Needs, Wants and the Absolute Importance of Relevance

My second reaction: 200 people were let go and another 50 open jobs got axed? Just how many people work there, and what are they all doing if it’s so nonessential that they can be “released” and the organization is still able to carry out its mission?

Yes, be honest always, but also be judicious in what numbers you present and how. Downsizing by 250 jobs might be perfectly reasonable in the whole scope of that organization’s operations, but without any perspective, that information is not helpful to the appeal. Reality is one thing, and how donors perceive you is another. FS