What Makes you Stay? Preventing the Revolving Door in Nonprofits

Posted , by Kaitlin Robb, consultant. Topic: Donor Retention.

For years, the state of the economy was one of the only things on which nonprofits and donors could focus. As nonprofits begin to feel more confident with the future of philanthropy, they are addressing issues that were pushed to the backburner during the economic downturn. Nonprofits are being forced to take a hard look at… Read more »

Board Service: How Many Is Too Many?

Posted , by Wendy McGrady, Vice President. Topic: Board Development, Boards of Directors.

Last week I led a class for the Board Development Academy hosted by the Center for Nonprofit Excellence in Charlottesville, VA. The Board Development Academy is for engaged community leaders, people either early on in their board careers or those who have never been on a board, who want to learn how to effectively serve… 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 »

Will Donors Give Less if Taxed More?

Posted , by Natalie McGaughey, development coordinator. Topic: Government.

A recent article in Philanthropy Matters examined the current Obama administration’s proposal on changes in charitable deductions for taxpayers with adjusted gross income over $250,000 for couples and $200,000 for individuals. This proposal suggests reducing the value of itemized charitable deductions from 35% to 28%, and raising the marginal income tax from 35% to 39.6%… Read more »

Nonprofits and Their Boards: An Evolving Relationship

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Marketing Director and Campaign Consultant. Topic: Boards of Directors.

A recent article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy by Maureen West titled “Charities Find Ways to Give Board Members Bigger Roles in Policy” caught our attention. So much of the work we have done with our clients for the past 23 years is meeting with the board members of nonprofits to discuss fundraising strategy and… Read more »

Corporate Giving: Strategies for Securing Support

Posted , by Wendy McGrady, vice president. Topic: Funds and Funders.

Last week Lauren and I attended the AFP-Hampton Roads luncheon presentation titled, “Building Strategic Relationships with Corporations and Foundations.” Amy Nisenson, Executive Director of the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, and Victor Branch, SVP/Market Manager for Richmond & Hampton Roads, Global Corporate Responsibility Office for Bank of America, were the two presenters. They began their discussion… Read more »

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Fundraisers: Notes from Virginia Fundraising Institute 2012

Posted , by Erin Philips, Marketing Director & Campaign Consultant. Topic: Fundraising.

Last week The Curtis Group sponsored and attended the annual conference hosted by the Virginia Fundraising Institute (VFRI) in Richmond, VA. We have been involved in VFRI for nearly a decade and we always look forward to this gathering of fundraising leaders from across the Commonwealth. The conference, composed primarily of development professionals, provides an… Read more »

New Findings on Donor Behavior: Highlights from the 2012 Cygnus Donor Survey

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

For the past four years we have looked forward to reviewing statistics on donor behavior from the Cygnus Donor Survey. This is an annual research study of active American donors that charts recent giving experiences and future philanthropic intentions. It is led by author, researcher, and president of Cygnus Applied Research, Inc., Penelope Burk. The 2012… Read more »

Giving USA Discussion at the Hudson Institute: Advice to Nonprofits and their Board Members

Posted , by Erin Phillips, Marketing Director and Campaign Consultant. Topic: Boards of Directors, Giving USA, Nonprofit Management.

On Friday the Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal, in partnership with Illinois University’s Center on Philanthropy, hosted a discussion titled “Giving USA 2012: Who Gave, How Much, and to Whom in 2011?” The Curtis Group’s Vice President, Wendy McGrady, along with Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy Executive Director, Patrick M. Rooney; Nonprofit Quarterly’s… Read more »