The Cavalry isn’t Coming – Time to Saddle Up Fundraisers

Welp, the latest Giving USA report has some good news for the nonprofit sector:

Charitable giving was up in 2024.

Time to pop that bottle of champagne you have leftover from that VIP fundraising event you hosted, like, 3 years ago, and after boxing it up, muttered to yourself “I’ll save for a special time” right!?

Well, before you start typing “We Did It!” in your board report due later this week, let’s pause for some real talk: the headline might sparkle, but the fine print is sobering.

Because in 2025? The vibe is a lot more “hang on tight” than “high five.”

According to the latest numbers, giving in 2024 hit $592.5 billion—an inflation-adjusted 3.3% increase from the year before. Most of that came from (drumroll, please)...

...individual donors.

Yep, 66% of all giving came from everyday people, not foundations or corporations. You know, the folks you can actually talk to, text, or hug at your next event.

But here’s the rub: federal funding is in free fall.

Foundations are nervous.

Corporations are unsure.

Demand for services is skyrocketing.

And nonprofits are laying off staff like it’s a game of budgetary dodgeball.

So if you're waiting on a white horse galloping in from D.C. or a billionaire foundation to fund your future?

I have bad news.

The cavalry isn’t coming.

That’s not a scare tactic—it’s a rallying cry.

Because here’s what Giving USA data confirms (again): individual giving is the engine.

Always has been. Still is. And likely always will be.

So if you’re not building real relationships, telling compelling stories, and getting the heck out from behind your desk?

You’re not just missing the moment—you’re potentially missing your mission.

But can we celebrate? Hell yes!

Let’s give credit where credit’s due.

Despite inflation, stock market roller coasters, and economic anxiety, people still gave.

Generously.

And they gave because they believed—in missions, in impact, and in the stories they were told.

Tech companies and consumer staples led corporate giving increases. Some big gifts landed. Foundations, while frustratingly giving slightly less in inflation-adjusted terms, still showed up with checks.

That’s good news.

But in 2025?

Foundations are being cautious.

Corporations are revisiting tax deductions.

Federal and state cuts are slicing through food banks, human service organizations and nonprofits serving the rural communities.

In short: your safety net may not be so safe anymore.

And guess what? Even your most loyal donors might start choosing between your annual appeal and a food pantry that just lost its SNAP funding.

Mission drift? No. Mission mass disruption.

So, what can you do?

GET. OUT. OF. THE. OFFICE.

The path forward isn't more spreadsheets, more planning to plan meetings, or waiting for the economy to stabilize. It’s showing up.

Here are the THREE things you can do right now

1. Tell your story louder and better. Emotional clarity is your best currency right now. Make your impact feel urgent and tangible. There is no need to be dramatic. No need to sound the alarms on how much the sky is falling – remember, no donor wants to throw good money at a failing organization – but be transparent. Be honest. Lead with your impact on how you make the community better

2. Engage. In Person. Often. Donors are shifting priorities fast. You need to be top-of-mind, not “filed under maybe later.” That requires something more than a digital greeting. Coffee meetings beat cold emails. Volunteer appreciation events beat another social post that six people see. Don’t hide in your office hoping things stabilize. Show up, smile, and make your case.

   
   

3. Focus local. National funding is shaky. Foundations are conservative. Your best bets? The folks in your community who love what you do—and want to help if you ask clearly and confidently. Look to volunteers (yes, they will give money too – you just need to ask!), look to companies that want to engage their employees in a more meaningful way. Get creative in your own backyard.

   
   

And for the love of donor retention, stop treating small gifts like afterthoughts.

That $100 first time donation is your next legacy gift.

But it requires time, patience and nurturing.

It’s time to hustle, humanize, and hold on

You’ve got donors.

Not all of them are giving right now.

Some have shifted focus.

Some are scared.

But if your organization can clearly show them where the need is, what their dollars accomplish, and how their gift creates real change?

They will give.

Maybe not as much.

Maybe not as often.

But they’ll give to you—not a faceless institution, but to the familiar face who called, who showed up, who asked.

So yes, 2024’s giving news is a warm blanket.

But 2025? It’s a wake-up call.

Let’s not wait around hoping for a return to “normal.” ‘Cause that’s just not happening.

Let’s build something more human, more local, and more resilient.

Because the cavalry isn’t coming.

But your donors might, if you give them a good enough reason.

You got this!

-Patrick

PS – Need help navigating all this? I’m LITERALLY a click away. Send me a note! I’d love to help!