Under the tax reform that passed last month, some changes could impact your donors and charitable giving for your organization. Reduced number of taxpayers qualifying for charitable tax deductions With fewer Americans qualifying for tax deductions, we could see fewer dollars given to nonprofits. One study by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy predicts… Read more »
I recently attended the Gurin Forum presented by Giving USA Foundation in Chicago, where recent research on giving to religion (commissioned by Giving USA and conducted by the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University) was presented. Giving USA has continually shown giving to religion shrinking as a part of overall giving. This forum took a deeper dive into that trend. The… Read more »
With a history of educational excellence going back nearly 50 years, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy had a high bar to maintain when they set their sights on opening a second lower school campus—while expanding and enhancing their main campus. The independent school in Suffolk, Virginia, approached us in 2013, just before their 50th anniversary, and engaged us to conduct… Read more »
A look at giving growth over last 30 years in Hampton Roads, where our firm is headquartered. It seems ironic now—the decade most linked with materialism and excess consumption being the birthplace to a day of benevolence. Or perhaps it was perfect timing to refocus our priorities. President Reagan officially established National Philanthropy Day… Read more »
What does the term “philanthropist” mean? Would you consider yourself to be one? What factors influence how and when people give, whether that means volunteering time or donating money? These are the key questions addressed by a new, interactive, online platform from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy called Generosity For Life. GenerosityForLife.org makes… Read more »
This month we published an article on Bloomerang about year-end fundraising, written by Vice President Victoria Dietz. Don’t miss these important tips for a critical time of year to your nonprofit’s bottom line: “10 Steps to a Winning Year-End Fundraising Appeal”
What’s the secret to campaign success? True, it’s critical to start with a campaign planning study to create a blueprint and make sure you’ve set the right fundraising goal. But how likely are you to reach it? At a recent meeting, our team discussed fundraising campaigns over the last few years for which we had provided counsel…. Read more »
Your organization has decided to conduct a planning study before embarking on a campaign—you’ve already made the first smart choice! A campaign planning study, also known as a feasibility study, will tell you whether or not a campaign is advisable, how much money you could realistically raise and what your strategy would be to raise that… Read more »
Good news for higher-ed advancement professionals—your hard work and investments in your fundraising program are paying off! As institutional budgets continue to shrink and the role of private philanthropy becomes more important than ever, it appears that your efforts are showing results. Last month, our president Keith Curtis, immediate past chair of Giving USA Foundation, shared with you the overall… Read more »
With a banner year for giving to arts, culture and humanities, these organizations have employed a variety of innovative tactics to engage donors and increase the contributed revenue that supports their missions. This investment in arts fundraising has resulted in a measurable boost in success. As immediate past chair of Giving USA Foundation, last month I shared with you the overall… Read more »
