3 ways resilient nonprofits are navigating fundraising headwinds

The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently reported double-digit declines in online donations across several major fundraising platforms. Many nonprofit organizations are facing real challenges as donor priorities shift and large gifts become less predictable amidst economic uncertainty.

At the same time, Givebutter’s data shows a different trajectory. Total donations grew 60% in the first quarter of 2025 and increased 42% year-over-year in April. 

While no single platform tells the whole story and measurement methodologies vary, even allowing for a big margin of error, this upward trend suggests that some nonprofits are finding ways to sustain support at a time when others might be experiencing the opposite. 

We took a closer look at what’s working for organizations seeing steady growth on Givebutter and found three trends that may help other nonprofits find similar traction:

1. Nonprofits that simplify giving are seeing stronger donor follow-through

In times of financial uncertainty, donors want to feel confident that their gift will be processed smoothly, recognized promptly, and used meaningfully. We’re seeing that organizations with clear, fast, and frictionless donation experiences are more likely to maintain conversion rates—even when donor budgets are tighter.

Across high-performing campaigns on Givebutter, you’ll see:

• Fewer required form fields
• Pre-filled suggested donation amounts
• Mobile-optimized pages
• Direct, specific asks (e.g. "$25 covers a week's worth of supplies" vs. "Support our work")

⚓️ Takeaway: Now's a good time to audit your donation page and remove any steps or language that might slow down supporters.

2. A shift toward recurring giving is providing stability

Recurring donations have grown year over year across Givebutter, and that trend is especially notable among organizations that have been able to retain small-dollar donors. While major gifts may fluctuate, recurring donors tend to stick around, and even modest monthly contributions can create long-term resilience. In fact, we found that in one year, a recurring donation will amount to 5x more than a one-time contribution.

What we’re seeing work:

• Framing recurring giving as an easy, high-impact option ("$10/month helps a student stay in school")
• Making monthly the default selection (while still offering flexibility). Over 75% of recurring donations on Givebutter occur monthly!
• Thanking and updating recurring donors consistently

“Now is the time to make recurring-first asks the habit, not the exception. Monthly giving isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore—it’s a must-have strategy to weather uncertainty and grow real, long-term support.” -  Dana Snyder, Positive Equation

⚓️ Takeaway: Recurring giving isn’t about replacing other strategies—it’s about building a broader base of support. Now is a great time to test a monthly-first approach or refresh your campaign messaging to highlight sustained impact. (You can even enable automated upsells to encourage more recurring donations!)  

3. Organizations diversifying their funding strategies are more likely to buck the trend

In conversations with our users and across our data, we’re seeing that the nonprofits growing right now are supplementing major donor programs and grants with distributed, community-driven giving. They’re reaching more people through team fundraising, events, and consistent communication—all driven by simple storytelling that invites participation at any level.

And when platforms make it easy to participate, supporters are more likely to follow through.

"We’ve continued to grow steadily, even amid market fluctuations, because of our community-first model. Instead of relying solely on solitary large gifts, our growth has come from a groundswell of engaged alumni who see the tangible difference their contributions make. Relationship-building, not transactions, is at the heart of our momentum, and Givebutter has made that possible." - Dr. Sanjay Bindra, Co-Founder & President, GOSUMEC Foundation USA

⚓️ Takeaway: If your current strategy feels dependent on a small segment of donors, this could be the year to cast a broader net. Tools that reduce friction and increase visibility might not solve everything, but they can give more people a way to say yes.

We know that fundraising right now isn’t easy. Every organization is facing a different mix of challenges. But we’re hopeful that by sharing what we’re seeing work for others—however big or small the wins—you can find ideas to adapt to your own mission and community.

So, should you pause your fundraising?

Short answer: No.

In times of economic uncertainty, any amount of donor friction can make even the most loyal supporters balk. Nonprofits utilizing outdated platforms will experience greater donor hesitation, but with a targeted strategy and seamless, donor-centric tools, you can confidently stay on course.

“Our recent Capital Campaign Benchmark Study found that organizations mostly keep their foot on the gas during uncertain times. Only 27% of organizations paused campaigns due to COVID, and 18% paused campaigns due to looming recession fears.” - Steven Shattuck, Capital Campaign Pro

Now is not the time to retreat. Now is the time to go big, just with the right systems in place.

Looking for more support? Here’s how we’re helping nonprofits stay resilient in 2025

With tools that streamline your fundraising, empower donors, and drive sustainable growth, Givebutter is the platform built for today’s challenges.

• Frictionless giving tools that convert ⚡️ Givebutter forms convert at 47%, nearly double the industry average, thanks to features like Venmo, Apple Pay, and mobile-first design.
• Everything in one place 🏠 From fundraising and CRM to events, email, and auctions, Givebutter’s all-in-one platform eliminates tool sprawl and saves time.
• 24/7 support by your side 💛 We’re here anytime you need, ready to help your team move forward faster.

Create your free Givebutter account today, or book a demo to see how we can support your fundraising efforts.

We’re offering free migration and onboarding services while availability lasts.

Together, we’ll weather the storm and secure your path to success. We’ve got your back, changemakers! 💪