An Interview With Ken Mallette, Director of Oxfam America's Annual Fund

The next few years were pivotal as several key supporters made prophetic and significant decisions that defined Oxfam’s mission and principles:

• Oxfam America decided not to accept U.S. government grants and to instead try to build broad-based, grassroots support that would remain independent of government foreign policy.
• Appeals for support would also avoid promoting a condescending attitude toward poor people; communications would be thought-provoking rather than emotional.
• Grants would focus on small projects that could serve as models for others.

To develop a U.S. constituency and funding source, the Fast for a World Harvest campaign was begun in 1974 and has grown to become one of the largest anti-hunger campaigns in the U.S. It was an exciting and nerve-wracking time for Oxfam’s few staff, board members and volunteers, who did everything — including selling cards and dish towels outside a local department store — to augment the overseas budget and meet the payroll.