These initial tips are shared with you as a help in your response to the current economic situation.      

 Strategies to date:  

 1.       In a personal, strategic manner, communicate your current condition and strategic plan of survival with past and current stakeholders (officials, major donors, partners, community foundations, key constituencies/audiences).  Sustain those communications (bi-monthly/quarterly).  Take an external view – think benefits to community; and, what would happen if your mission/programs were not available?       

2.       Visit with, engage or re-engage with major donors.  Reassure them of your strategic plan for meeting mission and sustaining operations; shore up current support; explore with them special funding to “bridge” this period of heightened uncertainty.  

3.       Focus on most critical priorities and activities that meet mission, sustain or expand audience and support, based on solid measurement and planning.  Cut back/cut out activities that drain the organization’s resources of time, staff, support.  

4.       Commit to change or change that’s already been in process.  (Change of direction, programs/services, organizational structure, governance, facility, campaigns).  

5.       Find ways to do things more creatively or better for efficiencies, shared expenses or earned income.  What are the redundancies in the community? How to collaborate or share resources (staff, facility, other).  How to contract to provide a service needed?  Think about new agreements, partnerships, mergers in new ways to sustain mission.            

6.       Additional funding strategies include: 

1. design/promote giving options/program for gaps in fundraising streams.
2. Diversify income, especially in earned sources.
3. Seek special multi-year bridge gifts, sponsorships, other commitments.
4. Promote endowment to key sources as solution in future.       
5. Maintain/complete a current campaign but refine goal, strategy.  Do not start new campaigns in conventional ways or not at all at this time.     

Stay posted through other sources studying effects on non-profits and providing strategies:   Chronicle of Philanthropy, Community Foundations, Indiana University ’s Center on Philanthropy, The Kresge Foundation,  Foundation News, and other professional networks.  

Need more help? Contact us.  The Grants Connection,  Stumpf and Associates