Everywhere we look, nonprofits are under strain. Critical funding sources are drying up, operational costs continue to rise, and the news cycle seems to deliver new crises every single week. But here's the good news: this challenging moment presents a tremendous opportunity for nonprofits to harness volunteerism and advocacy. People want to help. They're just looking for clear, meaningful ways to do so.

A widely shared post on LinkedIn recently declared that when an organization tries to raise ambitious amounts of money, from a cold audience, on a tight timeline, it’s not a fundraising problem—it’s a leadership problem. While that might earn applause from frustrated fundraisers, here’s the truth: it’s not that simple.

If you’ve been in nonprofit fundraising circles long enough, you’ve likely heard this argument: “Expecting 20% year-over-year growth is unrealistic.” At PhoenixFire Strategic Consulting, we respectfully—and confidently—disagree. Not only is 20% annual growth possible, we’ve helped clients achieve it consistently, and in many cases, far exceed it. That’s not bravado. It’s strategic reality.