Spotlight on Our Spool: How Thread partners are navigating uncertainty
three nonprofit leaders share changes they have made to their fundraising strategies
Kathy Crutcher, Founder & Executive Director, Shout Mouse Press
At Shout Mouse Press, our mission is to amplify the voices of underrepresented youth by helping them tell their own stories through writing and publishing. However, recent national policies targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion have put this mission—and the funding that supports it—at risk. Local arts councils and organizations, which provide a significant portion of our funding, are already feeling the ripple effects of these changes. At the same time, we see many corporate partners pausing their commitments due to economic instability and fear of executive orders. Despite these challenges, we remain resolute in our commitment to elevating the perspectives of marginalized youth and have shifted our fundraising strategy at this moment to prioritize individual donors who share our vision for a more just and inclusive world.
To address this uncertainty, I turned to the relationships we’ve built over the past decade with our most loyal supporters. Having just celebrated Shout Mouse’s 10th anniversary in 2024, we had already done the work of reaching out to engage our top donors from the last 10 years. Building on the relationship work from our anniversary year, I prioritized reaching out to each donor personally early this year to engage in transparent, one-on-one conversations about the challenges we face. These conversations included specific asks for support, but beyond this funding request, my goal was to invite our donors into the heart of our mission at this critical time.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive: many donors have increased their gifts, given earlier than usual, and expressed their commitment to our work beyond financial contributions. These interactions have been profoundly uplifting for me and our team during a time of national stress and negativity. Hearing from steadfast supporters who share our values has not only helped us close funding gaps but also reaffirmed the importance of what we do—giving young authors the tools and platform to tell their stories and spark much-needed connection and change.
Jennifer Barnes Eliot, Development and Communications Director, An Open Book Foundation
An Open Book Foundation is a literacy nonprofit that serves students in Washington, DC-area Title 1 schools with author and illustrator visits and books for personal, classroom, and school libraries. We are intentional about sharing creative professionals, storylines, characters, and themes that celebrate diversity of all types; our programs address systemic issues of equity, access, and inclusion. We receive funding from a mix of state government, private foundations, and individual donors. While we aren’t experiencing an immediate cut in funding, we are anticipating potential challenges tied to DC’s tax revenue, stress on schools with impending changes to Title 1, calls to eliminate DC home rule, and the ripple effect of restrictions on organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts. We also see the real possibility of changes to some of our nonprofit partnerships, The Kennedy Center, for example.
Our continuing approach for engaging with our donors has been as investors, with transparency, open communication, and regular updates. In recent newsletters and individual emails, we’ve aimed for a balance of highlighting and celebrating program events while honestly outlining a rapidly evolving funding landscape. We are launching a contingency fund campaign for our major donors and long-time supporters, aiming to raise at least 50% of our projected “worst case funding loss scenario.” We’re hoping to raise these funds by the end of May to allow us to maintain a minimum level of programming in the face of a reduction of funding. Should we find that our funding sources remain available, this contingency fund will be used to expand our in-depth programming in the next 2-3 years.
“Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between.” — Dr. Maya Angelou
Mariel Oquendo Smith, Head of Development & Communications, Live It Learn It
With ongoing uncertainty around some of our usual funding sources, we've been digging into our CRM to understand what's working and where we can focus our energy. We've found that direct mail has been performing really well, our donor retention rate remains high, and funders with whom we've built strong relationships are continuing to renew their support. Knowing how competitive the funding landscape is becoming, we've increased our grant prospecting and are spending more time reconnecting with lapsed donors—both individuals and foundations—through personal outreach like emails, handwritten notes, and phone calls. We're also focused on maintaining regular communications to keep our supporters connected to Live It Learn It's work.
Through our conversations and data, we see that people still care deeply about our work and want to support us—even if they can't always give at the same level due to the broader economic climate. Some donors have shared that things have changed for them personally, while others feel called to support new causes in response to shifting policies and priorities. That’s why we’re thinking more about how our communications can highlight other meaningful ways to support Live It Learn It, like sharing our social media posts, wearing our merch, or inviting friends and colleagues to learn about our work.
More than anything, we want people to feel connected—to Live It Learn It, to our students, and to the challenges we’re navigating. Whether someone is able to give financially or not, staying engaged and helping us spread the word makes a real difference.
For anyone facing similar funding uncertainty: keep in touch with your donors. Reach out, and not just to make an ask. Let people in on what you’re experiencing. And take time to look at your data—double down on what’s working, and pause on the things that take time but might not make a big impact.