The choppy economy is causing some fundraising nausea. We’ve got the Dramamine.
You may have noticed in the past week or few: the market—and economy—haven’t exactly been smooth sailing. What’s a nonprofit to do when a formerly bullish market starts to growl?
You may have seen your blood pressure rising. You may be fielding frenzied calls from colleagues, board members, donors. You may be looking at your budget dolefully, wondering what programs you’ll inevitably have to cut.
Don’t hit the panic button! Instead, hit “play” on this video where I, along with my colleagues Austin Detwiler and Stephanie D’Anselmi, share the savviest, most practical ways for your nonprofit to navigate these uncertain economic times.
Tariffs are roiling the markets, and government funding is being yanked from nonprofits. That might seem like some scary stuff—but it’s not fundamentally different from some (granted, harrowing) economic times we’ve already lived through.
Think about the Great Recession, and the COVID collapse. Those were tough times, also full of uncertainty . . . and we survived them.
In fact, AmPhil was founded in 2009, when times were dark indeed. Choosing to kick off a new endeavor in the charitable sector at such a time might have seemed utterly foolish at the time, but it just so happens that one constant held true. We stress it again and again: even when the market dips, or even falls off a cliff, Americans remain generous. Charitable giving is still a priority, even when belts have to be tightened.
That said, you shouldn’t sit back and expect that gifts will keep flowing in, just as they did during sunnier days. It’s easy to put your fundraising on autopilot when everything’s coming up roses in the economy. You can coast right into the budgetary black.
But now, you have to switch gears and think about how to get smart with your fundraising.
You need to ask yourself: How should I react to uncertainty? What are the smartest moves to ensure I come out with my fundraising operations intact—and perhaps even stronger!—on the other side? How can I avoid the pitfalls other nonprofits might stumble over, and step into the space that opens in the philanthropic marketplace?
Austin, Stephanie, and I have worked alongside countless nonprofits, answering those questions during tough times. We want to share our insights with you at a crucial time for your nonprofit.
We emphasize in this webinar: keeping your relationships strong can compensate for a weak market. We also provide firsthand examples of how to build those relationships, as well as what matters to which donors, when, and how, in times like these.
Don’t panic. Stick to the fundamentals of fundraising. Build relationships. Be strategic.
We emphasize each of these principles in our conversation. We also dive much deeper on each, providing you with the kind of hands-on, concrete advice you need to execute a smart strategy for the months (and years) ahead.
After watching this recording of our conversation, you’ll sleep a little more soundly, knowing your nonprofit is ready to weather whatever economic turbulence lies in store. Again, take a deep breath, and remember: Americans are the most generous people on earth. If you tailor your fundraising approach to meet the current moment, they won’t stop supporting you.
