Postal Disruption: Take these Actions Now

It’s October 2025, and the Canada Post strike was full on for two weeks and as of mid-Oct it’s a rolling strike. The news keep changing. Are you prepared? Do you have the tools to navigate?

With mail delivery halted nationwide and negotiations stalled, charities are facing a fundraising crisis at the worst possible time: the fall giving season.

This is the time of year when generosity peaks. Giving Tuesday, holiday appeals, and year-end campaigns together can generate up to 75% of annual revenue for many nonprofits. But with direct mail off the table for now, organizations must pivot — fast.

Postal Strike Status

CUPW launched a nationwide strike on September 26, 2025, after federal reforms ended door-to-door delivery and authorized rural post-office closures.

On October 9 CUPW moved to rotating shutdowns.

The federal government has urged both sides to resolve the dispute quickly.

Plan for at least 3–4 weeks of disruption.

What You Can Do Right Now

Be Honest About the Impact — and Communicate Urgency

Donors understand disruption. They want to help, but they need to know what’s at stake.

During the last postal strike, several of our clients increased their digital revenue by being transparent. One even saw an 87% year-over-year increase in online giving by clearly explaining how the strike was affecting their work and following up with targeted email, social, and phone outreach.

The result? More gifts, stronger engagement, and lasting donor loyalty.

Accelerate Your Digital Strategy

Focus your efforts where you can reach donors quickly and directly:

Launch email and SMS campaigns with clear, urgent messaging.
Increase visibility through Google, Bing, and Meta ads — especially Performance Max and retargeting.
Update your website with donation banners and strike alerts.
Add a donation pop-up to drive immediate action.
Ensure donation pages are optimized for mobile and frictionless giving.
Plan your Giving Tuesday and year-end campaigns now.

Pick Up the Phone

A personal call is powerful:

Use staff, volunteers, or agencies to connect directly with donors.
Reinforce your message with genuine, one-on-one outreach.
Remind supporters their help is needed now more than ever.

Encourage Monthly Giving

Sustainer donors are remarkably resilient. Their gifts continue through strikes, downturns, and even pandemics.

Now’s the time to promote monthly giving as the steady hand through uncertain times.

Add a strong monthly option to all donation forms.
Highlight stories of impact and stability from sustainers.
Steward them well — these donors stick around.

Test Your Donor Experience

Don’t assume your digital experience is flawless — try it yourself.

Make a test gift online.
Call your donation line.
Fix friction fast — every barrier removed means a better chance of conversion.

We’ll get through this together.

We’ve weathered postal strikes before — but this one hits during the most critical fundraising window of the year.

Charities that act now — those who pivot, communicate, and integrate — will be the ones who survive and thrive.

So keep calm and fundraise on.
Generosity hasn’t gone on strike.
Let’s make sure your fundraising doesn’t either.

Reach out if you want to talk
📧 paulaa@stephenthomas.ca