Many holidays celebrate gift-giving… National Philanthropy Day celebrates those who give back. As we honor the individuals and organizations who set the standard for charitable investment, we have an opportunity not only to thank them but to learn from them. I hope many will follow their stories—and follow their examples. Americans reached a charitable-giving milestone… Read more »
It’s hard to believe, but we are only five weeks away from #GivingTuesday. This year’s national giving day will be celebrated Tuesday, December 1. Each year, the online giving phenomenon grows significantly. On #GivingTuesday 2014, over $26 million was given—and online donations rose 36% from #GivingTuesday 2013. The Curtis Group is excited to see how… Read more »
If you’ve worked in the nonprofit world more than a year, you might already be weary of the pressure to maximize year-end gifts. It’s not that different for your donors, who are often bombarded with requests as December 31 looms closer. The way you communicate your message is key to cutting through the clutter and… Read more »
How do your major donors define “a life well-lived”? This is one of the key questions addressed in the 2015 Insights on Wealth and Worth Survey, conducted by the U.S. Trust. Since 1993, this periodic survey of wealthy individuals and families has highlighted differences and similarities in values and, ultimately, what motivates giving. This year,… Read more »
Where did the money come from, where did it go and how do we apply these trends to future fundraising? Milestone giving in a milestone year. What better news could I hope for in my term as chair of Giving USA Foundation? As the longest-running and most comprehensive report on charitable giving in the country, Giving… Read more »
Acknowledgment letters are more than an obligation. They’re an opportunity—to build donor relationships, to educate and hopefully, to inspire future giving. But let’s face it, many of these missives leave us less than inspired. Do you read all the nonprofit thank-you letters you receive? Me neither. What’s different about the ones you do read? Here… Read more »
As the economy continues its recovery, many nonprofits are considering long-delayed and necessary capital projects—new buildings, physical improvements, or expansions, all critical to the long term success of their organizations. As these organizations move through their fundraising steps, a key component they often overlook is the overall economic impact they have within their community. Information… Read more »
What giving trends are you seeing in your nonprofit work? One comprehensive take can be found in the just-released “Philanthropy Outlook: 2015 & 2016,” developed by our Giving USA Foundation research partner The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, and funded by one of our Giving Institute colleagues, Marts & Lundy. As chair of the… Read more »
If you don’t tell them, who will? Elected officials need to know what matters to the nonprofit sector and to your organization—this was a key message of The Giving Institute’s webinar last week, in which I participated as a GI member. Jason Lee, general counsel for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, stressed how important this year… Read more »
Too many nonprofits are rewarded for how little they spend, rather than for what they get done. This is the double standard that author, activist and fundraiser Dan Pallotta called out during his recent visit to Hampton Roads. (I highly recommend watching his TED talk). His presentation about “The Overhead Myth” got our sector buzzing…… Read more »
