Crisis Fundraising: Preparing for the Before, During, and After

When federal funding for public broadcasting was eliminated from the national budget, KPBS permanently lost $4.3 million in annual operational support. A stable revenue stream disappeared, requiring the fundraising team to close a recurring gap year after year.

Rather than turning to panic-driven appeals, KPBS leaned into what already existed: strong donor relationships, intentional stewardship, and strategic communication. Through targeted upgrades, one-on-one donor conversations, anniversary-driven messaging, a member celebration event, membership growth efforts, and “plus gift” campaigns, the team raised and surpassed the additional $4.3 million, transforming crisis into community-driven momentum.

The team also focused on demonstrating measurable impact, segmenting and personalizing communications, rapidly stewarding contributions, and building partnership beyond urgency.

In this candid panel discussion, KPBS fundraising leaders share how relationship-centered fundraising enabled rapid recovery and how the organization is shifting from crisis response to long-term sustainability. Participants will leave with a practical Before, During, and After framework to manage funding disruptions while protecting donor trust, strengthening resilience, and positioning their organizations for sustained growth.