The economy in the United States is under stress. Inflation is driving prices up, and the stock market is down.
Thankfully, smart fundraisers have been through situations like this before. Here’s what to do…
Stay The Course
Do not cancel any fundraising.
You need to be sold out to your mission and your beneficiaries. Your job is to advocate for them and to let donors make decisions for whether to give or not.
Make Your Case Stronger Than Ever
The media will be focusing your donor’s attention on a very narrow swath of issues. Your organization will need to “break through” that noise to get your donors’ attention.
Additionally, some of your donors may choose to give to a couple fewer charities than normal. You want to make your case so strongly that your organization is not one of the organizations a donor cuts from their giving.
Many Donors Will Not Be Affected
The last couple of years have been incredible for some donors – and many of them will become more generous during a recession… if you give them the chance to be.
The Fundraising Outlook Is Brighter Than Most People Think
Two reasons:
- Economic situations like this one disproportionately affect younger people, but donors tend to be older. Fewer of an organization’s donors will be affected by this than most people assume.
- Awareness of Need is high. When people’s awareness of a Need is high, they are more likely to give.
The economic situation may change your donors’ circumstances, but it will not change their priorities. And they still care about your beneficiaries and cause.
Do not take the decision to give out of your donors’ hands. Give them the chance to be the generous people they wish to be.
2 comments on “Better Fundraising in Today’s Economy”