Fundraising is a vital part of many associations across the United States—many organizations depend greatly on the generosity of the public to continue to serve their constituents. However, what do these foundations do when the economy is not conducive to raising money? How to they alter their strategies to continue to promote their cause and create the capital needed to survive? The following research aims to discover the answers to these questions, focusing on the strategies that have proved successful during times of economic crisis. Throughout the exploration there will be a particular focus set on the event industry and its involvement in the realm of fundraising. The aim of the research is to understand how the events hosted by non-profit organizations have changed or been altered to deal with the ever-changing tide of the United States economy. The case study presented focuses on foundations located in Michigan, an area of the country that has seen overwhelmingly drastic effects of the most recent economic crisis.