Candid does not give grants/donations, suggest specific funders, or approach them on your behalf. More about Candid’s mission. Please refer to the tips and websites in this article.
Even with a clear fundraising plan in place, nonprofits sometimes can find themselves temporarily short of cash, due to unforeseen circumstances like disasters or delays in payments.
Here are some tips from consultants Tom Triplett and Alexis Cress:
- All hands on deck. Reach out to your former and current donors, suppliers, board members, and clients, through as many channels as possible (email, social media, web, phone, etc.). Tell them your situation, and ask them for help. Ask your board members to reach out to their contacts.
- Increase earned income. Raise prices on good/services. Sell "backroom" services that your nonprofit can provide for others, like office space, human resources, accounting, fiscal sponsorship, or consulting.
- Ask about discretionary funds. Some foundations allow senior staff to make small grants without having to go through the usual full application process. Call each of your current funders to see if this possibility exists.
- Ask about emergency loan/grant programs. Call your local United Way or community foundation. For small and mid-sized arts organizations, the Arts Loan Fund (ALF), gives nonprofits low-interest loans for sudden cash-flow needs like bridge funding, upfront capital for a fundraiser or performance, facility renovation, or debt consolidation. Also try searching Foundation Directory under ADVANCED SEARCH AND FILTERS by typing EMERGENCY FUNDS in the SUPPORT STRATEGY box. Subscribe to Foundation Directory or search for free at our Candid partner locations. Eligible nonprofits with revenue or expenses under $1M can also gain a free year of access to Foundation Directory Professional through our Go for Gold promotion.
Key points to remember:
- Use several methods to raise cash.
- Ask your current donors for help, and ask them to share your appeal with their networks.
- Give thanks and status updates to your supporters frequently.
- Revisit your organization's finances - lower expenses, increase income, tweak business models, etc. - and communicate your new plans to your supporters to show how your organization will avoid cash flow problems in the future.
In her newsletter Seeking Grant Money Today, Arlene M. Spencer also offers advice to nonprofits on finding Emergency Grants.
For more information, see our related Knowledge Base articles:
20 Emergency Funding Sources for Nonprofits
Fieldstone Alliance
List of 20 emergency funding ideas, revenue sources that can be accessed quickly, usually within 30 days. Note that not all of these sources are available to all nonprofits, and some of them carry great risk. List of revenue sources that can be accessed quickly, usually within 30 days. Note that not all of these sources are available to all nonprofits, and some of them carry great risk. NOTE: This is an archived version of the original page.
Managing in Tough Times
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A collection of articles for nonprofits and funders navigating economic turbulence.
How I wrote it – the Starlight Children’s Foundation emergency appeal
SOFII
Fundraising writer Sean Triner tells how he wrote the letter and what really matters in making sure this kind of letter is a success. Includes PDF link to sample letter and envelope.
Managing in Hard Times Toolkit
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This publication provides best practices and tools for managers of environmental and conservation nonprofits in our challenging economic times. Learn how to track your finances, recognize danger signals, assess your options, and, make tough decisions fairly.
Opportunities in Lean Times
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We've compiled the following resources to help you frame the issues, find facts and trends, consider options, and arrive at the best strategies for your organization and mission. NOTE: This is an archived version of the original page.
Weak Economy, Strong Campaign
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Explains how nonprofits can lead a strong fundraising campaign in the midst of a weak economy.
An Emergency Fundraising Appeal We Can All Learn From
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"Let this be a lesson to any nonprofit that may be expected to respond in any way to local disasters." Brief case study of Christian Appalachian Project's multi-channel approach to quickly raise funds for their disaster relief services.
Open Road Alliance - Partners with non-profit organizations facing unforeseen circumstances
Open Road Ventures (ORV)'s aim is to "keep impact on track" in the social sector. OVR plans to disperse $50 million in loans to nonprofits and social enterprises by 2023.