From BSE to Black Wednesday, and many others over the years, our sector has been called on to suffer sickening blows, totter on economic cliff-edges and bounce-back from the brink, time and time again.

And you know what? We have. Charities and non-profits are really, really good at it. When all around are losing their heads, charities have stuck to task, ramped up their services and trusted that the great giving public will come along with them. And the public has.  

While giving does drop slightly at times like these, it’s not because of individual donors. It's event cancellations and trust funding that causes a slight drop. Individuals have never stopped giving at time of crisis or recession EVER. And that includes during the Great Depression of the 1930s. 

Fundraising may feel impossible right now but this is not the time to lose hope. There is much to do - indeed it is critical that much gets done. 

Because the most damaging impact of the virus is the fear of it. And if charities pull back, if they don't keep taking their message to their donors, if they don’t keep giving people the glory of giving, then they are going to hurt themselves far worse than the virus will hurt them.

Yes, some organisations will raise less money. But others will adapt well and actually RAISE more money. One thing is guaranteed - cancelling your fundraising is the 100% sure way to seriously damage your fundraising revenue.

My advice, as someone who still has the scars of previous scraps like this, is to never stop and never surrender. To harness your passion for making our communities, our world, our species, BETTER.

Be Brave. Be Strong. Be Active. Be Clever. And Adapt. If you refuse to act on your fear, you will get through this. Are you with me?