Tools for Times of Budget Cuts and Belt Tightening
November 21, 2025 | Read Time: 1 minute
In today’s uncertain economic climate, nonprofit leaders must grapple with contracting revenue sources and increasingly fierce competition for grants.
After the Trump administration slashed federal funding, many leaders are revising budgets and financial forecasts.
This kind of strategic fiscal planning is vital to ensure your organization’s survival. Whether you’re bracing for economic shifts or seeking new opportunities, now is the time to rethink your approach to sustainability.
This collection of advice and budgeting tools will help you find innovative sources of support and learn from your peers about how to plan for a secure future.
Editor’s note: Chronicle playbooks are updated on an ongoing basis as new advice becomes available.
Resources
A strategic reserve fund mobilizes money and appeals to entrepreneurial donors. Is it the right solution for your nonprofit?
Weatherproof Your Future by Building an Endowment: Here’s How
Giving experts share three approaches to raising money that helps you weather any storm.
Using Data to Drive Decisions in Times of Uncertainty
As nonprofit leaders grapple with economic turbulence, federal funding cuts, and shifting government policies, much is uncertain. In times like these, using data to drive…
Facing Federal Defunding, Nonprofits Draft Best and Worst Case Budgets
Organizations struggle to plan amid uncertainty about federal funds. As a result, some are crafting multiple spending plans.
With revenues down and costs rising, a growing number of nonprofits are cutting budgets, laying off staff, and even closing their doors.
Budgeting Tools
A Tool for Measuring Fundraising Efficiency
Evaluate your fundraising health by monitoring expenses, dependency on top donors, and what it costs you to raise a dollar.
A Measurement Tool to Track Fundraising Costs and Returns
How to track your organization’s fundraising costs and returns and compare your performance to other organizations.
Creating a Budget That Helps Increase Contributions
Donations to one health center soared after an experienced fundraiser created budgets for fundraising revenue and expenses.
Budgeting For Fundraising Growth: Where to Start
Before coming up with a viable budget to increase fundraising returns, organizations must first assess the strengths and weaknesses of its current development operation.
