Non-Profits Surviving the Drought through Savvy Fundraising

The economy is showing signs of life, after a near-fatal meltdown. But money is still tight, and most nonprofits are parched after a long drought, whether it be a church fundraiser or whatever..
Joanne Fritz, has a great article in About.com called, Nonprofit Hard Times Survival Guide; Nonprofits Need to Ride Out Economic Storms.
Fritz poses the question: How do you keep your nonprofit financially stable when the economy has the jitters and donors have cold feet? Weathering a bad economy, she says, should not send your nonprofit skittering to the bunkers, but it should sharpen your focus and improve your efficiencies. Fritz goes on to provide several suggestions to think about. And do not forget about the old Church Fundraiser which is tried, tested and true,
Rule #1 is do not scale back on fundraising. Fritz writes that just as companies need to keep advertising during hard times to keep their names in play before the public, nonprofits will achieve nothing by retreating.
“Not only should you not retreat, you should become even more focused in your efforts. Look at your lists again, sharpen your case, get more personal, and cultivate your donors within an inch of your life,” she says.
Let contributors know that those you help are in more need than ever. No matter how much a donor may be hurting by an economic downturn, the disadvantaged are far worse off and have a far tougher time recovering.
So, suggests Fritz, find the stories that will touch the hearts of your donors. It should be easier than ever to obtain personal testimonies of your clients. Allow them to tell their story in their own words. Never resort to begging, but make a connection between the shared humanity between donors and those served.
Work to Keep in touch with people who have stopped giving. According to Fritz, it’s much better to keep in touch with lapsed donors. Keeping in touch will help those donors to return to giving when they can, again, afford it. She says they will feel close to those nonprofits with which they have an unbroken relationship.
I think one really great suggestion Fritz gives is to find new donors in industries that are still prosperous.. Some businesses weather recessions better than others. Look where other organizations are not. Fritz suggests keeping up with the business press in order to spot those companies that are still doing well.