Some folks are business as usual, others are running for the hills and yet others are launching new campaigns and programs into this challenging season. As others have answered -- much of this is cyclical.

However, if it were just cyclical, nobody would be talking about nearly a $1,000,000,000,000 (TRILLION) in taxpayer dollars to stabilize the current economic reality.

All that being said, direct mail at this time is challenging and has been for a number of months, for both acq and renewal – what are the alternatives?

Donors are lapsing faster than ever, so we all need new donors -- if we don't do acq, it may save us some expense money today, but hurts big-time in the long-run.

You could also say that if other orgs are cutting back on acquisition there remains an opening -- an opportunity -- for those who will proceed with more aggressive plans.

Also, the media (and in turn, the election cycle) has a vested interest in talking down the economy so it give them something to talking about besides “lipstick on a pig.”

That notwithstanding, individual organizations may be able to turn the current situation into a cry for urgent appeals for year end. Especially well positioned would be those that cater to social services and homeless and hungry and those that serve the under-served.

To make a long-story short (too late, I know) another possible silver lining to the current situation on certain organizations may be the fact that if individuals that are able to join or donate to your cause/appeal now, may be better positioned for longer term performance, since they ostensibly may have need to make a more "thought-out" to give and were less impulsive with their giving and may stick around longer.