What to do if you aren’t fundraising for Haiti

There’s a lot out there on what you could and should do if you’re raising funds to respond to the Haiti Quake.

What about the large majority of fundraisers who have no connection to the disaster? You’re reading the articles about the outpouring of millions of donor dollars for the disaster — and you’re thinking This has to be coming out of our pockets!

Good news: It’s not. Disaster giving is largely above-and-beyond giving. Any damage to your fundraising is likely small and short-lived. So for now:

• Don’t panic. Stay the course. Changing your fundraising plan because you’re afraid of Haiti fundraising is the worst thing you can do. Any negative impact you’ve suffered has already happened. Things will quickly return to “normal” for you.
  
• Don’t get defensive. You might be tempted to unfavorably compare the importance of Haiti relief with that of your cause. Please don’t. There’s no absolute scale of Importance of Need in fundraising. There’s just what donors feel in their hearts. Right now, Haiti is at the top of the list. Your argument against that will just look belligerent and ill-mannered. And nobody’s asking you. If they do, just tell them to give as their heart leads and leave it at that.