The start of spring – budding tulips, greener grass, and the return of birdsongs – signals transition and change. But, unlike the welcome change of sunnier spring days, not all changes are easy to navigate. And, as of late, many nonprofits have been feeling the stress of change and uncertainty from funding cuts, shifting funder priorities, national unpredictability, and more.
In addition to staying up-to-date and responsive to the current threats facing a vast array of people and communities, in times of uncertainty, it's also valuable to consider how these stressors are impacting your organization and to understand what tools you have to continue supporting your community. To that end, I want to share some stress-fighting steps borrowed from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Hopefully, these techniques will help you manage stress, focus on what you can control, and even feel more at ease in your fundraising efforts.
Step 1: Breathe
Uncertainty is overwhelming, and it can be easy to forget to breathe – so take a few moments right now to do some deep breathing. You can even try “box breathing”: for 4 seconds each, inhale, hold, exhale, hold.
Step 2: Get your worries down on paper
Take a piece of paper and draw a circle in the middle. Outside of the circle, write down the things you’re stressed about. Focus on the things outside of your immediate control (or questions that can’t currently be answered). This might include a change in foundation funding priorities, economic uncertainty, the board’s reaction to a funding loss, or questions like “what does this mean for staffing?”
Step 3: Focus on what you can control
Next, on the inside of the circle, write the things you can control. For instance, the way you communicate funding news to donors and staff, where you shift your focus, or other planned fundraising activities. What tools do you have to continue fostering connection and forming community in the face of uncertainty?
Step 4: Make a plan & let go of the rest
Looking now at both sections of your paper, what do you notice? Is there anything on the outside of your circle that you can cross off your to-do list? Looking at the things you wrote inside the circle, what are some next steps you can take to bring you and your organization closer to your goals?
Even though there are stressors outside of your control, know that the one constant through all of this is that your community still exists. Don’t be afraid to share funding updates with your supporters and create opportunities for people to support your work and give in ways that align with their values.
For more insights and information on ways to connect with your donor base and community during this tumultuous time, join the GiveMN team for our upcoming June Learn-Along: Upgrading Donors to the Next Level. You can also bundle the last three Learn-Alongs of 2025 and save 15% on accessible trainings designed to help you cultivate donors, craft compelling appeals, and create year-end strategies that wow.