Fundchat Newsletter - 4/24/20
Bringing together nonprofit fundraising, development & marketing professionals.
Week In Fundraising
This week I came across an article title, “Fundraising In Tough Times,” published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.
As I scanned the article it seemed to hit all of the best practices for this moment: strengthening your case for giving, paring back on some (but not all) expenses, sticking with tactics that work, fish where the fish are…and more.
Certainly, this was solid advice for fundraising in the age of COVID-19. But then I looked back at the published date: Spring 2009. The article was written by Mal Warwick in response to the Great Recession, over 10 years ago.
Then, as now, there was a tremendous amount of uncertainty: businesses and nonprofits were failing, people were out of work, financial institutions teetered on the edge and there was anxiety about the future.
The article doles out great advice that has just as much validity today as it did 10 years ago. But more importantly, it concludes with this reassuring thought — there will be an end to this difficult time:
I offer these suggestions because I believe that if you apply them judiciously, you’ll maximize your income in the short run and preserve your capacity for renewed growth once economic conditions improve.
As always, let’s keep the conversation flowing.
With Gratitude,
Brendan Kinney
fundchat@gmail.com
@brendankinney | @fundchat
Top 5 Articles of the Week
Online Giving, Email Open Rates Climbed During 2019, Nonprofit Times
8 Things Nonprofit Leaders Should Be Doing Right Now, Chronicle of Philanthropy
Fundraising Dipped In March As Campaigns Adjust To A New Normal, Five Thirty Eight
U.S. Food Banks Run Short on Staples as Hunger Soars, New York Times
How Nonprofits Are Pivoting To Virtual Fundraising In The Face Of Covid-19, Forbes
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, April 28
How to Captivate and Engage Constituents with Your Website
Jeff Wilkinson, Firespring
How To Design and Lead Interactive, Inclusive Virtual Meetings
Dr. Renee Rubin Ross
Thursday, April 30
How to Create Effective Audience Surveys
Mighty Citizen
On-Demand
Principles of Fundraising: Navigating the Challenges Presented by Coronavirus
CCS
(Re)Tweet This!
Inspiration
That’s it!
Thanks everyone for checking out this week's edition. Please share with your friends and colleagues! - Brendan