As the world begins to reopen, all of us in the political action committee world are faced with the same question: How do we raise money in a post COVID-19 world with a challenging economy? Here are three ideas:

Share information. The first thing is to remember that information is currency, especially when the economy is challenging. Regardless of your industry, your members want to hear from elected officials about COVID-19 testing, PPE, the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) designed to provide financial assistance to organizations, the 2.0 version of CARES, and a host of other acronyms we come across every day. Now is the time to show them that the relationships you have built with these officials matter.

Setting up phone calls with legislators will allow members to hear firsthand what is happening on Capitol Hill, on key committees related to the economic crisis, and on steps to reopen the country. These calls should be more than show and tell: They should build the fundraising narrative that your association cares, has your members’ back, and is building relationships that matter when they need to matter. In addition, find other ways to keep your members informed about voting by mail in their states, changes in primary dates, and “get out the vote” initiatives. These activities will help you make the natural shift back to fundraising even in a down economy.

Be thoughtful and judicious with your ask. Second, when you decide to fundraise again, be thoughtful in your language and judicious in your timing. To use a well-worn phrase, “We are in uncertain times.” Again, let your members know you care about them. Your language must be thoughtful when making an ask. Let them know that times like these are the reason you have a PAC. Never overpromise, but always let them know that their PAC is fighting for their interest.

These calls should be more than show and tell: They should build the fundraising narrative that your association cares, has your members’ back, and is building relationships that matter when they need to matter.

Also be judicious in the timing of your asks. This happens to be an election year. As attention shifts from crisis to recovery, the election season will come back into focus. The activities I mentioned above should reinforce the narrative that relationships matter and that you have these relationships because of the PAC.

Offer new ways to contribute. If you don’t already have one, I would also suggest setting up a monthly contribution option. In the event we have a relapse of the virus, monthly contributions are a good way of keeping some fundraising dollars coming in should you have to suspend operations.

For instance, perhaps you have $1,000 contributors who can no longer make a one-time contribution. The $100-a-month option could keep them engaged at their current contribution level. If they must reduce their level of giving, they will still have an affordable path to remaining a major contributor—a desire I believe contributors truly have. I have always believed that givers give. We simply need to make it as easy as possible for them to do so under these circumstances.

Finally, as trying as these days have been, political giving will not end. Campaigns at all levels are back in the asking mode—some never stopped. Given the tools of engagement that PACs offer to association members, even in a down economy, we are needed. We just have to remind our members of this.