Give more. Give now.

In my work with Fidelity Charitable donors, I speak with nonprofit leaders every day. When I learn about the impact their programs are making, it inspires and fuels me. It affirms my belief that there is so much good in the world. Nonprofits are tirelessly protecting survivors of domestic violence, creating affordable housing, curing diseases, and revitalizing our green spaces. They are strengthening communities and creating solutions that make people’s lives better.

As a philanthropic researcher, my work is to uncover impactful organizations that are tackling the issues and causes donors care about. I’m hearing from countless nonprofits that are highly concerned about their programs—and the millions of people they serve—due to reductions in federal funding. Fidelity Charitable donors, you have the power to help these organizations, and your grant recommendations will make an impact.

Let me assure you, the answer to the question, “Is this the right time for me to give to nonprofits?” is always yes. Give now and give more.

Throughout history, we have depended on charities to be resilient. Think back to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, just to name one recent example. Time and again, nonprofits have risen to the occasion to meet critical needs that otherwise aren’t being met. And Americans have noticed: In 2024, public trust in nonprofits outpaced all other sectors.

As donors, we need to match nonprofits’ resilience with our own. Reduced funding does not necessarily mean an organization is going to shut down. It can mean that nonprofits may face tough decisions about their programs, where to reduce staff, and ultimately how best to serve those in need.

For some donors, uncertainty can create confusion and paralysis, but let me assure you, philanthropic dollars always make a difference. This is what the donor-advised fund (DAF)—and the money you’ve already allocated to charitable giving—was designed for.

As a Fidelity Charitable donor myself who has chosen to lean into my giving this year, here is some advice I’ve followed that has helped me give now and give more:

• Use that “rainy day fund” in your DAF. Many of us save a portion of funds in a Giving Account, allowing us to support nonprofits during sudden emergencies. For many nonprofits or the causes they address, this is their rainy day.
• Listen to your intuition. Sometimes we feel like we need to do a ton of research to determine the right causes and organizations to give to, with the perfect-sized gifts. This pressure delays progress. Don’t underestimate your intuition; give to what you know is important. For example, if giving locally to organizations you’re already connected to is where you want to start, now is the time. Consider giving more—maybe it’s an extra 10% to several organizations, or maybe it’s adding an extra zero to one grant recommendation this year.
• Trust nonprofits’ expertise. If you have been trying to understand how a particular nonprofit will use your funding, remember that nonprofits know best how to deploy their precious resources. Make an unrestricted gift. You can also reach out to the organization to find out what their priorities are and how much is needed. They will welcome this outreach.
• Finally, your influence makes an impact. There are many ways to help nonprofits in addition to recommending grants. Your voice is a powerful complement to your wallet—spread the word about the organizations you are supporting, and why you’ve made that choice. You will create a culture of generosity. One leader at a nonprofit I spoke to recently had this to say: “Often, donors don’t realize how powerful their network and influence are. We had a donor recommend us to a friend. That friend turned into one of our biggest donors and has opened many other doors for us.”

As inspired as I am by nonprofits, I’m equally inspired by the incredible generosity of donors. We are seeing donors rise to the occasion in incredible ways. Some people are looking at how much funding the organizations they support will lose from grant dollars and are making up that difference through their giving. Others are committing to helping organizations close out capital campaigns already in progress so that fundraisers can focus on raising dollars for other emerging needs. And there are donors setting up automatic recurring grant recommendations through their DAFs so that organizations know they can rely on consistent funding. These tactics are all impactful, and they aren’t the only tactics you can take. The most important thing is to act now.

A call to action: Now is the time to show your solidarity with the nonprofits you support by matching their resilience with your own, through giving. Please don’t be discouraged. Instead, focus on the long game. Just as with investing or saving for retirement, consistency is key: the smart thing is to keep investing in nonprofits making progress in the causes you care about most.