By Miquette A. Thompson, MNA, CFRE

With the recent certification of the 2024 election results, many fund development staff and leaders of nonprofit organizations are sitting with valid feelings of fear about infrastructural threats to sustainability and concerns of resource scarcity in an increasingly unpredictable economic landscape. Many are wondering whether donors will remain with their organizations as we move toward an uncertain future, and how to best help donors understand what is needed at this moment. While the road ahead may be unclear, it is not completely uncharted territory, and one thing that uncertainty provides is an opportunity for creativity. The following are just a few ways to encourage creative giving by your donors:

• If you have a 501(c)4 fund (“c4”), start educating your donors (and their advisors) about this immediately! Many organizations establish a fund and are wary about promoting it to donors for various reasons. Donors who are passionate about the role advocacy and campaigning play in advancing your organization’s mission are ideal for c4 gift cultivation. Encouraging them to split annual gifts across your c4 and 501(c)3 or running a special stretch gift campaign for your c4 fund are just a couple of ways to provide an onramp to c4 giving. Bringing your supporters along to a c4 activity is also incredibly effective for cultivation and stewardship!
• Ask trusted, long-time donors to consider changing the timing of their gift if it legitimately helps your organization’s planning and sustainability to do so. Our appeals often “train” donors to give at year-end, and it doesn’t need to be that way. If it helps your organization to be more nimble and responsive to receive gifts earlier in the year or at certain times of year, be transparent with donors about this.
• Pilot or scale deep engagement programs and multi-year commitment pledges. If you have thought about building or growing a donor organizing program, a giving/learning circle, or starting a multi-year pledge campaign, now is the time! So many of our offerings to donors are short-term or transactional, and many donors are hungry for deeper and longer-term opportunities to engage.

Rising authoritarianism relies on a lack of creativity and alignment – encouraging donors to give creatively and in true solidarity with our work is just one way we can meet this moment and continue to effect change.