Podcast Fundraising in Challenging Economic Times

We realize that it may be difficult to stay focused on fundraising when the economic news is bad, but let us remind you that even when times are tough, individual donors and foundations continue to support the nonprofit sector. To survive in times of economic turmoil, it’s important to arm yourself with facts about philanthropy in times of economic recession and information and advice for staying the fundraising course. We offer the following readily available online and print resources to help you do just that, including the following:

• Association of Fundraising Professionals, which exists to support the field of fundraising, offers A Survival Kit for Fundraising in a Bad Economy.
• Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT), the organization that publishes Grassroots Fundraising Journal, offers How to Prepare Your Nonprofit for an Economic Recession.
• The Chronicle of Philanthropy routinely covers fundraising in its print and web editions and offers a special report, How Charities Cope with a Troubled Economy.

Our Focus on the Economic Crisis page provides an in-depth look at the 2008 financial crisis and its impact on the nonprofit sector.

To prepare your organization to weather economic downturns, we recommend that you develop a fundraising plan. You can learn about fundraising planning by taking the following Foundation Center classes:

• Introduction to Fundraising Planning. Attend this free class in-person or by webinar.
• Developing a Fundraising Plan. This regularly scheduled, full-day seminar is presented at locations throughout the nation.