At its core, a citizen base is a diverse group of people who support a CSO by contributing time, resources, or skills.  They are the community behind a Changemaker.

What are some common examples of a citizen base?

• Fans of a sporting team: They provide fees and sponsorships, cheer in the stands, and gain a lasting form of entertainment
• Members of any club or union: They pay dues, serve in leadership positions, and receive the club’s support and/or protection.
• Congregation members of a religious institution: They attend services, offer donations and/or volunteer time, and belong to an institution that responds to its congregants’ needs.

In each of these examples, the citizen base both gives to the organization and derives enormous benefit from it. As a result, citizen sector organizations that shape and embrace their own citizen base can build a healthy two-way relationship that improves the organization's operational efficiency and its community's well-being.

Watch Bill Drayton as he discusses the Citizen Base Initiative

Who are the members of a CSO’s citizen base?

The citizen base includes a range of stakeholders--members, volunteers, businesses, partners, beneficiaries, clients, media, etc.

These stakeholders can effectively leverage resources for an organization at relatively low cost while providing critical, additional resources such as pro bono skills or revenue through membership-based fee structure or fee-for-service.

How does a citizen base benefit an organization?

Organizations with strong citizen base strategies have an ability to find new ways of engaging the resources in the local environment (i.e., funds, people, goods, and services) to support an organization and make it self-sustaining.

Is there just one citizen base strategy that works for all organizations?

They exhibit a wide range of strategies—from income generation schemes to locally based fundraising to building volunteer constituencies—and find expression in a variety of fresh approaches that reflect different cultural, social, and economic contexts.

Read more about the Citizen Base philosophy.