Asking your community for money is rarely easy. It can feel awkward and uncomfortable asking neighbors or friends to donate, buy products, or attend an event.
And during hard economic times, fundraising becomes even more challenging. When the cost of living becomes more expensive, the average person has less disposable income to contribute, no matter how much they want to give.
Currently, it appears that we're in the midst of an economic downturn—in 2025, fewer people donated money than in the previous year.
Fundraising in tough economic times may be more difficult, but it's not impossible. We just have to rethink how we're asking families to give.
From the gas pump to the grocery checkout, money isn't going as far as it used to. But why? Ultimately, times have felt tougher for a few different reasons:
Goods and services cost more today than they did 50 years ago—that's a fact. However, in the last few years, prices have increased more than usual due to higher-than-average inflation. Given the pandemic, politics, and other factors, inflation hasn't gone down.
Inflation isn't just economic theory; it has real-world consequences. Namely, increased costs are passed on to consumers.
According to 75% of surveyed Americans, household bills have increased by more than $100 per month. Meanwhile, almost half the country finds it harder to afford housing and groceries compared to last year.
No one knows what the future holds. While that's always been true, things have felt especially uncertain lately. With AI, trade wars, and other question marks, it's hard to say what's next. And when people are unsure about their financial future, they may be less likely to give.
Importantly, none of these trends indicates a change in how people think about community fundraising. Your friends and family members still want to support youth sports and charities.
However, they may find it more difficult to part with their hard-earned cash. And that's understandable. In fact, this concept—that people don't like spending more than they need to—has always been one of the issues with fundraising.
When you think of fundraising, you might imagine running bake sales or going door-to-door to sell products. For years, these were some of the most common ways to raise money for various causes, teams, and organizations.
The problem with these methods is that they assume people are willing and able to spend extra cash. For someone to buy baked goods or a raffle ticket, they need disposable income. They have to pull out their wallet or checkbook and consciously dip into their budget.
However, it's harder to make that request during tough economic times. When basic necessities like groceries and gas already cost more, there's less disposable income to go around. Even an extra $5 here and there for a bake sale pastry or raffle ticket can add up.
Going door-to-door, preparing goods for sale, or volunteering also takes up precious time. That's why giving isn't the only thing that decreases in tough economic times—the act of fundraising might also occur less frequently.
For busy parents, the choice may come down to working more hours or dedicating those hours to baking cupcakes. Because spending time and money to raise money can feel like a wash, people may call off their fundraising plans in favor of picking up an extra shift.
This could also explain why many families don't prioritize fundraising for their kids' sports or other extracurricular activities. According to RaiseRight's 2025 survey of families in California and Illinois, approximately 66% of parents aren’t engaging in any kind of fundraising to offset the costs of participation.
If you want to keep up your fundraising efforts during tough economic times, try to favor options that don’t feel like an "inconvenience" to others.
In other words, offer products or services that people need, rather than sell them things they may only want. You can still make fundraising appealing, even when money is tight.
Some purchases are non-negotiable. Food, gas, and other everyday items are essential, no matter how much disposable income you have.
What if you could raise money and buy these necessities at the same time?
A RaiseRight program allows you to do just that. Simply buy and use gift cards or shop online for all your routine purchases and earn up to 20% back every time. That's cash back on your weekly grocery trip, pet food, hygiene products, or household goods. You can also earn money when you dine at participating restaurants or book travel accommodations.
RaiseRight CEO Lou Agnese recently talked about these benefits on FOX 5 San Diego News: "This is all about you not having to go out of pocket anymore. Not having to ask your family and friends to buy something they don’t want—or just to write a check."
It's a compelling fundraising strategy that works—in 2025, over 15,000 nonprofit organizations used RaiseRight to earn over $35 million for their causes. Sports clubs and teams, like Dance Etc. and J-Hawk Aquatic Club, have successfully used RaiseRight to help families lower their bills.
Another option is to offer a service that frees up time or space for others. Look for opportunities to raise money while also helping people in your community, such as:
In exchange, you could either collect a small payment or keep any money the activity generates. These fundraising options work because they don't require any upfront investment.
If you're raising funds for an organization that incurs high costs, such as a band or sports team, you may be able to turn inevitable purchases into fundraising opportunities.
For instance, many teams head out of town for competitions and tournaments. Consider booking hotels or rental cars through programs like RaiseRight, so you can earn money every time the team needs to travel.
"Whether you're going out to [baseball tournaments in] Cooperstown or making the band trip to the Rose Bowl, you can book all your travel through RaiseRight," said Agnese in an interview with Daytime Chicago.
Budgets are tight, but that doesn't mean your fundraising efforts have to end. They simply need to adapt.
By embracing alternative options that don't require additional spending, you can continue to raise money without feeling like you're "asking for too much".
RaiseRight is the leading platform for cost-conscious fundraising, dedicated to providing parents, schools, and community organizations with the most convenient and effective fundraising solutions. Align your fundraising with everyday actions and watch the dollars roll in—even during tough times.
Start a FREE RaiseRight program today, or download our guide to learn how RaiseRight can benefit your organization.