As we wrap up the 2025 Promising Practices Accelerator, I want to celebrate what this cohort accomplished and why it matters.
Together, participating organizations raised $22,770 in individual donations, unlocking $18,600 in matching funds. Some organizations met the full $5,000 match, some exceeded it, and others landed below it. All of them strengthened their fundraising practice, which is the real point of this work.
One story from this cohort captures that especially well. Good Neighbor Lab received an additional $1,000 grant for engaging the greatest number of individual donors. Founder Julia Gitis shared this after the campaign wrapped:
“Greater Sum is exactly the support I needed to do something very scary for the first time—ask my friends and network for money!!—something I was way too scared to do without this group’s guidance and hand holding. Thanks so much! Happy 2026 to all.”
What stands out to me is not just that Julia inspired the most people to give. It’s that she named the fear and moved forward anyway. Founders have to take this step in order for their organizations to grow, and we want to be there in support.
The Promising Practices Accelerator is designed to help nonprofit leaders build real fundraising capacity. For some participants, this was their first campaign. For others, it was an expansion and an opportunity to motivate donors through a match. In every case, the work continues beyond the campaign. Each organization will now steward these donors and share updates throughout 2026, laying the groundwork for stronger, more sustainable fundraising.
This year’s cohort included Code.X, Lobiko Initiative, Hendricks Foundation, Sustainable Access Foundation, LabReNew, and Good Neighbor Lab. Each came to the accelerator with a clear sense of the work ahead and left with more tools to resource it.
Participants in Promising Practices are selected through our pitch competition from graduates of Greater Sum’s Virtual Incubator Program. We look for organizations whose work is innovative, scalable, and positioned to make a meaningful difference. The application is now open for our March, May, July, and September Virtual Incubator Cohorts. If you’re a nonprofit founder looking for a supportive community, check it out!
