Schools are the heart of our communities (and they need us now)

2025 has been a turbulent year for schools, facing challenges that are straining resources, morale, and the quality of education. The most recent federal funding cuts have left many schools wondering how they will continue to serve the children in their communities.

When schools lose funding, it is our kids who ultimately suffer. However, we also know that parents and teachers are the most vigorous advocates for their children, and they aren’t afraid of a fight.

With thousands of schools on our platform, we have some key insights we’d like to share with you to help you navigate this next season.

Get back to basics

Losing funding is a tale as old as time in the education space. From the loss of grants to a large donor pulling out or hitting a recession, schools face funding challenges every year. So, what do you do when facing one of these challenges? Get back to basics.

First, you’ll want to revisit your fundraising plan for the year. Begin by evaluating the effectiveness of your existing fundraising tactics. Raising more funds doesn’t always mean recreating the wheel. Sometimes it's about fine-tuning what is already working.

Start by asking these simple questions:

• What are you doing today that’s working?
• How can you do it better?

For example, if your annual gala is always a hit, what can you do to raise an extra 30% from your event this year? The thought of squeezing another 30% out of your donor base may sound intimidating, but your fundraising platform might be able to help.

Check to see if your fundraising platform offers any consultative support.

With some simple tweaks and additions, schools just like yours can find ways to increase donations from their current fundraising efforts.

Get curious

Next, get curious. What ideas have you put on the back burner that you’ve always wanted to try? Now would be a good time to shake things up and try something new!

Let's take a look at your fundraising from different angles:

• Do you host any fundraisers geared towards dads? How about a golf or pickleball tournament?
• Can you find a way to keep people engaged over the summer with a movie night or community yard sale?

When funds are tight, use the pressure to invigorate your fundraising plan. Instead of viewing it as an obstacle, consider it a challenge to overcome. Just like we teach our kids, “we can do hard things,” so can you!

Try coloring outside the lines and think creatively!

Go after low-hanging fruit

Next, look for low-hanging fruit. You might be surprised by how much money can be raised and saved by making simple shifts to your fundraising approach.

There are four ways to “pick” low-hanging fruit:

1. The first is to stop the leaking bucket. Identify where you're unnecessarily paying for processing fees, and where you’re losing out on funds. Many nonprofits are unaware of the significant savings they can achieve by making simple switches from outdated or costly software and services to free and more intuitive solutions. Make sure you aren’t using outdated products that are charging you more than they should.
2. Check the user experience. Ensure your site is mobile-optimized so your donors can give easily from any device. Then take a look at your donation form. Is it long and tedious? When donation forms require too much from donors, the completion rate drops to 30%. Modern donation forms with smart prompting can lead to a 20% increase in donations.
3. Think outside the box. Engage your donor base in ways that may not be immediately apparent. For instance, setting up a recurring giving program is a no-brainer that brings in funds you can count on. Engaging your larger community through sponsorship opportunities is an often underutilized resource, along with mobilizing your alumni base. Don’t assume the well is dry without dipping your bucket into the water.
4. Finally, what are you not doing today that is not even on your radar? Where are your blind spots? What are overlooked areas of opportunity? These are the most challenging questions to ask and even harder to answer. It may require taking a step back and zooming out, or consulting trusted advisors in your community. Every organization has blind spots, so don’t be afraid to find them.

BetterWorld is here to help

If all of this sounds intimidating, don't walk away yet. We understand you may not have the bandwidth to try everything here. And with the recent funding cuts, you might be ready to throw in the towel. But, that’s where the Accelerator Program comes in to help.

The Accelerator Program is a guided, expert-driven experience designed to help nonprofits raise more money faster and with greater efficiency. It includes monthly insights, live webinars, personalized strategy reviews, backed by a results guarantee.

Nonprofits receive priority access to our support team, along with structured strategic support through onboarding, quarterly webinars, semi-annual 1:1 reviews, and exclusive fundraising insights. Our team is here to help you plan, grow, and troubleshoot every step of the way.

If you're interested in learning how the BetterWorld Accelerator team can help you, click here to learn more.

Whether you are struggling to piece together a fundraising plan or doing a deep dive into your fundraising metrics, the team at BetterWorld is prepared to help you identify your blind spots, pinpoint new avenues for growth, and guide you through this season of uncertainty.