Emerging Trend: The Case for Growth Capital

Posted , by Wendy McGrady, Vice President. Topic: Funds and Funders, Philanthropy Research & Events.

At The Giving Institute’s November board meeting, Rodney Christopher of the F.B. Heron Foundation and Richard Shaw of Youth Villages delivered a thought-provoking presentation on an emerging trend in philanthropy called growth capital. The basic premise the speakers suggested is that healthy organizations can achieve greater success through investments of growth capital. Foundations seeking measurable,… Read more »

Pledge to Give

Posted , by Kaitlin Robb, Consultant. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

What would you say if someone asked you to give 50% of your net worth to charity? My guess is that most would gasp at the mere idea of it. However, with the desire to truly make a significant positive impact, Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet started “The Giving Pledge.” Made public in… Read more »

Philanthropy as Corporate R&D

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Marketing Director and Consultant. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

A recent article by Doug Conant, chairman of CECP (Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy) and former CEO and president of Campbell Soup Company, sparked dialogue among our colleagues at The Curtis Group. Conant convincingly makes the case of how philanthropy can “help companies reduce risks, open new markets, engage employees, build their brand, reduce costs, advance… Read more »

Study Finds Baby Boomers Give the Most, Among Other Generational Trends

Posted , by Robin Paez, development coordinator. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

Although Baby Boomers make up only 34 percent of the donor pool, they are the generation responsible for giving the lion’s share of donations to charities. In an online survey conducted by a division of Blackbaud, results showed that Boomers gave 43 percent of all money contributed by individuals. And when factoring in giving by… Read more »

Giving USA 2013: Highlights and Tips from the Annual Report on Philanthropy

Posted , by Lauren Fenn, Consultant. Topic: Giving USA.

Giving USA Foundation recently released Giving USA 2013, the 58th consecutive edition and the longest running comprehensive study on philanthropy in America. The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, researches and writes Giving USA. As one of 40 members of the Giving Institute, and with our president as vice-chair of the Giving USA Foundation, The… Read more »

Blackbaud Study Finds Two Virginia Cities Among Most Generous for Online Giving

Posted , by Victoria Dietz, Campaign Manager. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

On April 11, Blackbaud, a leading nonprofit technology firm, released their fifth annual ranking of the Most Generous Online U.S. Cities. The study includes 265 cities with at least 100,000 residents based on per capita online giving. In the cities studied, donations topped $509 million online in 2012. And, while it may not be surprising… Read more »

Blackbaud Reports on Online Giving Trends

Posted , by Natalie McGaughey, Development Coordinator. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

I recently participated in a webinar hosted by Blackbaud and The Giving Institute on the topic of trends in online giving, its impact on nonprofits, and the best ways for organizations to optimize donor engagement through digital channels. One major trend Blackbaud emphasized was the predictability of online giving. As online giving grows, data is collected to… Read more »

Study Finds Next Gen Donors Driven by Personal Values & Desire for Social Impact

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Consultant and Marketing Director. Topic: Philanthropy Research & Events.

Rick Moyers, vice president of programs and communications at the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, recently wrote in The Chronicle about a new report, “Next Gen Donors: Respecting Legacy, Revolutionizing Philanthropy.” The results included some interesting data from 300 high-capacity donors in their 20s and 30s. They are all individuals poised to become very influential… Read more »

Higher Donor Retention Rate Translates to Higher Charitable Receipts

Posted , by Lauren B. Fenn, campaign consultant. Topic: Donor Retention, National Research Collaborative.

“Are higher retention rates associated with higher totals in charitable giving?” This is the question that the Nonprofit Research Collaborative sought to answer in their most recent survey focused on donor retention rates. More than 770 organizations across every subsector participated in the study. Interestingly, the results are almost exactly the same as the NCR’s… Read more »

Engaging Board Members in Fundraising is Key to Success, Latest NRC Study Finds

Posted , by Erin Phillips, campaign consultant and marketing director. Topic: Board Development, Fundraising, National Research Collaborative.

The latest Nonprofit Research Collaborative (NRC) study on board member engagement in fundraising concludes, among other things, that board members serve two primary fundraising functions: helping the organization reach new prospective donors (access) and indicating the organization’s value to the community by their own association with the group (signaling). Here are some key findings: –… Read more »