Digital fundraising and strategic planning are key for post-pandemic world

New report finds that digital fundraising capabilities and strategic financial planning are among the most crucial skills that nonprofits need to remain resilient in the post-pandemic world. These are the findings from the latest CAF America report, Future-Proofing Nonprofits for the Post-Pandemic World – Volume 6.

Published in partnership with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI and The Resource Alliance, the report summarises the findings from a poll of 805 charitable organisations in over 150 nations (306 in Europe). It explores the skillsets they rely on to sustain their operations through challenging times and those that must be developed to survive the pandemic and emerge stronger.

Key findings include:

-Capabilities in organisational management are needed to build resilience, including advancing DEI, strategic planning, and digital fundraising strategy.
-Three in four (76%) respondents indicated interest in learning new ways of using digital technology for fundraising and 61% indicated a need for better digital tools to connect with stakeholders.
-Although a large majority (72%) have a communications plan in place, nearly as many (71%) indicate they want to learn how to communicate more effectively for fundraising and 63% need guidance in impactful storytelling to achieve their objectives.
-Seven in ten (70%) feel they are equipped to remain financially sustainable amid the uncertainty created by the pandemic and its impact on the economy.
-Although future implications of the pandemic are unknown, 91% of charities say they are confident they have effective leadership and governance in place to help them successfully navigate the crisis.

“Charities need to be focused on future-proofing themselves for the post-pandemic world,” said Ted Hart, CAF America president and CEO. “The resilience of charities relies on the key competencies of nonprofits in organisational management. Our goal is to ensure that long-term resilience and bolster the ability of nonprofits to face the unforeseen challenges ahead and advance their mission in the face of future adversity.”

View the full report and full survey series here.