It has been a year of starts and stops, peaks and valleys for the nonprofit industry. The year following any presidential election presents challenges for philanthropy. Changes and uncertainty do impact giving; when new administrations put new programs in place, it can take time for donors to assess and adjust accordingly.
Una Osili, associate dean for research and international programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, writes that questions about taxes, policies, and global situations result in reluctant and hesitant donors.
“People will postpone their decisions and wait to resolve the uncertainty”
(www.philanthropy.com).
With that in mind, here’s my advice for navigating post-election waters:
Appeals
Do not slow down or suspend your appeal process to donors during these times. Giving may flatten for a bit. If it does, it’s crucial that you stay the course.
Major donors may be “keeping their powder dry” for a while, but as the economy rebounds, you want your ministry or nonprofit to be the first in line.
Staffing
Thousands of nonprofits went out of business during COVID-19 and during the 2008 recession because they “froze” their direct mail and email appeals. Some even laid off the development staff, rationalizing they could ramp back up when the economy turned around. What happened?
Those that continued fundraising during the downtimes reaped a huge dividend and spike in giving, while those that got out of the market struggled to survive or closed their doors entirely.
Face-to-face meetings
Major giving does mirror the ups and downs of the stock market. In this topsy-turvy environment, double down on the number of face-to-face appointments with major donors when the market is up for extended periods of even a week or two.
Grant writing
If you have a grant writer or grant researcher, it is time to get aggressive. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, dozens of foundations are already pledging to step up their giving. In fact, nearly 80 foundations have signed a pledge to bump up their giving in response to the federal government’s recent cuts. They have titled the campaign, “Meet the Moment.”
During seasons of upheaval and instability, always remember: Pray. Don’t worry. Don’t panic. And stay the course.
Fit Fundraising works with nonprofits, large and small, in human services, international relief, advocacy and education. Founder Roy Jones has helped raise more than half a billion dollars over the last decade alone. Ready to elevate your fundraising efforts to new heights? Discover how Fit Fundraising can transform your results. You can reach Roy at rjones@fitfundraising.com.
