, and have helped build sustained programs in the process that, in most cases, grew again substantially the following year. 

Through consultation with me, organizations are often able to bring in twice what they expected at the beginning of the process, and feel prepared and excited for another campaign the following year.

About Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Peer-to-peer fundraising helps us approach fundraising with a relational model that helps organize people and money at the same time. Rather than having to convince people of the value of the organization as the initial hook, it allows people who already care about the work to share it with the people in their lives and invite them in–as donors, of course, but also as people who may want to be a part of the mission of the organization.

This work can feel values-aligned in a way that traditional fundraising may not for all people, and can really build excitement for people who feel empowered to act as ambassadors and bring their organizational work to the people closest to them. It can also tap a unique donor base, and help prepare a larger group to connect to the organization and act as fundraisers in the future. This is a specific way to invite people in–and helps to invite them in more deeply to your work and events in the future, as participants and whole people, both donors and activists/members. It helps us remember and build into the idea that, done deeply, individual fundraising is power-building, not just financing.

Elizabeth is a peer-to-peer fundraising powerhouse, and the best grassroots fundraising trainer I have ever met. Their enthusiasm is infections, their instructions are clear and manageable, and their coaching on how to cultivate a successful fundraising mindset has been transformative to our staff and leaders. Because of Elizabeth’s support, our organization has quadrupled its donor base and is raising about THIRTY times more in individual donor fundraising than we were five years ago.

Executive Director, ECCO

As a young organization, we’ve found it difficult to cut through the noise online and actually attract new donors, and I was dreading running yet another slog of a fundraiser that’s all work and very little reward. Elizabeth helped us see that peer-to-peer fundraising not only could work for us, but could be energizing and mission-aligned! With her help, we brought in almost three times more money than any previous fundraiser, mostly from first-time donors, and we crossed the finish line feeling more energized than when we started. Elizabeth has changed our whole approach to fundraising!

Executive Director, EducateUS

Elizabeth is a fantastic and knowledgeable fundraising consultant. She was super helpful to our organization when we decided to hold our first fundraiser. She challenged us to reach for a goal that was just outside of attainable in my opinion but I think it made us each work harder!  She gave us creative techniques to reach the goal. We look forward to working with her again next year.

Board Member, Boston Acupuncture Project