Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club

The Right Fundraising Strategies Get Results - Even in Times of Crisis 

After shifting programs during the COVID pandemic, the Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club (AVBGC) was facing a $200,000 budget shortfall in 2022. With the encouragement of her ChangeRaisers coach, then-Development Director Sally Altobelli called a longtime public funder with a strong commitment to the organization and the region. This strategic phone conversation worked – and then some. The funder granted AVBGC $200,000 to avert a budget crisis and six months later advocated for AVBGC to receive an additional $300,000 for a computer center when Best Buy offered this opportunity in their district. 

Additionally, with ChangeRaisers guidance, AVBGC teamed up with fellow ChangeRaisers alumni in the Antelope Valley: Antelope Valley Partners for Health, Lost Angels and United Friends of the Children. Together they presented to Liberty Hill Foundation and California Community Foundation donor relations teams who encouraged major donors in their networks to fund a collaboration of youth-serving nonprofits across the Antelope Valley.

A year after participating in ChangeRaisers, AVBGC accomplished nearly 100% of the three strategic fundraising goals set in their development plan – all ahead of schedule.

“I used to feel constantly overwhelmed thinking about fundraising for a multi-million dollar budget and 200 employees. But now whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed, I take a step back and say, ‘Okay, what is manageable at this moment?’ Changeraisers training and coaching around ‘right-sizing’ has really shifted the whole way I approach fundraising, mentally and strategically.”

Sally Altobelli
Co-Executive Director
Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club