A Closed Mouth Don’t Get Fed: Brooklyn, It’s Time to Ask!

There’s an old Brooklyn proverb that I think every nonprofit leader should keep in mind as we head into year-end fundraising season: A closed mouth don’t get fed.

Nonprofits do extraordinary work every day, but doing great work doesn’t automatically translate into donations. You have to ask. You have to tell your story, share your impact, and let people know that your organization is worth investing in. And you shouldn’t have to do it alone.

That’s exactly why Brooklyn Org created Brooklyn Gives, our borough-wide crowdfunding platform designed to help local nonprofits raise money, reach new donors, and build a community of supporters around their work. It’s a year-round resource that gives organizations the tools to tell their stories, launch fundraising campaigns, and invite Brooklynites to invest directly in the causes they care about.

Your board members should be your biggest champions. Your volunteers, neighbors, program participants, and supporters all have a role to play. With Brooklyn Gives, everyone can help spread the word, share a campaign, or make a donation. Fundraising doesn’t have to fall entirely on your development team. The more people you invite into your mission, the more opportunities you create for support.

And with GivingTuesday around the corner, there’s no better time to get started.

Learn More: Brooklyn Gives

Brooklyn Org Gives Brooklyn a Reason to Give

On December 1, we’re bringing Brooklyn together for GivingTuesday, a global celebration of generosity with a distinctly Brooklyn spirit.

For nonprofits, this is your moment to make some noise! Set a fundraising goal, rally your board, reconnect with donors, and invite new people into your work.

For donors, it’s an opportunity to discover incredible organizations right in your backyard and invest in Brooklyn’s future.

Who doesn’t love free cash (for your organization)?

We’re making GivingTuesday even more exciting with Brooklyn Gives Door Prizes, offering participating nonprofits additional opportunities to bring home funding.

We’ve designed these prizes to celebrate different kinds of giving, because fundraising success doesn’t look the same for every organization.

• Early Riser: Start the day strong and get your supporters giving early.
• Power Hour: Rally your network and build momentum during a designated hour.
• Every Little Bit Counts: Small gifts add up, and every donor matters.
• Crowd Source: Put the power of your community to work.
• Big Fish: Encourage those larger investments that can make a real difference.
• New Kid on the Block: New to Brooklyn Gives? There’s an opportunity for you, too!

These prizes are about more than extra funding. They’re an excuse to get creative, engage your board, mobilize your supporters, and remind people why your organization deserves their investment.

Check out the full details and build them into your GivingTuesday strategy.

Don’t Wait for People to Find You

Here’s our challenge to Brooklyn’s nonprofits: Don’t be shy about asking for support. You know the value of your work. Make sure everyone else does, too.

And to Brooklyn’s donors: When an organization reaches out, listen. Share their campaign. Make a gift if you can. Encourage someone else to give.

Let’s get loud, generous, and show what happens when Brooklyn backs Brooklyn.