Media by Karen Topakian

“Resiliency in the New Normal: Nonprofit Colleagues Share Their Experiences" Blue Avocado, August 18, 2020. Cheryl A. Clarke and Karen Topakian. When the first shelter-in-place orders were imposed, most nonprofit organizations paused to rethink their fundraising efforts. As weeks and months passed, development departments had to adapt their fundraising strategies to the “new normal.”

“Communicating with Donors During a Maelstrom: Practical Wisdom on When, What, Who, How, and How Often” Blue Avocado, April 21, 2020. Cheryl A. Clarke and Karen Topakian. The Covid-19 virus has upended every facet of our lives. For those of us in the nonprofit community, that has meant closing our facilities and offices, disrupting our delivery of services, and ceasing our communications with donors—

“Lobbying Legally Under in the Age of Trump” Grassroots Fundraising Quarterly, (September-October 2017) Nonprofit organizations may not know how to engage in direct or grassroots lobbying without jeopardizing their tax status. But nonprofit organizations certainly can. Learn about the differences between direct lobbying vs grassroots lobbying and much more.

Doing It Right - Democracy in the Pacific. An hour long documentary film produced by EON - The Ecological Options Network. January 2014.

“Marrying Mission with Strategic Planning and Evaluation,” Nonprofit Quarterly, November 20, 2013. People serve on an organization’s board of directors because they have a passion for the group’s mission and vision, not because they love strategic planning. But strategic planning falls squarely in a board member’s lap of responsibility.

“Why I Failed to Leave a Nuclear Weapons Lab” Greenpeace, August 9, 2013. On the 68th year anniversary of the US dropping a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, Karen protested the US’ continued development of nuclear weapons.

“Supporting Volunteer Fundraisers,” Grassroots Fundraising Journal, Volume 31, Number One, January-February 2012. The success of volunteers—including board members—raising money for an organization hinges on many factors.

“What If This Were Real?” Greenpeace, August 10, 2011. Why I risk arrest on Hiroshima Day, August 6, at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

“Absolute Transparency: An Illuminating Approach to the Grantmaking Process” Foundation Center,’s Glasspockets, January 25, 2011. An insider’s description of the Agape Foundation’s transparent grant-making process in keeping with the Foundation’s commitment to nonviolence.

“No Money, No Cry: How Four Social Justice Organizations Succeeded in the Face of Financial Insecurity” Grassroots Fundraising Journal, Volume 30 Number 2. March-April 2011. Here are the stories of four social justice organizations that, in the face of major financial setbacks, refused to pack up and close. Instead, they developed new organizational models and implemented successful, bold approaches while maintaining core values and building member support.

“Can This Letter Be Saved? Strengthening a Fundraising Appeal.” Grassroots Fundraising Journal, Volume 28 Number 5, September-October 2009. GenerationFIVE, an organization that works to end child sexual abuse, agreed to have their recent fundraising appeal critiqued by fundraising expert Karen Topakian. You’ll get some important tips for improving your fundraising letters.

“Dissecting a Fundraising Letter.” Grassroots Fundraising Journal, Volume 27 Number 3. May-June 2008. Co-written with Nicole Hsiang. Two experienced and successful appeal writers explain the key elements in crafting effective fundraising letters. See line by line how they wrote a successful appeal for the Agape Foundation. 

“Can we say no to war for 24 hours?” San Francisco Chronicle. September 21, 2007. The UN called for a global cease-fire and an observance of nonviolence for just one day every year, on September 21. 24 short hours. Will we be able to do it?

Media about Karen Topakian

“The San Francisco Art Institute That Could Have Been” Article about recent collaboration with the San Francisco Art Institute

Arrested (Again). A 4.33 minute film made by Dan Goldes about Karen’s history and experience with nonviolent direction action. 

“Local activist, arrested more than 30 times, subject of mini-documentary” Mission Loc@l, May 11, 2017.

“Arrested (Again)’: Reflections on Civil Disobedience” KQED-TV, April 21, 2017 Karen Topakian talks about her recent nonviolent protest – the RESIST banner unfurled behind the White House and her participation in Dan Goldes award winning short film “Arrested (Again).”

“San Francisco Activist Who Unfurled ‘Resist’ Banner Near White House Is Subject Of New Documentary” BeyondChron, April 20, 2017.

“Greenpeace Activist From San Francisco Was Not at Book Club, Because She Was Atop a Crane in Washington, D.C.” NBC Bay Area, January 27, 2017.

“Pipeline Protesters Rally in the US.” New York Times, January 26, 2017.

“SF Protesters Arrested for ‘Resist’ Banner Near White House As Another Banner Appears on Twin Peaks” SFiST, January 26, 2017.

“Topakian” Powering the Resistance, One Bold Action At a Time” The Armenian Weekly, January 25, 2017.

“Resist: Activists Unfurl Massive Banner on Crane Behind White House” NPR, January 25, 2017.

“Love And Marriage: Elated Couples Celebrate Prop 8 Decision at SF City Hall,” The San Francisco Appeal, June 26, 2013.

“SF Couple: Now We Have to Decide If We Want to Marry,” NBC Bay Area, June 26, 2013

 “Classnotes.” Clark University Alumni Magazine, Spring 2011 pages 50-51

 "Cranston Native Chosen to Lead Greenpeace,” Cranston Herald, Tuesday December 16, 2010.

“Generating Peace: Peace Prize Honors Powerhouse Peacemakers Across Generations,” Causes.Com, September 18, 2008.

“Advocate for Southeast Asian Girls Honored,” San Francisco Chronicle, Saturday October 25, 2008.

 “Agape Foundation Peace Prize,” San Francisco Chronicle, October 12, 2008.

 “Mission Youth Hang with HOMEY to Quell Gang Violence,” San Francisco Chronicle, September 19, 2007.

“Democratizing Philanthropy Challenging Foundations and Social Justice Organizations,” Responsive Philanthropy, Fall 2007.

“Grant Building Renovations Force Eviction of Nonprofits,” San Francisco Chronicle, November 20, 2000

“Navy Bumps Protest Boat at Trident II Test,” Los Angeles Times, December 04, 1989.

“Two Nuclear Subs Have History of Accidents, Documents Show,” AP News Archive, May 23, 1991.