When the World Falls Apart, Get Closer
The Power of Relationships in Uncertain Times
by Annalisa Holcombe, Connection Collaborative founder & principal consultant
There’s a conversation I’ve been having a lot lately—with my clients, my colleagues, and even my own family. It starts with a question: What’s next?
What’s next for nonprofits in a world where political and economic shifts could upend everything? What’s next for fundraisers when major donors hedge their bets and traditional funding models feel shaky? What’s next for families—mine included—when we think about an economic downturn, rising costs, or a future where we can’t take basic things like Social Security, travel, or even stable institutions for granted?
The natural instinct is to react. To make plans. To scramble for Plan B, C, or D. To try to keep up with every shift in policy, every new funding trend, every possible what if?
But I’ve learned something in these conversations. The best kind of preparedness isn’t about running faster—it’s about standing still. Getting grounded. Doubling down on what actually matters.
And what matters, above all else, is relationships.
It’s All About Relationships—And It Always Has Been
Fifteen years ago, I gave a talk called “It’s All About Relationships—And It Always Has Been.” And I still believe that, maybe now more than ever.
Yet when uncertainty hits, relationships are often the first thing we neglect.
Nonprofits start chasing new funders instead of stewarding the ones who already believe in them. Organizations start spinning up new initiatives instead of strengthening the core work that made them indispensable in the first place. We get reactive, we get scattered, and in the process, we forget the most basic survival strategy: stay close to the people who know your value.
This is true in our personal lives, too. If my family ever faces real hardship, I already know who I’m calling. I don’t need to cast a wide net or make desperate appeals—I know my people, and they know me.
Nonprofits should think the same way.
Crisis Will Make Things Local, Fast
One of the biggest lessons from history is that when systems start to crack, things get local—fast. When federal safety nets weaken, people turn to community. When large institutions stall, small networks become lifelines.
Nonprofits and fundraisers should be thinking about this now.
Who are your closest allies? (Not just funders, but mission-aligned organizations, volunteers, and partners.)
Who are the donors that would stand by you even in difficult times?
Who are your organization’s metaphorical neighbors—the people who truly care about your survival?
These are the relationships that will sustain you, no matter what happens next. And they need to be nurtured now—not in a crisis, not in a last-ditch funding sprint, but today.
Forget the Frenzy—Find Your Foundation
This moment demands something different from us. Instead of scrambling for a million backup plans, maybe the smartest thing we can do is get really clear on a few essential truths:
What matters most to us? (What are we willing to fight for, and what can we let go?)
Who are the people and organizations that align with that? (Who are the ones who would stand by us?)
How do we strengthen those relationships right now? (How do we show up for them so they show up for us?)
In an era where uncertainty feels like the only constant, our greatest asset isn’t a contingency plan. It’s trust.