Hi, We're Fundraise
Before we started Fundraise, we worked in schools, churches, community centers, nonprofits, and development offices. Our passion for driving social change was shaped and tested in these environments. Championing the causes we believed in, we poured our hearts into making a difference, but no matter how hard we worked, a lack of funding always stood in our way.
We created Fundraise to solve this problem.
to empower organizations to expand their impact in authentic and sustainable ways.
Our purpose is
Through powerful development and communications support, we help our partners navigate the complexities of social change work, fostering a future that is more hopeful and equitable for all.
Our company is founded on friendship.
April and I met in a women's studies class during our sophomore year of college, and we've been friends ever since. Sharing a dream to start our own businesses, we explored three or four different concepts before finally founding Fundraise. If you ever see us in person, be sure to ask about our short-lived soap business that we started in college—haha! Needless to say, we learned a lot from those experiences, so it was a natural fit for us to team up again, this time to build something we deeply believed in, something that mattered.
A Note from our CEO AMBER
April Salazar
Amber Haywood
CFO + Co-FOUNDER
CEO + CO-FOUNDER
My background in education, nonprofits, and development, combined with April’s background in healthcare, gave us a unique blend of skills and perspectives. We know firsthand that social change work is hard, but our dedication to social justice fuels us not only as individuals but also as founders. April and I started Fundraise to make an impact, and alongside our team, we are using our talents and services to uplift and improve our communities.
Through our diverse experiences, we’ve gained a deep understanding of social inequities and the challenges our development partners face.
We would love for you to join us. together, we can achieve so much more.
How the Story Goes
The Beginning
Amber and April meet in a Women’s Studies class at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and become instant friends.
2014
Entrepreneurs in the Making
With the shared goal of founding a woman-owned business, Amber and April launch their first business venture and begin their entrepreneurial journey together. They were organic soap makers, bakers, home decor curators...the list goes on! But those early projects laid the foundation for the scrappiness they would need for our best adventure yet.
2015
Honing Our Craft
Amber focuses her career in the nonprofit sector, starting in youth services for foster care, working as a community organizer, and advancing to leadership roles in education nonprofits. Meanwhile, April thrives in the healthcare industry, building her leadership skills while championing health equity.
2017 - 2018
Finding Our Lane + Early Consulting Days
2022
Fundraise Inc. is Born
Amber and April officially launch Fundraise Inc., hiring a team of writers from Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Alabama, and Michigan to bring their vision to life. Together, they begin laying the foundation for a transformative agency that spans the country and impacts nonprofits nationwide.
2023
Growing the Team
Fundraise expands its creative capacity with the addition of Hilliary, a talented graphic designer and communications professional. Under Hilliary’s leadership, the company's visual brand and storytelling evolves.
2024 and beyond
A Year of Big Wins
- Ayiti Community Trust wins $358,000 to combat food insecurity in Haiti
- The Ohio Women's Alliance, collaborating with partners across the state and powered by over $1,000,000 in grant funding, successfully secured abortion access and reproductive freedom in Ohio through the historic Issue 1 ballot measure campaign
- YR Media wins the coveted McKenzie Scott award and various grants, expanding support for the next generation of content creators and young journalists
Inspired by the national organizing of the Women's March in Washington, D.C., Amber and April knew it was time to deepen their commitment to causes they care about, especially racial justice and reproductive rights. Amber and April begin consulting for small nonprofits, offering strategic advice and grant writing services. Their growing reputation for results leads to several successful projects, setting the stage for something bigger.
How the Story Goes
YR MEDIA
OHIO WOMEN's ALLIANCE
Ayiti Community Trust
2009
Our Core Values
We choose the path of radical grace. We extend compassion and forgiveness, creating a safe space, where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth and learning.
Practice Radical Grace
We cultivate strong and supportive relationships with our clients, partners, and team. By fostering a spirit of solidarity and collaboration, we are building a Beloved community.
Build Community
We believe in the beauty of diversity and the value of different perspectives and worldviews. We show up as our whole selves, and we invite our partners to do the same.
Embrace Authenticity
We are agile and adaptable. Our proactive approach empowers us to meet the evolving needs of our clients and their communities.
Be Flexible
We are committed to achieving justice and equity through community-led projects and missions. Our shared passion for making a positive change unites and energizes us.
Achieve Social Impact
We approach our work with empathy, genuinely seeking to understand the unique challenges, opportunities, and perspectives of each community and organization we serve.
