An online petition in 2003 pushed the Human Rights Campaign into the world of online fund- and friendraising. And the organization never looked back.

By Margaret Battistelli Gardner

“We’re one of a handful of organizations that have made this work,” he adds.

One of the biggest problems with street canvassing for donations is donor retention. Sure, you might be able to get someone to give you a one-off contribution in the heat of the moment on a street corner, or maybe people even give because it seems like the quickest way to get out of the conversation and on with their day, but how do you keep those donors engaged — and giving?