DON’T WAIT IT OUT

When fundraising is tough and budgets are tight, it’s tempting to think about curtailing some efforts, considering waiting it out, or accepting the “flat is the new growth” mantra.

First, flat only holds for so long before it turns downward.

Second, decades of fundraising metrics have clearly demonstrated that to wait it out is to MISS OUT. When we look back at other challenging economic times, or the early pandemic, or at organizations who opted to skip fundraising during a crowded time in the mail (i.e. election seasons) – we only see lower results and less participation.

Organizations that make the deepest cuts in fundraising take the longest to come back to full strength after the economy recovers. While some cuts can sometimes be inevitable to balance budgets, hold on to as much of your program as you can. It matters in the long-term.