Fundraising with Feeling in a Policy Storm
Estimated read time: 4 minutes
In moments like this, when headlines shift, funding lags, and programs hang in the balance, urgency comes easily. But clarity, the kind that builds trust and sustains action, takes courage.
HUD's FY2025 Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFO confirmed what advocates feared: new scoring systems, delayed timelines, and ripple effects that reach every community. For those of us who write, ask, and steward support, these shifts don't just affect grants. They affect how we talk about our work and how we keep trust alive when the ground moves beneath us.
Clarity Before Velocity
Fundraisers and communicators are bridge-builders in moments like this. When policy changes, our words shape confidence and connection. The most effective response is rarely the fastest one.
Donors don't need a policy brief; they need perspective.
When you write, focus on:
Acknowledgement, not alarm. Name the change calmly and clearly.
Continuity, not crisis. Emphasize what remains stable in your work.
Resilience, not reaction. Show how your organization adapts with care.
Transparent storytelling builds trust, not by avoiding uncertainty, but by meeting it with honesty and presence.
"Transparency isn't a risk; it's a relationship strategy."
Tools for Navigating the Turbulence
HUD's new NOFO brings significant administrative and operational challenges. But you don't have to interpret it alone. The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) has developed key resources to help communities understand and respond:
Using consistent language from NAEH materials not only aligns your message with national advocacy but also shows funders that your organization is informed, proactive, and policy-literate.
From Urgency to Transparency
Policy shifts make people anxious, including donors who care deeply.
When that uncertainty surfaces, they usually ask two questions:
Are people still being served?
How can I help right now?
Your answers should be calm, confident, and human:
"Yes, we're adapting, and your support ensures no one falls through the cracks."
"Here's what remains stable, and what we're watching."
"Here's how we'll keep you informed."
Transparency is not just ethical; it's strategic. It creates continuity where there is none and turns confusion into confidence.
Connection in the Chaos
This is what fundraising with feeling looks like. We don't build trust by glossing over the hard truths; we build it by naming them with care.
When we communicate through change with clarity, courage, and connection, we model the kind of leadership our supporters long to see. Policy will keep shifting. Systems will keep straining. But the heart of our work remains steady.
Systems shift. Funding ebbs and flows. But our work and our values remain.
Clarity. Courage. Connection. These aren't just words; they're how we hold steady in the storm.
If your organization needs help finding the right words or developing a fundraising strategy grounded in clarity and care, Authentic Ask Fundraising can help.
📩 kristan@authenticask.org
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