Building Possibility: A Fundraiser’s Guide to Budgeting in a Polycrisis World

You’ve made it through the blur of January – the part where you’re remembering how to function, trying to leave holiday sugar behind, and attempting to establish something that resembles a routine again. And just as you’re finding your footing, here comes the task that snaps you fully back to reality: pretending you can read the future, convincing yourself everything’s going to be fine, and building an ambitious fundraising budget that will somehow let your organization do everything it needs to do, while still holding the line on expenses. Easy, right?

Creating your annual operating budget can be challenging at the best of times. Under unprecedented conditions and amid overlapping polycrises, the task can feel downright impossible. And if your fiscal year ends March 31, it’s crunch time. If your year-end is later, don’t relax too much. Your turn is coming.

Here’s the upside: budget season isn’t all doom and gloom. It’s the moment you translate dreams into concrete, achievable plans. It’s when your team takes an honest look at what to stop, start, and continue. It’s where you plant seeds for future growth and give your board a realistic picture of what’s possible.

Of course, rising costs, donor fatigue, inflation, and a chaotic news cycle mean the pressures feel heavier this year. Nonprofits are asked to do more with less – again – and much of that pressure lands squarely on fundraising teams.

But uncertainty isn’t new. We’ve weathered recessions, pandemics, and dramatic shifts in donor behaviour. Giving has always rebounded historically, though not evenly across all organizations or causes. And the organizations that emerge strongest share one trait: they keep their eyes on the long game while still delivering results in the short term.

In The Big Rethink, a thought leadership report we published in 2020, we found that the most successful nonprofits doubled down on relationships, data, and long-term vision. Those patterns haven’t changed. History tells us that the charities that steward consistently, maintain their donor data, and invest in the whole donor lifecycle are the ones best positioned for resilience.

And despite the noise, there are reasons for optimism:

• Community organizing is strong. Mutual aid networks born during the pandemic are still thriving, and grassroots activism is moving beyond clicks to real-world action.
• Pandemic lessons stuck. People now understand how fragile and inequitable our systems are, and that awareness is shaping conversations about healthcare, decent work, and justice.
• Charities stepped up – and people remember. Trust in institutions may be shaky, but charities remain trusted. We’re no longer fighting for a seat at the table; often, we’re setting it.
• Generational shifts bring opportunity. Boomers and Civics are thinking about legacy, Generation X is on the cusp of significant inherited wealth, women hold more wealth than ever, and Millennials – the largest generation in Canada – are reshaping philanthropy with a focus on values and impact.
• Technology is opening doors. From AI for routine tasks to virtual platforms for community building, new tools help us work smarter and connect deeper.
• Digital-first strategies are paying off. Social media remains a powerful engagement tool – 55% of people who interact with nonprofits online take action.

Budget season is when you can put strategies in place to take advantage of these trends. But let’s be real: few organizations have the reserves or fortitude to ignore short-term results entirely. Those matter too. Donors expect their dollars to be used efficiently and effectively. The challenge – and the opportunity – Is finding the balance between meeting today’s needs and investing in tomorrow’s vision.

Before you open Excel: ground yourself. Take a breath, grab a tea, and get anchored. Before you plug in a single number, ask yourself:

1. What are you really trying to do here? Yes, we all are expected to raise more than last year – that pressure will outlive all of us. But what’s the bigger goal? Are you trying to reach new donor groups? Expand your major gifts program? Strengthen monthly giving? Whatever your true priority is, keep it front and centre as you build your budget.
2. Do you have a fundraising plan, and how’s it actually going? This is the moment for honest reflection. What’s on track? What needs a course correction? Sometimes the destination stays the same, but the route needs a little recalibrating.
3. Where does your revenue actually come from? Follow the money and invest where things are working. Sustainable revenue comes from doubling down on proven strategies, not reinventing the wheel every fiscal year.
4. Time vs. money: Are you getting a return on effort? Some fundraising methods eat time for breakfast and deliver pennies in return. This might be the year to scale back (or kindly retire) that high-effort event, 50/50 draw, or anything else that drains your team more than it benefits your mission.
5. Which trends will shape your reality next year? If corporate partners are your backbone, how will the economic climate hit sponsorships? If your donor base skews younger, how will cost-of-living pressures affect giving? If equity and inclusion work is part of your organization’s DNA, how are shifting public conversations influencing how you frame your cause? Trends matter – Ignoring them doesn’t make them go away.
6. Where are the real opportunities for growth? You don’t have to launch a brand-new program this year, but you can prepare the soil. Whether it’s planned giving, giving circles, or door-to-door fundraising, planting seeds now makes future growth much easier when new investment becomes possible.

Here are some approaches that help juggle competing priorities without adding unnecessary stress:

1. Stay fiercely focused on what matters most. There’s a Confucius proverb I love: ‘If you chase two rabbits, you catch none.’ Choose the important ones and release the rest.
2. Play with timing – it’s your secret weapon. If you have initiatives you care about but can’t fully fund right away, consider launching them mid-year or in Q4. You still make progress without overstretching your resources on day one.
3. Protect your capacity, especially the kind that keeps fundraisers fundraising. Data management and administrative support are not “nice to haves.” They keep the engine running. If you want your revenue generators to stay focused on, well, generating revenue, make sure they’re not drowning in administration.
4. Build a revenue mix that actually holds up in real life. Monthly giving. Mid-level giving. Major giving. Planned giving. Given Canada’s demographics and long-term donor behaviour, these are your most resilient streams. And right now, resilience is the name of the game.
5. Don’t skimp on stewardship. Your programs only stay resilient if donors feel connected. If they sense they’re being taken for granted, many will explore other options, particularly in a more competitive giving environment, and when their own costs are rising. Stewardship isn’t a luxury; it’s basic maintenance.
6. Think creatively about resources – there are more options than “all in” or “not at all.” In uncertain times, it’s often easier to get approval for short-term contracts, part-time support, or project-based help. Outsourcing event planning, direct marketing, strategy work, or bringing in fractional fundraisers can give you expertise without long-term cost commitments.

Budget season may feel overwhelming, but it’s also your chance to shape the year ahead with intention. The work you do now – clarifying priorities, strengthening your revenue base, focusing your resources, and investing in relationships – lays the foundation for the impact you’ll make all year long. And remember: your budget is one of the most powerful communications tools you have. It tells your board, volunteers, and team the story of where you’ve been, where you’re going, and why your choices make sense. Don’t shy away from using narrative, lifetime giving insights, or ROI data to make the case for continued investment in fundraising.

You’re not just building a budget. You’re building possibility. Even in uncertain times, a clear, grounded, thoughtful plan gives your team confidence, your board direction, and your organization its best chance at a strong, resilient year. You’ve got this – and the work you put in today will make everything that comes next not just manageable, but meaningful.