The John and Ellen Oliver Foundation is preparing a crowdfunding and digital fundraising campaign to support the preservation of Cobb Bethel A.M.E. Cemetery, a historic Black cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia. Our challenge is not identifying the need or developing the preservation project itself; it is building an effective fundraising campaign plan that can reach the right audiences and convert interest into financial support.

We need an experienced volunteer who can help us determine the strongest campaign approach and build the plan and tools our team needs to launch it, including audience research, outreach planning, donor acquisition strategy, and email and digital promotion planning. We are specifically looking for someone who can move beyond general fundraising advice and deliver a practical, measurable campaign plan that our team can carry out.

Our primary obstacle is limited internal fundraising and digital campaign capacity. We have already begun developing campaign messaging, researching crowdfunding options, identifying potential audiences, and seeking outside fundraising support. However, we have not yet secured a professional with the combination of crowdfunding, digital fundraising, and audience research experience needed to move the effort forward effectively.

By the end of this project, the consultant will have delivered a launch-ready crowdfunding campaign plan and toolkit for Cobb Bethel A.M.E. Cemetery, including:

A recommended fundraising platform and campaign structure
A practical pre-launch and launch plan with timeline and priorities
Defined target audiences and a supporter-acquisition strategy
An outreach plan and target list for media, preservation organizations, churches, community groups, influencers, alumni/community networks, and other potential supporters
Email, social media, and digital promotion plans and campaign materials needed for launch
Recommendations and setup guidance for paid advertising, targeting, retargeting, and conversion tracking where appropriate
A performance-tracking framework for traffic, engagement, donor acquisition, and conversion

Organization Mission

The John and Ellen Oliver Foundation preserves and protects historic Black cemeteries, sacred spaces, and cultural heritage sites, beginning with Cobb Bethel A.M.E. Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia. Through historic preservation, research, education, and community engagement, the Foundation works to document, honor, and sustain the people, places, and stories that reflect Black landownership, faith, education, community building, and resilience for future generations.