Can I Ask You Something? Vol. 2
Haley Bash, Donor Organizer Hub
This month’s Can I Ask You Something? features Haley Bash of Donor Organizer Hub, an organization that trains and supports volunteer fundraisers for progressive movement groups.
Their work is rooted in the belief that fundraising isn’t just about raising money - it can also be a tool for building community and mobilizing people toward long-term change.
It’s an approach I really relate to. So much of my fundraising work with clients is about helping them see it not as a burden, but as a practice that can reflect their values and strengthen relationships. Haley’s responses are a great reminder of that.
Haley Bash, Donor Organizer Hub
Tell us about Donor Organizer Hub
Donor Organizer Hub trains, coaches, and convenes everyday people to fundraise for progressive movement organizations they care about—and to build teams so they don’t have to do it alone. We believe fundraising can be organizing, and that everyone has networks they can mobilize to resource movements. By supporting volunteer fundraisers and the groups they work with, we help build sustainable grassroots power and reduce dependence on wealthy donors and institutions.
What helps you decide what to say yes to - and what to let go of?
We say yes when opportunities strengthen the fundraising leadership of people organizing for progressive change. That means trainings, coaching, and convenings that help volunteers move from giving → fundraising → coaching for the causes they’re deeply invested in. We let go of work that might raise money in the short term but doesn’t build community power or leadership for the long haul.
What’s one thing you want people to know about your nonprofit?
That fundraising isn’t just for the wealthy or “well-connected.” At Donor Organizer Hub, we train and coach everyday people to fundraise for progressive movement causes they care about—and to build teams so they don’t have to do it alone. We believe everyone has networks they can mobilize, and when those networks are organized for movement causes, they become a powerful source of long-term progressive change
What’s something your organization is proud of right now?
We’ve trained and coached thousands of volunteer fundraisers who have raised millions for grassroots, progressive organizations. But what we’re proudest of is seeing participants step into leadership—hosting house parties, coaching their peers, and sustaining their groups. Watching people grow into leaders who strengthen movement infrastructure is the real win.
Who or what are you learning from lately?
We’re learning from the volunteers we coach, who constantly find creative ways to make fundraising joyful even in tough times. They turn birthdays, hobbies, and community events into fundraising opportunities—knitting for pledges, asking at dinner tables, or connecting it to milestones in their lives.
That creativity doesn’t just raise money; it reminds us that fundraising is relational, rooted in joy, and a way for people to build power together when the challenges around us feel overwhelming.
What values guide your work when the path forward isn’t clear?
We’re guided by values centered on relational connection, grassroots power, creativity, and reflective learning. We believe fundraising is organizing, and even small, everyday asks can be an invitation into the movement, rooted in trust and shared values—not transactional appeals. We trust in the power of everyday people to resource movements, resisting over-reliance on high-net-worth donors and honoring community-rooted fundraising. When uncertainty arises, we lean into creative, joy-filled tactics—from bake sales to themed parties, we mobilize through fun, values-aligned engagement. Finally, we follow a cycle of planning-doing-reflecting, continuously learning and adapting what works in real-time conditions.
Thanks so much, Haley! You can take a gander at Donor Organizer Hub’s website here.
A few quick things before you go:
I’m facilitating a free, day-long session in Bennington on September 30 called Fundraising That Builds Trust (Without Burning You Out) through the Heritage Family Credit Union Community Conversation series. Find out more and register here.
The first Way We Work gathering is happening on October 23 in Wallingford, and it’s all about boundaries. It’ll be a (truly) fun couple of hours of reflection, conversation, and space to be with others who get it. If you're local and curious, you can read more or grab a spot here.
Want to be featured in Can I Ask You Something? You can fill out the quick interest form here and I’ll get back to you soon!
I also have space this fall for a couple of new client projects. If you could use some support, just reply - I’d be happy to learn more about what you’re working on.