Many Charities Behind on Their Fundraising This Holiday Season, but Still Optimistic - Press Release: "AFP's 2007 Holiday Giving Survey found that just 48.3 percent of charities are raising more money during the last quarter of 2007 (as of Dec. 10) compared to the same period in 2006. Approximately a quarter (25.4 percent) have raised about the same amount, and 26.3 percent have raised less."

More people are visiting charity websites, according to research - Third Sector: "The proportion of people visiting charity websites has leapt by a third in the past nine months, according to research by think tank nfpSynergy. It found that the proportion of people who said they had visited a charity website in the past six months rose from 23 per cent in February to 30 per cent in October. The figure almost doubled in the past five years, from 16 per cent. The findings come from nfpSynergy's regular survey of 1,000 people over the age of 16."

The State Journal - News for West Virginia's Leaders: "A first-of-its-kind study is reinforcing some preconceived notions about philanthropy in West Virginia. A new study by the West Virginia Grantmakers Association shows the Mountain State ranks near the bottom when it comes to institutional giving. 'It validated what we had a gut feeling about and provided hard data to back up that gut feeling,' said Shannon Cunningham, president of the association."

Study Details How Much Households Donate to Charity - Newsroom - Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick: "The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University is releasing survey results that show about six out of every 10 U.S. households routinely give to charities. The average total amount given by the households was just over $2,000 per year. The largest percentage of households gave to religion, donating an average of more than $1,800 to religious groups."

Nonprofit Roundtable Home Page: "BEYOND CHARITY: RECOGNIZING RETURN ON INVESTMENT How the Nonprofit Community Impacts Greater Washington, the groundbreaking result of a yearlong effort to answer, 'What difference do nonprofits make?' was released, in collaboration with the World Bank Group, on November 26, 2007."

MyrtleBeachOnline.com | 11/10/2007 | To encourage giving, Gates foundation backs survey of the rich

MyrtleBeachOnline.com | 11/10/2007 | To encourage giving, Gates foundation backs survey of the rich: "To encourage giving, Gates foundation backs survey of the rich By Robert Frank - The Wall Street Journal As the economist John Kenneth Galbraith once wrote, 'of all the classes, the wealthy are the most noticed and the least studied.' Now, the richest man in America aims to change that. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is co-funding a study that is believed to be the largest and broadest survey of the American rich ever conducted. The questions will target American households worth $25 million or more, and the study aims to have at least 1,000 respondents - a massive sample size for people of such a high net-worth level."

Philanthropy UK : Civil Society research indicates changes in UK philanthropy

Philanthropy UK : Civil Society research indicates changes in UK philanthropy: "Civil Society research indicates changes in UK philanthropy By Roxanne Clark, Added: 02 November 2007
According to new research by the Carnegie UK Trust into the future of civil society the widening gulf between rich and poor could lead to changes in UK philanthropy.

The report, The Shape of Civil Society to Come in the UK & Ireland, explores the potential threats and opportunities facing civil society up to 2025. It states that “one of the key roles of foundations is to complement the role of the state; acting where government is unwilling or unable”. However, it also says that there is growing confusion about “what areas of activity are complementing state activity and what areas are substituting for state activity”."

SM& Survey Reveals Boston's Non-Profits Must Improve Communication

PRESS RELEASE

SM& Survey Reveals Boston's Non-Profits Must Improve Communication: "SM& Survey Reveals Boston’s Non-Profits Must Improve Communication Results show organizations have to do better in communicating value
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Greater Boston’s non-profit sector is not successfully communicating its value, a recent Solomon McCown & Company (SM&) survey revealed. The survey, which was distributed via SurveyMonkey, polled a sampling of people who largely identified themselves as being part of non-profit, mission-focused or social entrepreneur organizations.
The aim of the survey was to tap into people’s thoughts on the landscape of Boston’s non-profit sector and its effectiveness of communicating with its audiences. The survey continued a dialogue that SM& started last fall when it hosted a gathering of 250 leaders of mission-focused organizations at an “SM& Presents” panel discussion entitled “STANDING OUT IN A CROWDED FIELD: Attracting Resources to Meet the Ambitions of Today’s Social Entrepreneurs.”"