Proven Strategies to Raise Funds During Difficult Times
Disaster fundraising and everyday fundraising are separated only by their urgency, meaning the activities involved in effective disaster fundraising are similar to those your organization does day to day. Hold these truths close next time a crisis rears its ugly head. It’ll help you succeed in raising funds needed to address the current disaster and keep your supporters loyal over time
In some ways, disaster fundraising is the easiest and hardest fundraising you’ll ever do. It’s easy because you have a ready constituency. People will come out of the woodwork to help their neighbors and organizations like yours, especially if you’ve shown the value of your work in the past. Even people who’ve never given to your nonprofit before may surprise you and make a donation. It’s hard because it’s heart wrenching. You may be personally upset or affected by the disaster; the people who rely on your services may be too. And with that, your regular donors may be unable to give if they’ve been impacted by the disaster. You may also find that talking and thinking about the disaster takes an emotional toll on your staff and board.
The good news is that in the wake of a disaster, people really do want to help, especially when you’re thoughtful about how you communicate with them and frame your asks. When raising funds in the wake of a crisis, you must be aware of and sensitive to the needs of the people you’re hoping to serve.