Co-Conspirator Guide

Everything you need to know to join our networks of care!

 

Co-Conspirators at First Mixer

Dear Co-Conspirators,

We at AAoC would like to welcome you to our community and thank you for desiring to have a tangible impact supporting QTBIPOC (queer and trans Black, Indigenous, and people of color) liberation. Your contribution will increase our capacity for creating care networks for QTBIPOC in our region.

Keep reading to find out how you can support our mission, financially and beyond!

Blessings and prosperity,
AAoC Community

 

AAoC’s Impact on Community

 

$54,300

distributed every year to QTBIPOC through community care fund and stipends

$34,950

paid annually to QTBIPOC for their labor

 
chart showing what folks requested for Community Care Funds (Bills/Utilitites 22.8%, Housing 22.8%, Medical 17.5%, Food 14%, Debt, Self-Care, Education & Immigration 12.3%)

What folks requested funding for in FY24

Gloria Jackson-Nefertiti

I personally benefited from this fund in 2021, when I needed financial support in paying for my upcoming surgery. For that reason, this fund has made an INCREDIBLE impact on my life. So I STRONGLY recommend that if you're able to contribute to this much needed cause (the amount doesn't matter), then PLEASE DO SO! We need to keep this community care fund going. Thank you in advance!

$4,800
given in FY24

$9,600
goal in FY25

$82,200
distributed
since 2020

24
participants
per year

The Impact of Your Support

Every dollar counts at AAoC. Donating builds our community and tangibly supports QTBIPOC liberation.

 

Want to make a financial donation?

Here’s what your impact could be:

$50
One box of 5 COVID tests to keep our community safe

$100
One hour of bodywork for attendees at Taking B(l)ack Pride

$200
One QTBIPOC’s monthly Community Care Funds

$400
2 co-facilitators for a General Alliance Meeting skill share

$1,000
Accessible space rental for two AAoC events

$2,400
Year stipend for a Core Team Member offering their wisdom and lived experience

Other Ways to Support AAoC

AAoC Wishlist

We welcome donated items, resources, and services from the following lists:

Items:

SPS students who got to check out our Gender Affirming Clothing Swap

  • Metrix COVID Test Reader and Tests

  • Clothes for our SPS Gender Affirming Clothing Swap

  • iPads for hybrid events

  • Drinks for our events: we love kombucha and Waterloo!

  • Shelves for our storage unit

  • A fancy lounge wagon

  • Culturally relevant food with vegan and gluten free options

Skills & Labor:

Please note we don’t have a ton of opportunities, but when we do, it would be great to have a list of people to reach out to!

  • Event photography

  • Event food transportation

  • Event set up and take down

Gathering Space:

Some Core Team members at our 2024 Retreat

Donation or at a discounted rate

  • House for our annual Core Team Retreat (must fit ~10 people, usually 2-3 days, ideally by water or trees, usually ~2 hours from Seattle)

  • House for our Staff Retreat (must fit ~4 people, 2-3 days, ideally by water or trees, can be a little farther away)

  • Event space for workshops or Alphabet Institute (July-October, fitting ~30 participants, accessible by public transit and car, physically accessible space, hybrid setup is ideal)



Other Ways to Support:

  • Does your employer offer an Employee Resource Group?
    Ask if they want to collectively raise money and donate to us during Pride, Black History Month, Latine History Month, (or anytime lol)! Sample letter below

  • Are you affiliated with any of the places we already buy from?
    Ask if you can get us a discount or free stuff! We spend way too much money on DoorDash, and also use Zoom, DocuSign, OWL Labs, Google Suite, Squarespace, Vimeo, Office Depot, etc.

  • Do you eat out at cute cafes or restaurants?
    Ask if they want to donate a percent of their proceeds, or proceeds from a signature food or drink item to AAoC. Or ask if they want to provide food for one of our events. Sample letter below

  • Do you have friends or family with access to wealth?
    Tell them about us and ask if they want to donate or host a little fundraiser for us!

Interested in becoming a Co-Conspirator, or got something else in mind that you’d like to offer?

Sample Outreach Letters

Corporate

As you know, I work as a [TITLE] at [BUSINESS]. I also support an organization called Alphabet Alliance of Color, or AAoC. Founded in 2017, AAoC is an organizing alliance of queer and trans Black, Indigenous, and people of (QTBIPOC) in the Puget Sound region working on every level of change, from individual to institutional.

I was wondering if we might be able to support them during [PRIDE MONTH] by fundraising with our [QUEER] Employee Resource Group and offering the proceeds? I know they also use our products, do we have discounts for 501c3s like them? Would love to chat with you soon!

Restaurant/Cafe

Hi [NAME],

I love eating and hanging out at [CAFE NAME] - [DESCRIPTION OF WHY]. In addition to being a patron of y’all’s, I also support an organization called Alphabet Alliance of Color, or AAoC. Founded in 2017, AAoC is an organizing alliance of queer and trans Black, Indigenous, and people of color (QTBIPOC) in the Puget Sound region working on every level of change, from individual to institutional.

I was wondering if [CAFE NAME] might be able to support them during [PRIDE MONTH] by donating a certain percentage of your proceeds for this month to them, or creating a beverage/snack that sales could be donated to them? Would love to chat with you soon about this possibility!

We are excited to be in community with you!