Key Takeaways of Giving USA 2023

Posted by & filed under Donors, Fundraising, Fundraising by Sector, Funds and Funders, Giving USA, High-Net-Worth Individuals, Major Donors, Philanthropy Research & Events.

What are the key takeaways of Giving USA 2023? According to Giving USA 2023, charitable giving in this country totaled $499.33 billion in 2022. Impacted by economic challenges, this is a 3.4% decrease in current dollars year-over-year; however, it comes after two record years of giving. Where Did the Generosity Come From? Contributions by Source The Headlines for Sources of… Read more »

Building Your Donor Pipeline for Major Gifts

Posted by & filed under Fundraising.

Building Your Donor Pipeline for Major Gifts   By Victoria Dietz, Executive Vice President What does it mean to have a pipeline of donors? In its simplest form, your pipeline is a structured way for you to convert prospective donors into current donors and to secure increasingly generous support from those current donors. At its… Read more »

Today’s Philanthropist Profile

Posted by & filed under Donor Prospects, Donors, High-Net-Worth Individuals, Major Donors, National Philanthropy Day.

Have you enjoyed the Virginia Symphony or visited Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest? Have you ever rushed your child to the Emergency Department in the middle of the night? Have you donated canned goods to your local foodbank at the holidays or volunteered at The Salvation Army?   These services, a part of the fabric of what makes every… Read more »

Does your development plan avoid these common pitfalls?

Posted by & filed under Campaigns & Campaign Planning, Fundraising, Nonprofit Management.

A Strategic Plan is Not a Development Plan. Your Development Plan is the Next Step  Has your organization recently updated its strategic plan or is about to begin that process? If the answer is yes, that is great news! Thinking about your short- and long-term organizational goals and strategies to achieve them is integral to… Read more »

Your Future Volunteer Fundraisers

Posted by & filed under Boards of Directors.

After reading “Empowering Young Children Through Philanthropy,” in this month’s AFP magazine Advancing Philanthropy, I spent some time thinking about the possibility and power of this concept.  My Curtis Group colleagues and I do a lot of speaking to fundraising professionals, community leaders, and boards.  The most frequent questions we hear from these interactions are about fundraising leadership: “How do we… Read more »

Fundraising Trends To Improve Donor Relations and Fundraising Strategy

Posted by & filed under Donor Communication, Donor Retention, Donors, High-Net-Worth Individuals, Major Donors, Major Gifts Programs, Philanthropy Events.

Earlier this month, we enjoyed catching up with old friends and making new ones at the 2018 VFRI conference. This year in particular was incredible as I had the opportunity to chair the conference. I was inspired by the passion that my fellow fundraisers have for their organizations and for our profession. I was invigorated by… Read more »

Giving USA 2018: Giving reached over $400 billion!

Posted by & filed under Donor Communication, Donor Retention, Giving USA, High-Net-Worth Individuals, Major Gifts Programs.

Powered by a booming stock market and a strong economy, charitable giving by American individuals, bequests, foundations and corporations to U.S. charities surged to an estimated $410.02 billion in 2017, according to Giving USA 2018: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2017, released today. Giving USA is the longest-running and most comprehensive report of its kind… Read more »

Nonprofit Sector’s Impact on US Economy – What it Means for You

Posted by & filed under Campaigns & Campaign Planning, Cases for Support, Fundraising, Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy Research & Events.

A recently released study found nonprofits are the third largest workforce in the country behind only manufacturing and retail. According to the report Nonprofits: America’s Third Largest Workforce, from Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Economic Data Project, the nonprofit sector in America employs 11.9 million people.   As someone who has devoted my career to the nonprofit sector, this is… Read more »

Lead Board Meetings That Ignite Passion and Engagement

Posted by & filed under Board Development, Boards of Directors, Fundraising, Nonprofit Management.

  Spring is a busy time in the nonprofit world. So many organizations host galas, golf tournaments, run/walks and other fundraising events. But before you become consumed by centerpieces and table assignments, consider this: How are you engaging your board? As you quickly approach the end of your fiscal year or prepare for annual meetings,… Read more »