The Reason You Can’t Reach That Community Might Be Simpler Than You Think

Dear nonprofit leaders and boards,

As the President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Gate Chapter, I was thrilled when the Board of the AFP Golden Gate Chapter had the opportunity to sit down with the Chair of the AFP global board, Roger Ali.

Like many chapters, and many nonprofit leaders, we asked a question that organizations all over the sector are wrestling with right now:

How do we better reach communities that are historically underrepresented in philanthropy and professional fundraising spaces?

Communities of color. LGBTQIA+ professionals. Leaders from smaller grassroots organizations. People doing the work who often don’t see themselves reflected in traditional nonprofit networks.

Roger’s response was refreshingly simple. “Listen to what they need.”

That was it. No elaborate strategy. No ten-step framework. Just a reminder that the answer to this challenge may be far simpler — and far more human — than we often make it.

And the truth is, this lesson doesn’t just apply to AFP chapters.

It applies to every nonprofit leader and board member who feels like they can’t reach a community they want to engage.

The Problem Isn’t Always Access. Sometimes It’s Approach.

In the nonprofit sector, I hear a version of the same concern over and over again: “We want to engage that community, but we don’t know how to reach them.”

Maybe it’s LGBTQIA+ donors. Maybe it’s younger professionals. Maybe it’s grassroots organizations that aren’t currently connected to your network.

The assumption is usually that the community is hard to reach.

But in many cases, the real issue is something else.

Organizations are trying to design solutions without first listening to the people they’re hoping to serve.

We host events without asking whether those communities want events. We create programs without asking what support would actually be helpful. We build outreach campaigns without asking how those communities prefer to engage.

And when the response is low, we conclude: “They just aren’t interested.”

But often the reality is much simpler. They weren’t invited into the conversation in the first place.

Listening Is Not the Same as Asking for Input

When Roger shared that advice with our board — listen to what they need — it struck me how often nonprofits skip this step.

We do “outreach.” We send surveys. We ask people to attend listening sessions.

But too often, those efforts still center the organization’s agenda. True listening looks different.

It means approaching communities with genuine curiosity and humility. It means acknowledging that your organization may not fully understand their experiences. And it means being willing to hear answers that might change how you operate.

Listening might reveal that:

• The community doesn’t know your organization exists.

• Your programs don’t reflect their lived experiences.

• Your events are scheduled at times or locations that aren’t accessible.

• Your leadership doesn’t reflect the people you’re trying to reach.

Those truths can be uncomfortable. But they are also incredibly valuable.

Because once you understand what people actually need, you can start building relationships that matter.

Communities Don’t Want to Be “Accessed.” They Want to Be Included.

There’s another important mindset shift here.

When organizations talk about “accessing communities,” it often sounds transactional — as if the goal is simply to bring new people into an existing system.

But communities that have historically been excluded from nonprofit leadership and philanthropy don’t just want access.

They want influence. They want representation. They want to help shape the future of the work.

Listening is the first step toward making that possible. It moves the relationship from:

“How do we get them involved?” to “How do we build something together?”

And when that shift happens, engagement becomes much more authentic — and much more sustainable.

Start Smaller Than You Think

One of the most encouraging parts of Roger’s advice is that it doesn’t require massive resources.

You don’t need a new department. You don’t need a six-figure strategy.

You can start with simple actions like:

• Meeting with leaders from the communities you want to engage

• Asking what barriers they experience in nonprofit spaces

• Inviting them into early conversations about programs and initiatives

• Being transparent about what you’re learning and where you still have work to do

These conversations don’t need to be formal. In fact, they’re often more powerful when they aren’t.

Because trust grows through relationships, not strategies.

The Future of Philanthropy Depends on Listening

The nonprofit sector is becoming more diverse, more community-driven, and more collaborative every year. Organizations that thrive in this environment will be the ones that recognize a simple truth:

Communities already know what they need.

Our job as nonprofit leaders is not to guess the answer. Our job is to listen carefully enough to hear it.

So if your organization feels like it can’t reach a certain community, try something different. Pause the strategy meeting. Start a conversation. And listen.

You might find that the answer was there all along.

Sincerely,

Queers

Queer For Hire provides fundraising support to Queer nonprofits, LGBTQIA+ cultural competency to straight-led organizations and corporations, and individual coaching for Queer professionals.

Learn about our Fundraising Services <here> – we’ll lead or support your fundraising efforts, whether you need general support or want to focus on raising money from and for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Learn about our Fundraising Trainings <here> – we can coach your board, staff, and fundraising team on how to fundraise and how to engage LGBTQIA+ donors.

Learn about our other services <here> or our resources <here>.