When Donors Respond to Crisis: Lessons from the Government Shutdown

National disruptions do more than make headlines. They change how donors think, feel, and give. The fall 2025 government shutdown offered a clear look at how giving behavior shifts during moments of uncertainty, including where it aligned with past crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and where it followed a different pattern.

During this Quick Byte webinar, we explored what donor response during the shutdown revealed about urgency, trust, and timing in fundraising, and what nonprofits can take away for future crisis situations.

By watching this recorded session, you’ll learn:

• How donor behavior shifted during the government shutdown
• Where giving patterns mirrored pandemic response and where they differed
• What crisis moments reveal about urgency-based fundraising
• How organizations can better prepare for future disruptions
• Practical lessons for responding to donor behavior in real time

Watch When Donors Respond to Crisis: Lessons from the Government Shutdown to explore how crisis events shaped giving behavior and what nonprofits can apply to strengthen future response strategies.