Charitable Giving Is Up, Says New Index

Posted , by Keith Curtis. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

Yesterday, the inaugural edition of Blackbaud’s Index of Charitable Giving was released. Blackbaud is a global provider of software and services for nonprofits. The news is good. Not only did the index find that nonprofits of all sizes are emerging from the recession, overall nonprofit revenue increased by 12.1 percent for the three months ending… Read more »

Giving USA 2010: How It Can Help You

Posted , by Nancy Chapman. Topic: Giving USA.

Now that we’ve had a chance to digest and discuss the data from Giving USA 2010, here are the most important takeaways for nonprofits. It’s no surprise that charitable giving declined in 2009. What did surprise us is that it dropped by only 3.6 percent, given last year’s economy and job market. And giving by… Read more »

Giving USA 2010 Released

Posted , by Nancy Chapman. Topic: Giving USA.

Giving USA 2010, the annual report on philanthropy for 2009 published by Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, was released today. You can get a free executive summary of the report here. As a Giving USA board member, Keith was interviewed today by The Virginian-Pilot and Richmond Times-Dispatch to talk about the… Read more »

Celebrating Our Noble Profession

Posted , by Wendy McGrady. Topic: Careers in Philanthropy.

At the AFP International Conference last week, Archbishop Desmond Tutu reminded the fundraising crowd of their vocation, their calling, their noble profession, and that the word philanthropy meant “love of humankind.” While preparing to lead a board retreat earlier this week, I was reminded that what we are all really trying to do is give… Read more »

Indiana U. Offers First Bachelor’s Degree in Philanthropic Studies

Posted , by Nancy Chapman. Topic: Careers in Philanthropy.

This fall, the nation’s first bachelor’s degree program in philanthropic studies will be offered at Indiana University. “Philanthropy and the nonprofit sector are becoming increasingly complex,” said Patrick M. Rooney, executive director of the IU Center on Philanthropy and our Giving Institute colleague. “Those who plan to work in this field need more sophisticated education… Read more »

Hopeful News for 2010 Fundraising

Posted , by Keith Curtis. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

Over the last week,  two new reports about fundraising point toward the light at the end of the economic tunnel. In GuideStar’s annual Nonprofit Economic Survey, half of their respondents saw contributions decline over the first nine months of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008. No surprise there. But nearly two-thirds were hopeful about… Read more »

The Overworked, Underpaid Fundraiser

Posted , by Nancy Chapman. Topic: Careers in Philanthropy.

It’s ironic that as the country prepares to celebrate National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 15 (the local event is Nov. 12), CNN recently added “fundraiser” to its list of the “Top 15 Stressful Jobs That Pay Badly.” “No matter the cause,” the article reports, “asking people to part with their money is not easy. And it… Read more »

Special Report: Outlook for Charitable Giving Recovery More Optimistic

Posted , by Keith Curtis. Topic: Giving USA.

Recovery in charitable giving might occur faster than it did in prior economic downturns, according to a new report from Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. In their latest “Giving USA Spotlight” issued this week, researchers note three factors that could make the difference: – Income is higher per capita… Read more »

Study Says In-Person Asks Get Bigger Gifts

Posted , by Keith Curtis. Topic: Major Gifts Programs, Making the Ask, Philanthropy Research & Events.

You know how we’re always saying you need to ask for major gifts in person? A new study by Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy and Campbell & Company, “Significant Gifts: Where Donors Direct Their Largest Gifts and Why” proves us right. The study reports that donors who were asked to give in person (to secular… Read more »

The Good News About Big Gifts

Posted , by Keith Curtis. Topic: Fundraising, Philanthropy Research & Events.

According to the latest biannual survey of fundraisers conducted by Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy, confidence in the fundraising climate is still low. The good news is that fundraisers are more optimistic about generating donations in the next six months. The expectations measure, as it’s called, was 72.8, an increase of about 10 percent over… Read more »