Retreat Policies

Confidentiality Statement

We rely on confidentiality to create a container for authentic sharing and direct conversations around wealth and class privilege. It is very important that you take the confidentiality of our conferences seriously. What’s said here stays here, what’s learned here leaves here. 

Confidentiality and Consent at Resource Generation national conferences means:

• We invite a lot of personal sharing and reflection with the ask that you not share the specifics of someone else’s story without permission. 
• When talking about a RG conference, please do not share people’s names. 
• If you see someone you met at an RG event in another environment, please do not announce that you met through Resource Generation. 
• Participant contact information may not be shared with other individuals or organizations without explicit consent.
• Confidentiality and consent is an ongoing practice. When in doubt, always speak from the “I”.

Solicitation and Fundraising

RG is about building community, political education, transformation, and wealth redistribution, not just fundraising for any one individual or organization. All fundraising at RG events should be pre-approved by staff and happen in agreed-upon spaces. We expect all fundraising to be consent-based and paired with thoughtful follow-up. We ask that all attendees adhere to this policy, please be in touch if you would like to learn more or have questions. 

Do’s and Don’ts (Examples)

Here are tips on navigating solicitation at RG national conferences:

Do. . . 

• Ask for consent
  • Example: “Your excitement and questions about how to better support organizing in rural communities is making me think about a coalition I know of in X rural area. Would you like me to tell you more about that coalition and send you a link to their website after the conference?” 
• For in-person events, we schedule designated times for attendees to present topics they want to discuss with others at the conference. Open Space can be used to talk about collective funding opportunities.
  • Example: “My Open Space is to talk to others who are passionate about supporting student organizing. I’d love to put our heads together on what efforts we know are happening in that field, and what coordinated funding of that could look like. I know X organization is a leader in this field and has a strong social justice analysis. They are looking for $YY to start a capacity-building and training program and 10 major donors to give to them for at least 3 years.
    
    What other organizations are out there that are values-aligned? How much can we pledge to support them? Let’s start a conversation, and those interested in taking the next steps together will ensure we have each other’s contact info to schedule a phone call after the conference.”
• Share openly and honestly about your understanding of the social justice organizing landscape.
  • Example: “It’s awesome that you care so much about education. I know a few organizations using grassroots organizing models to increase the power of families of color. I can make an introduction if you’d like.” 
• Ask questions! Ask for advice on how to create and evaluate a bold and holistic giving plan.
  • Example: “Because of my connections in the Jewish community, most organizations I give to are Jewish-led. Will you share your thoughts on how to diversify my giving while still supporting this community that is so important to me and doing crucial work?” 
• Share openly and honestly about best practices for donors, including how participants can model excellent donor behavior and communicate well with organizations as donors. We’re here to learn how to be accountable to each other!
  • Example: “One of the best things I’ve seen donors do is proactively initiate conversations with an organization about their giving, rather than waiting for a solicitation letter (or, a letter and then a phone call and then an email to track the donor down). This helps the organization financially plan and focus their time on the work rather than chasing after donors.” 

Don’t. . . 

• Make solicitations without checking in with RG staff first. 
• Come to the conference with a concrete fundraising goal or ask, or expectation to get funding commitments for an organization or project you’re fundraising for. 
• Lead with things like, “My (or my friend’s, or my favorite, etc.) organization is having a financial crisis, and we really need support. Can I count on you to make a contribution?” without the conversation being based in the organization’s role in the social justice landscape and how participants can be meaningfully involved as donors for the long haul, not just in crises.
• Be bashful about saying “no” if asked to have a solicitation conversation.