AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT ACTBLUE

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based ActBlue, a technology platform to provide fundraising and contact management services to political (democrat) and charitable organizations, has announced a restructuring and cost control initiative. The immediate result is a 17% reduction in its workforce following the execution of a new union contract.

Approximately 54 employees were laid off, including 32 in the union's bargaining unit.

According to a union spokesperson, “Leadership’s actions jeopardize our ability to fully serve our entities, our donors, and the broader Democratic movement, especially ahead of a critical election cycle. We call upon Leadership to freeze further layoffs until all other cost-saving options are exhausted, and for ActBlue Leadership to live up to their progressive ideals.”

ActBlue President and CEO Regina Wallace Jones responded, “We need to ensure we are serving our users as sustainably and effectively as possible during the 2024 cycle and beyond. The center of our work is providing a technology platform for campaigns, organizations, and donors to drive change, and we are looking to focus our efforts on innovating and expanding our product while also controlling our costs.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT OMAZE

Mar Vista, California-based Omaze, a fundraising platform for client charities featuring gifts, prizes, and other inducements to solicit donations, has announced a reduction in force.

The personnel adjustment will impact 103 employees and commences on February 3, 2023.

It is believed that the company is responding to the economic downturn impacting charitable giving.

From the company's website...

Where Your Money Goes

Omaze is a registered commercial fundraiser for various US-registered 501(c)(3) public charities (each a “Charity Client”). When you donate and enter for the chance to win an experience with a celebrity prize (set visit, dinner date, tickets to a premiere, etc.), 60% of your donation is guaranteed to go to the identified designated grantee(s), via a grant from one of our Charity Clients. For these experiences, typically 25%, on average, is used to pay for experience costs, such as advertising and content creation costs and payment processing fees.

When you donate and enter for the chance to win an experience with a non-celebrity prize (like a car, vacation, or cash), 15% of your donation is guaranteed to go to the identified designated grantee(s), via a grant from one of our Charity Clients. Typically between 65-75%, on average, is used to pay for experience costs, such as Prize costs, advertising and content creation, and payment processing fees.

Historically, across all experience types Omaze nets approximately 20%.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?