Since the recession struck in late 2008, fundraising has become a minefield, and even the steadiest advancement officers are unsure of their steps. For years, education fundraisers heard yes from donor after donor. Yes to large gifts. Yes to endowment boosts. Yes to scholarships and athletic facility upgrades. In the 2008 fiscal year, educational giving in the United States grew by 6.2 percent to $31.6 billion, the highest amount ever recorded. Times have changed. Overall charitable giving is down nearly 6 percent. The numbers are worse for educational fundraising, where gifts have fallen by 9 percent. Endowments are 20 to 35 percent lower than a year ago. And belt tightening has affected everything from capital campaigns to faculty research projects to aid for students. Economic realities have forced fundraisers to shift into recession mode and change their approaches. They're treading cautiously around whom they ask and what they ask for. They're scheduling feel-good donor meetings that don't end with a gift request. And they're walking the fine line between urgency and desperation. The recession has taken its toll on advancement. Donors are re-examining their philanthropic choices. Some are delaying, decreasing, or even cancelling promised gifts. This article provides some tips for raising money in tough times.