Taking Care of Eachother

Hello Fabulous Fundraisers! 

First, how are you? I sincerely hope you are doing well, but if you answered differently, I respect that. There is A LOT happening. 

I recently had a client reach out to tell me that they are getting responses about their upcoming fundraising event saying that these “uncertain times are causing donors to become more conservative with their giving.” On top of that, with the change in the administration comes millions of dollars in budget cuts that are already affecting nonprofits nationwide. So WHAT CAN WE DO? 

Many nonprofits are in crisis. Those individuals that run and serve these nonprofits are also in crisis. I see you. I know you all have huge hearts. And I know we will get through this. We’ve done it before and will do it again. Will it be tough? Probably. Are we tired? Yes. Can we do it? Absolutely.

Not so long ago, we rewrote the playbook on how to fundraise when we were in a pandemic. There are some key lessons we took away from that time that could be useful again as we face this brave new world we are living in. So how can we boost fundraising in 2025 and ensure our missions keep moving forward?

First, believe in your donors. When the pandemic rolled in and everything was up in the air, people were trying to figure out if they would be working and how they were working, but folks still rallied behind their favorite causes. We saw a small dip in giving, but then it soared. It came back because people give to people. 

Next, lean into relationships. It’s essential to continue to foster and maintain relationships with donors. Call them. Check in without asking for money. Touch base even more and make sure they are okay. And do it authentically. Donors need to see that you actually care. 

And lastly: Honor your donors’ capacity. It’s likely that folks will be giving to their top three or maybe four organizations rather than their top ten or 15. We all want to make a difference where we can, and when these “uncertain times” surface, be understanding if a donor needs to make a different choice. Some of your donors are probably doing the same thing with other organizations, too. Be understanding and see if there is another way you can foster that donor relationship. Could they volunteer their time if they can’t give money in the current climate? Maybe. Get creative. They still care about you, and it’s possible to turn this challenge into an opportunity to raise more funds for your nonprofit.

I know this is a difficult, uncertain time. But let’s start with what we know how to do: taking care of each other. That means our donors, our staff, our volunteers, and those we serve—and don’t forget yourself.