Many small-dollar donors are sitting on the sidelines of charitable giving, driving down donor-participation rates and shrinking the total amount individuals donate. The reasons for the slowdown are complex.

As inflation jacked up household costs in recent years, some Americans had to tighten their purse strings. Others stopped giving years ago, as nonprofits zeroed in on major donors after the 2008 financial crisis — to offset recession losses more quickly. This shift left many small donors feeling like their gifts didn’t matter.

Now, fundraisers are rethinking their approach to middle-class donors. While some may be gone for good, others are proving responsive to new messages and channels of communication. The Chronicle was joined by a panel of experts to explore strategies to reignite giving by everyday donors and shore up your organization’s financial future.