Key Nonprofit Highlights
Disability Rights Washington is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of the 1.7 million+ Washingtonians with all types of disabilities. Founded in 1972, their mission is to advance dignity, equality, and self-determination for disabled individuals. Led by people with disabilities, they use legal advocacy, public policy, and media to creatively change systems, equip disabled people to advocate, and build intersectional, cross-disability power for inclusion.
The organization partnered with Bloomerang Fundraising for their Breaking Barriers virtual event, prioritizing accessibility and user-friendly features like embedded livestreams, real-time thermometers, and peer-to-peer capabilities. The platform simplified processes, improved reporting, and offered inclusive options such as live captioning, ASL interpretation, and audio descriptions. The event raised over $105,000, with positive feedback on accessibility and engagement, setting the stage for future inclusive fundraising efforts.
Challenge
Outdated nonprofit software that didn’t have key features for fundraising
Disability Rights Washington needed a new online fundraising platform for their virtual event, Breaking Barriers, and prioritized features like customizable event pages, an integrated thermometer, peer-to-peer capabilities, an accessible interface, and cost-effective pricing. Their previous platform was outdated, required separate systems that didn’t integrate, and lacked essential features like real-time fundraising updates and livestream embedding on event pages. This created challenges with processes, reporting, and user experience, making customization and accessibility difficult for both staff and supporters.
To ensure inclusivity and engagement, they sought a platform that could accommodate all community members, including those with sensory disabilities. Key features included large, high-contrast fonts for low-vision users, a real-time fundraising thermometer, and the ability to embed event livestreams directly on the event page. By addressing these needs, Disability Rights Washington aimed to create an accessible, user-friendly virtual fundraising event that supported their mission and allowed all participants to easily engage and contribute.
Solution
Prioritizing accessibility for inclusive peer-to-peer and auction event fundraising
Disability Rights Washington chose Bloomerang Fundraising for their Breaking Barriers fundraiser due to its ability to host auction and peer-to-peer events on the same platform, simplifying their reporting and donor thank-you process. Compared to their previous platform, Bloomerang made it easier to manage event data, train staff, and customize event pages.
“Reporting was really important. Getting all the data into the system and then getting everything out so that we could properly thank our donors just took so much time,” said Stacie Berger Siebrecht, Director of Strategic Partnerships. “The Bloomerang process was super quick and easy.” The team appreciated features like the ability to embed livestreams and fundraising thermometers, allowing supporters to stay on their event page while viewing live updates in real time. For the auction segment, they leveraged Bloomerang Fundraising’s mobile app to send scheduled and on-the-spot notifications, ensuring high engagement and easy payment processing.
Accessibility was a major priority for Disability Rights Washington, and Bloomerang’s flexibility allowed them to create an inclusive event. They incorporated live captioning, ASL interpretation through a Certified Deaf Interpreting team, audio descriptions for visually impaired viewers, and written transcripts post-event. “I wanted to make sure that we had support leading up to and during the event,” said Siebrecht. “Bloomerang’s support was excellent and went above and beyond.”
Results
Raising $105K with user-friendly Bloomerang Fundraising platform
Disability Rights Washington’s Breaking Barriers auction software and peer-to-peer event raised more than $105,000! The team received positive feedback regarding accessibility as a whole. Thanks to Bloomerang’s easy-to-use fundraising platform, which comes with amazing customer support, the Disability Rights Washington team is already looking forward to their next Breaking Barriers event. They also appreciated how much the virtual components that came with a hybrid event model will continue to foster an inclusive event for all.
