Lay it out to your users straight up. If theres a level of funding that lets you keep running, you might consider a fundraiser; but "I have to shut down for a w

Lay it out to your users straight up. If theres a level of funding that lets you keep running, you might consider a fundraiser; but "I have to shut down for a while and we'll come back next fall we hope" doesn't sound that bad. You don't seem to have an obligation to your users other than joy in the community, which is wonderful but life comes first.