� Nonprofit Fundraising and Cause Engagement Study: Word of Mouth Still Most Effective Method of Engagement to Optimize Nonprofit Fundraising

I have written about several nonprofit fundraising reports that offer valuable insight into various areas of the current fundraising landscape. Some of my featured posts have included The 2011 donorCentrics™ Internet and Multichannel Giving Benchmarking Report, The Nonprofit Research Collaborative (and Part 2), the Millennial Donors Report 2011 (and Part 2), the 3rd Nonprofit Social Network Benchmark Report 2011, the Nonprofit Fundraising Effectiveness Report and The Blackbaud Index on Charitable and Online Giving October 2011.

Growing Philanthropy: Moving From Donors to Partners (Part 1 of 3) - Press - AFP: Growing Philanthropy: Moving From Donors to Partners (Part 1 of 3)

Charitable giving is estimated to be only 2 percent of average household disposable (after tax) income in the U.S. This number has remained unchanged on average for the past 40 years. A new report called “Growing Philanthropy,” based on a recent summit of nonprofit leaders, offers ways to change how nonprofits approach fundraising. AFP will present the recommendations in a three-part series.

PayPal Research Shows Strength of Community Trumps Popularity | Geoff Livingston's Blog: We live in strange times in which an online following is considered the mark of success. This era of weblebrity seems caustic at times with companies, nonprofits and individuals chasing personal brands for their time. Yet, as we dig deeper we see that real influence online does not necessarily tether itself to the most well known, rather the most engaged. Some research released today, The Effectiveness of Celebrity Spokespeople in Social Fundraisers, conducted on case studies within the PayPal network validates this truth.

Few Charity Employees Feel Financially Prepared for Retirement, Survey Finds - Conference Notebook - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Few Charity Employees Feel Financially Prepared for Retirement, Survey Finds

October 31, 2011, 10:19 pm

By Caroline Preston

Many nonprofit workers are worried that they won’t have enough money to retire comfortably, according to initial results released today of a survey about financial security among nonprofit employees. The early findings were presented at the annual Independent Sector meeting in Chicago.

Olin Business School Research Finds Trigger for Charitable Giving: Cryder finds in a new paper, “The Donor is in the Details" that charities can substantially increase a donor’s perception of the impact their contribution makes by focusing direct solicitation efforts on how donations help one specific person or address one specific problem. When donors know more, donors tend to give more.

Report from Indiana University researchers addresses need to ‘grow philanthropy’: IU News Room: Indiana University: The report, Growing Philanthropy in the United States, was released today (Oct. 28). It addresses the fact that philanthropic giving in the United States has remained static for decades, despite the best efforts of fundraising professionals and nonprofit organizations.

The UK Civil Society Almanac 2010: Workforce | Library | Research and policy | Skills - Third Sector: The report is based on the 'Work' chapter of the NCVO UK Civil Society Almanac 2010 and covers key trends and characteristics of the voluntary sector workforce, employment and volunteering.

New Study Says Charities Could Lose Up to $3.2-Billion From Obama Tax Change - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: In another new study on President Obama’s proposal to limit the value of the charitable deduction, the Tax Policy Center has estimated that the change would depress giving from $1.7-billion to $3.2-billion a year.

That is less than the estimate of $2.9-billion to $5.6-billion offered in another study released this month.

Optimism growing in the sector, claims report: “There is a very real sense of optimism growing in the sector,” said Andrew Watt, president and CEO, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), who provided commentary in the report.

Citing a situation not many in the UK sector will share, Watt added: “Rising giving levels are what is driving the sense of optimism and, in turn, anticipated growth in staffing. Part of that optimism is the nature of our missions—NFPs work to create change and inspire the public. We tend to be optimists, but with a healthy dose of realism.”

Charitable Giving Index: Fundraising Growth Slows - MarketWatch: CHARLESTON, S.C., Oct 17, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Blackbaud, Inc. BLKB 1.28% today released a fundraising trends report based on monthly findings from The Blackbaud Index and featuring commentary from Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) on the newly released specialty index focused on healthcare organizations.

-- The report is available for download at www.blackbaud.com/blackbaudindex .

Teenage boys think working for a charity is boring - Third Sector: A survey by consultancy Magnified Learning finds that few would want to work in the third sector

A survey carried out in schools has found that nearly a third of boys aged 14 and 15 think the charity sector is the most boring to work in.

Manila Standard Today -- Philanthropy rising in Asia along with wealth, says HSBC study -- 2011/october/11: Asian philanthropists are giving more, and they are shifting to a structured and focused approach to charity, according to a new report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, commissioned by HSBC Private Bank.

The report titled, Something’s gotta give: The state of philanthropy in Asia, was based on various published research and in-depth interviews with academics, consultants and prominent philanthropists from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Nonprofits show optimism despite serious concerns, United Way survey finds | Hartford Business: Even as the economy continues its slow recovery, many Hartford-area non-profit organizations have a renewed sense of optimism, according to the United Way’s eighth annual Non-Profit Pulse Survey.

Foundations Step In to Help Grantees Weather State Budget Cuts, Report Finds | PND | Foundation Center: Based on responses from seventy-five members of the Grantmaker Leadership Panel — more than two hundred CEOs at leading U.S. private and public foundations — the study, Foundation Leaders Address the State Budget Crises (4 pages, PDF), found that a quarter of the funders reported having grantees that were forced to suspend operations. To remedy the situation, about half the funders surveyed have provided assistance to affected nonprofits, while two-thirds expect to increase funding for organizations that serve vulnerable populations in general.

Donors Hike Support for Canadian Hospitals to More than $1.2 Billion, But Giving is Still Short of Pre-recession Level: WASHINGTON, D.C., (September 19, 2011) – Donors to Canada’s health care institutions increased contributions by $80 million last year, but the much needed financial booster shot remained far below amounts raised before the recession hit. While charitable cash and pledges in FY2010 totaled $1.204 billion, 7.1 percent more than in FY2009, they were $133 million less than the total of funds raised in FY2007.

Charity staff turnover falls, survey finds - Third Sector: Staff turnover in charities fell from 20 per cent last year to 16 per cent this year, according to a new human resources study.

Seventy-three charities, all with more than 50 employees, took part in the annual People Count Third Sector study, carried out by the management and HR consultancy Agenda Consulting. It analysed staff data from March 2010 to March 2011.

Half of the public cannot name a local charity, survey finds - Third Sector: Nearly two-thirds of respondents to Attitudes to Giving survey said their giving had stayed at the same level over the past two years

Almost half of respondents to a recent survey on giving were unable to name a local charity in their area.

Attitudes to Giving, a survey by the market research company ActionPoint Marketing Solutions, canvassed the views of 420 people from different age groups, income levels and ethnicities in spring this year.

Indiana nonprofit employment made gains despite recession: IU News Room: Indiana University

Indiana nonprofit employment made gains despite recession: IU News Room: Indiana University: "BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Buoyed by gains in the health services and education sectors, employment and wages paid by Indiana nonprofit organizations increased steadily in recent years, according to a new report by Indiana University researchers."

TSRC - Mapping the big society

TSRC - Mapping the big society: "Mapping the Big Society

Implicit in the idea of the 'big society' is the view that communities will be the first port of call in responding to social needs. But there are concerns that this will be much easier in some communities than others. Part of the role of TSRC is to assemble evidence on the distribution, resources and capacities of the third sector. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how our quantitative work contributes to a better understanding of the sector's contribution, and provide insights into the baseline from which “Big Society” policies have commenced."

Building a Stronger Regional Safety Net: Philanthropy's Role - Brookings Institution

Building a Stronger Regional Safety Net: Philanthropy's Role - Brookings Institution: "Although federal, state, and local governments are often the primary funders of nonprofits, governments do not often take the lead in creating new organizational capacities or in coordinating capacity across political jurisdictions. In many regions, the local philanthropic community has become aware of these gaps in services for the poor and has sought to assist the nonprofit community in building capacity and expanding activities. Local foundations are experimenting with various strategies to address the growing dispersion of poverty."

Fall in fundraising income continues, says Charity Market Monitor - Third Sector: "Professor Cathy Pharoah, author of the report

Cancer Research UK stays top of the list, while animal welfare and armed forces charities buck the trend

The UK’s 500 largest fundraising charities suffered a �70m real-terms fall in fundraising income to about �6.06bn in 2009/10, according to research published today."

Meyer Foundation - Meyer Foundation

Meyer Foundation - Meyer Foundation: "Two-thirds of the 3,000 nonprofit executive directors surveyed plan to leave their jobs within five years. Executives express frustration with nonprofit funding models, amplified by the recession, but remain resolved and engaged.

Washington, DC—Daring to Lead 2011, a new national study of nonprofit executive directors conducted in the aftermath of the deepest economic recession in decades, reports that a significant number of executives plan to leave their jobs within the next five years, citing frustration with their organizations’ shaky finances, under-performing boards of directors, and the difficulty of maintaining healthy work-life balance in their demanding roles."

Endowment Returns in 2010 Less Than in 2009, Say Two New Surveys - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Endowments fared well last year, achieving investment returns of about 12 percent, but that is far less than what they achieved in 2009, when returns topped 20 percent, according to two studies—one of foundations and the other of charities—released today by the Commonfund Institute."

Connecticut Association of Nonprofits and CBIA Release 2nd Annual Connecticut Nonprofit Compensation... -- HARTFORD, Conn., May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --: "Study reveals more than 50% of Connecticut nonprofits not offering cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2011

HARTFORD, Conn., May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (CT Nonprofits), the largest membership organization in the state dedicated exclusively to working with nonprofits in Connecticut, in partnership with the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA), Connecticut's largest business association with 10,000 member companies, has released The Connecticut Nonprofit Compensation Study (2nd edition) which summarizes information submitted by 266 nonprofit companies on pay administration and the wages and salaries paid for 96 positions within the nonprofit sector."

What Foundation CEO's Think About Evaluation - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "The Center for Effective Philanthropy released a survey at its conference in Boston today that injects some new data into the debate about whether foundations are doing enough—or too much, in the eyes of some—to measure their performance.

Seventy-two percent of the 537 foundation chief executives surveyed said that assessing their organization’s performance is a high priority, and 68 percent believe grant makers have made great progress in measuring their performance over the past decade."

keeping a close eye... by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Advocacy Philanthropy in the Gulf/Midsouth Yields Substantial Returns for Underserved Communities: "Many in philanthropy don't think of the Gulf/Midsouth as a good place to invest grant dollars.

Yet, advocacy and community organizing by 20 nonprofit organizations in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi over a five-year period has brought more than $4.7 billion in benefits to low-wage workers, low-income students and other neglected populations."

Charities struggle to measure their impact, says report - Third Sector: "New Philanthropy Capital study finds 'explosion of interest', but slow progress, in impact assessment

There has been an 'explosion of interest' in impact measurement among charities over the past year but they are struggling to implement it, according to a new report from the think tank New Philanthropy Capital."

FroelichMcKeeRathge_SuccessionPlanninginNonprofitOrganizations.pdf (application/pdf Object)

FroelichMcKeeRathge_SuccessionPlanninginNonprofitOrganizations.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Giving in the Netherlands - Center for Philanthropic Studies, VU University Amsterdam

Giving in the Netherlands - Center for Philanthropic Studies, VU University Amsterdam

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | New Report Says Nonprofits Not as Diverse as they Think

Third of Britons 'have no interest in volunteering or fundraising' - Third Sector: "Research commissioned by Parkinson's UK finds 61 per cent of population have never volunteered

Almost a third of the British public have no interest in helping charities through volunteering or fundraising, according to new research commissioned by the charity Parkinson's UK."

Buying Products Tied to Charities Depresses Giving, New Study Finds - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Buying Products Tied to Charities Depresses Giving, New Study Finds - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Buying Products Tied to Charities Depresses Giving, New Study Finds

March 31, 2011, 3:32 pm

By Raymund Flandez

Fund raisers have long worried about a possible downside to corporate-charity marketing deals—that people who buy a special brand of yogurt or computer or stuffed animal because a retailer promises to give a small percentage of the purchase price to a good cause will figure they have met their charitable obligation and not give as much in direct donations."

Poll indicates that most people would not include charities in their wills - Third Sector: "Legacy giving

Respondents would rather leave money to friends or family, according to survey conducted before Budget announcement of inheritance tax break

Nearly three-quarters of people would not leave money to charity, a survey suggests.

A poll of more than 1,000 adults, commissioned by the finance company Standard Life and carried out by ICM Research, showed that 71 per cent of respondents would not include charities in their wills."

Study: 6 Actions That Grow Generous Kids, Future Donors- The NonProfit Times April 4, 2011

Study: 6 Actions That Grow Generous Kids, Future Donors- The NonProfit Times April 4, 2011: "Study: 6 Actions That Grow Generous Kids, Future Donors

What parents say and do when it comes to charitable giving and volunteering makes a big difference in the charitable activities of their children once those kids grow up. Parental behavior had tremendous influence – more than religion, politics, race, household income, or any other measured factors on the generosity of today’s Americans.

These findings are from Heart of the Donor, an in-depth study commissioned by Russ Reid Company of Pasadena, Calif., and conducted by Grey Matter Research & Consulting of Phoenix, Ariz."

Two-Thirds of Charities Predict Giving Increase in 2011 - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "While many organizations stopped the bleeding, giving simply didn’t rebound like we thought it might, especially given the economic growth we saw in the last quarter of the year,” said Paulette Maehara, president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, one of six organizations that make up the research collaborative."

- Red Nose Day leads the way for future giving

- Red Nose Day leads the way for future giving: "More than 10 percent of the UK population supports Red Nose Day. 'Such huge support for needy causes shows just what can be achieved when the media, celebrities and new technologies are mobilized behind an appeal', says professor Cathy Pharaoh, co-director of the Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy jointly funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, Office for Civil Society, Carnegie UK Trust and Scottish Government."

New Report: 2011 eNonprofit Benchmarks Study | NTEN

New Report: 2011 eNonprofit Benchmarks Study | NTEN: "A high unsubscribe rate is bad, right? Not necessarily, according to the 2011 eNonprofit Benchmarks Study, just released at the 2011 NTC by M R and NTEN.

As it turns out, a high unsubscribe rate correlates directly with high fundraising results. People unsubscribe because they read your message and decide your cause isn't interesting to them; people donate because they read your message and decide that it is."

Stories And Premiums Ruled During The Holidays- The NonProfit Times march 15, 2011

Stories And Premiums Ruled During The Holidays- The NonProfit Times march 15, 2011: "The holiday season provides ample opportunity to proposition potential donors and renew supporters' contributions. According to Michael Nilsen, senior director of public affairs for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), approximately half of all charities get between 30 percent and 60 percent of their contributions during the last quarter of the year. Roughly 20 percent of AFP member organizations noted that in December alone, they received 50 percent of their annual contributions noted Nilsen."

Convio’s Annual Benchmark Study Showcases Online as Fastest Growing Fundraising and Engagement Channel | Business Wire

Convio’s Annual Benchmark Study Showcases Online as Fastest Growing Fundraising and Engagement Channel | Business Wire: "AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Convio, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNVO) today released the results of its annual Convio Online Marketing Nonprofit Benchmark Index™ Study. The results of the study indicate that online is the fastest growing fundraising channel for nonprofits. In 2010, Convio’s clients raised more than $1.3 billion online, up 40 percent from 2009. The study shows that online engagement continues to play a crucial role for nonprofits: online legislative advocates grew 20 percent, email files continued to grow at a median 22 percent across all sectors and gift sizes increased in 2010. The full study is available at www.convio.com/2011benchmark."

Nonprofit Sector Continues to Grow, Despite Recession -- BALTIMORE, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Nonprofit Sector Continues to Grow, Despite Recession -- BALTIMORE, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --: "BALTIMORE, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 2010 Nonprofits by the Numbers report by Maryland Nonprofits shows that nonprofit organizations in Maryland continued to add jobs in 2009, despite the recession. Nonprofit employment grew 2% in 2009, compared to a statewide drop in total employment of 3.2%. Nonprofits sustained the growth trend throughout the last five years delivering a robust 9.5% nonprofit employment growth, or 22,205 new jobs in Maryland from 2004-2009, while total employment contracted from 2004-2009 by 2.1% in the same period. Nonprofits in Maryland employ 255,408 people or 10.6% of the state's workforce, and account for 10% of all wages paid statewide. This is up from 9.5% of the workforce and 8.6% of wages in 2004. An early look at the first six months of 2010 employment data indicates that the growth trend continued and accelerated last year, as well."

Charity Fraud Fears Deter Canadians From Giving | Canada | Epoch Times

Charity Fraud Fears Deter Canadians From Giving | Canada | Epoch Times: "It may come as no surprise then that a growing number of Canadians are worried about fraudulent charities that intend to pocket hard-earned donation dollars.

New survey findings show that 53 percent say they are less likely to give to charities because of concerns about charity fraud, while 65 percent report an increased concern over the possibility of fraud—particularly in the wake of a natural disaster."

SinhaGreenspanHandy_VolunteeringandCivicParticipationamongImmigrantMembersofEthnicCongregati.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Volunteering and Civic Participation Among Immigrant Members of Ethnic Congregations: Complementary NOT Competitive by Jill Witmer Sinha of Rutgers University, and Itay Greenspan and Femida Handy of the University of Pennsylvania utilizes survey data from 496 first generation immigrants who attended 23 ethnic congregations to assess the variables influencing levels of civic participation outside the congregation.

The study addresses a central question: whether participation in an ethnic congregation, which promotes bridging social capital, is also related to contributing to participation that contributes to bridging social capital in the wider community.

SinhaGreenspanHandy_VolunteeringandCivicParticipationamongImmigrantMembersofEthnicCongregati.pdf (application/pdf Object)

EgerMcDonald_ReligiousAttitudesandCharitableDonations.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Religious Attitudes and Charitable Donations by Robert J. Eger, III of Florida State University and Bruce D. McDonald, III of Indiana University - South Bend

utilizes data from Robert Wuthnow’s Arts and Religion Survey to explore the correlation between a person’s self defined religious orientation and religious charitable giving.

The data support the hypothesis that individuals who define themselves to be religiously conservative exhibit higher levels of generosity to religious charities than those who define themselves to be religious liberals. This occurs because self-identified conservatives are more involved in religious institutions, activities, and commitments, such as regular church participation and stable family structures, than religious liberals. Second, there are normative differences: religious liberals are expected to contribute less than religious moderates when other characteristics are held constant.

2010 Online Giving Trends | Nonprofit Trends with Steve MacLaughlin | a Blackbaud Blog

2010 Online Giving Trends | Nonprofit Trends with Steve MacLaughlin | a Blackbaud Blog: "Blackbaud released its 2010 Online Giving Report today. The 2010 Online Giving Report combines findings from The Blackbaud Index of Online Giving with additional multi-year giving data to provide the most comprehensive analysis of online giving trends in the nonprofit sector."

Press Release Detail - Sage Nonprofit Solutions

Press Release Detail - Sage Nonprofit Solutions: "Press Release Detail

U.S. Nonprofits More Optimistic About Meeting Fundraising Goals in 2011, According to Sage Nonprofit Insights Survey
Quarterly Survey Looked at U.S. Nonprofits’ Views and Outlook on Fundraising, Tax Exemptions, Government Funding, and Legislation
2/15/2011 8:00:00 AM

AUSTIN, TX (Feb. 15, 2011)—Sage North America today announced the results of its recently conducted Sage Nonprofit Insights, Q1 2011, survey of U.S. nonprofit organizations. In general, organizations that fundraise are optimistic that 2011 will be a better year than 2010, with 90 percent saying they expect the amount of funds raised in 2011 to be equal to or higher than the amount raised in 2010."

Higher Ed Endowments Starting To Rebound- The NonProfit Times Jan 27, 2011: "Higher Ed Endowments Starting To Rebound

By Mark Hrywna

Endowments at colleges and universities boasted improved rates of return last year but still need a few more years to get back to pre-recession levels.

The average rate of return was 11.9 percent (net for fees) last year, quite a turnaround from the negative19 percent average return in 2009, according to the second annual NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE) which gathered data from 850 U.S. colleges, universities and affiliated foundations for the fiscal year 2010 (Jan. 1-June 30).

The study is a joint effort between the Wilton, Conn.-based Commonfund Institute and the National College and University Business Officers in Washington, D.C."

This material is from August but is noteworthy

Parents Matter: New Study Shows Influence of Family on Giving Decisions - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "That is one of the findings of new study of donor attitudes and giving behavior released this week by Russ Reid, a Pasadena, Calif., company that provides direct-marketing services to nonprofits. The study was released here at the Direct Marketing Association New York Nonprofit Conference."

Charities Seeing Slight Recovery in Giving, But Not Enough to Keep Up With Demand or Budget Cuts - Press - AFP

Charities Seeing Slight Recovery in Giving, But Not Enough to Keep Up With Demand or Budget Cuts - Press - AFP: "Charities Seeing Slight Recovery in Giving, But Not Enough to Keep Up With Demand or Budget Cuts

(Nov. 29, 2010) Nonprofit organizations have seen a slight turnaround in giving so far this year that mirrors the slow economic recovery, a new survey from the Nonprofit Research Collaborative (NRC) finds. But the small rebound hasn’t been enough to help many nonprofits that are grappling with staff and service cuts even as demand for their services has increased."

$48 Billion In Giving Projected For The Holidays- The NonProfit Times Nov 30, 2010

$48 Billion In Giving Projected For The Holidays- The NonProfit Times Nov 30, 2010: "$48 Billion In Giving Projected For The Holidays

Americans will spread an average $281 across multiple charities via various solicitation channels this holiday season. Donors who have online relationships with a nonprofit report they will give almost $100 more than the average -- $378 vs. $281.

These are among the findings of a national survey by Edge Research for Austin, Texas-based online fundraising firm Convio. Based on the survey results, Americans could be giving as much as $48 billion during this holiday season. Many nonprofits generate as much as 30 to 40 percent of individual donations during the holidays."

Face-to-face fundraising divides the sector - Third Sector

Face-to-face fundraising divides the sector - Third Sector: "Face-to-face fundraising divides the sector

By Sophie Hudson, Third Sector, 21 September 2010
[Fundraising]

Fundraising

Despite a drop in sign-ups, face-to-face fundraising refuses to go away, reports Sophie Hudson

Face-to-face fundraising, particularly street fundraising or 'chugging', as it has become known, has never been the most popular of fundraising methods with the public. But how effective a method is it proving to be?

The most recent figures from the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association show a slight drop in both the number of sign-ups and the average gift per month for both street and door-to-door fundraising."

Giving by rich Americans fell during recession-study | Reuters

Giving by rich Americans fell during recession-study | Reuters: "Wealthy Americans donated average $54,016 in 2009

* Only 2.5 percent made donations of more than $500,000

By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Charitable giving by wealthy Americans dropped by more than a third between 2007 and 2009 as the worst U.S. recession in decades put pressure on the nonprofit sector, according to a study released on Tuesday.

While almost all rich Americans -- more than 98 percent -- donated to nonprofit groups last year, the average amount fell to $54,016 in 2009 from $83,034 in 2007 and $91,928 in 2005, the third biennial Bank of America Merrill Lynch study found."

Study Questions Efficiency of Charity Business Activities - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Study Questions Efficiency of Charity Business Activities - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Study Questions Efficiency of Charity Business Activities

By Nicole Wallace

As nonprofit organizations earn more unrelated business income—through such activities as merchandise sales or renting their donor lists—the proportion of their budgets that they spend on programs goes down, according to a new report.

The study analyzed 700 informational tax returns filed by 150 social-service organizations in Manhattan for the years 2000 to 2005. It was conducted by Rebecca Tekula, executive director of the Helene and Grant Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Pace University, in New York."

PRESS RELEASE"WealthEngine Releases Best Practices in Arts & Culture Fundraising Report

Outlines Seven Best Practices and Features Museums, Theaters and Performing Arts Centers that are Leveraging Best Practices to Outperform

Bethesda, MD, October 26, 2010 – WealthEngine, the leading provider of sophisticated prospect research tools and analytics, announced today the release of a new research report, entitled Best Practices in Arts & Culture Fundraising. WealthEngine’s Best Practices report is intended to facilitate knowledge sharing, stimulate dialogue and help arts & cultural organizations achieve a higher level of fundraising effectiveness."

The Center on Philanthropy New Study: Women More Charitable Than Men -- SEATTLE, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --: "SEATTLE, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Indiana University releases a new study today showing women are more charitable then men, Christian humanitarian group World Vision says these findings mirror what it is seeing among its supporters across the country. Among the nearly 885,000 Americans who sponsor a child through the organization, three out of four are female.

According to the study by The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, female-headed households—in nearly every income bracket—are more generous towards charities than male-headed households. The survey, titled 'Women Give 2010,' proves that women play a very powerful role in the world of philanthropy both in the likelihood of their giving, and in the amount that is given, the Center says.

World Vision says that while it actively engages both men and women, as well as youth and other groups, women do play a unique role in tackling critical issues in world poverty."

New Study Shows Fraternal Benefit Societies Deliver $3.4 Billion in Annual Value... -- OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ --

PRESS RELEASE

New Study Shows Fraternal Benefit Societies Deliver $3.4 Billion in Annual Value... -- OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ --: "New Study Shows Fraternal Benefit Societies Deliver $3.4 Billion in Annual Value to Communities and Individuals in Need


As Government Resources Dwindle, Societies Fill Growing Needs Gap

OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when growing numbers of Americans are in acute need of economic help, a new Georgetown University study finds that fraternal benefit societies are providing billions of dollars in direct and indirect economic support to allay community needs and support social structures. Not-for-profit mutual aid organizations like Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the Knights of Columbus and more than 70 others were created more than a century ago to serve the financial and social needs of U.S. communities. Today these fraternal benefit societies give back $68 to U.S. society for each dollar that the federal government invests to help support their operations, concludes the study's author, Phillip Swagel, a Georgetown professor and former Assistant Secretary of Economic Policy for the U.S. Treasury Department."

massnonprofit.org ::

massnonprofit.org ::: "Motivation Study Finds Internet Is Key for New Donors

September 6, 2010 — Prospective first-time donors to charitable organizations make extensive use of the Internet to learn about nonprofits—by visiting their websites and by searching for news about them—according to a recently released national study on donor motivation and behavior."

CT charitable grants climbed from 2006 to 2008 | Hartford Business

CT charitable grants climbed from 2006 to 2008 | Hartford Business: "Connecticut grantmakers distributed more than $902.7 million in 2008, a 22 percent increase from 2006, according to 2010 Connecticut Grantmaking Highlights published by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy."

Voluntary sector staff turnover slows but stays above UK average - Third Sector: "Voluntary sector staff turnover slows but stays above UK average
By Kate Youde, Third Sector, 31 August 2010
Economic conditions and job cuts stop charity staff from moving on
Staff turnover in the voluntary sector decreased significantly in the year to March 2010 but is still higher than the UK average, a new report indicates.
The study of 90 medium and large organisations by management and HR consultancy Agenda Consulting found there was 'quite a significant drop' in the proportion of people leaving their jobs compared with 2008/09."

Survey shows how, why we give | StarTribune.com

Survey shows how, why we give | StarTribune.com: "Meanwhile, 61 percent of donors dropped checks in the mailbox -- including four of 10 donors under the age of 40.

Another 34 percent donated online, the survey said. And most people contributed to charities in several ways, said Lisa McIntrye, a Russ Reid senior vice president.

The 'Heart of the Donor'' report was based on interviews with more than 2,000 adults online and by telephone in June."

Greater Green Bay Community Foundation survey: Northeastern Wisconsin nonprofits hit hard by recession, but hopeful | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette

Greater Green Bay Community Foundation survey: Northeastern Wisconsin nonprofits hit hard by recession, but hopeful | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette: "But many feel optimistic about the future, Pamperin said. Almost a third say they are financially healthy, and 60 percent expect to expand services in the next three years.

Pamperin said the tough economy forced many organizations to re-evaluate how they operate, and because they streamlined staffing or programming, or chose to focus on certain goals, they may feel more confident about future stability."

Survey shows pay for nonprofit executives not out of line | StarNewsOnline.com

Survey shows pay for nonprofit executives not out of line | StarNewsOnline.com: "The study “challenges the popular myths that nonprofit executives are overpaid,” said the Raleigh-based organization, which serves as a resource for nonprofit board members and staffers.

The study also found that turnover among nonprofit staffers is about half that of the average American industry, and that three-quarters of state nonprofits offer medical coverage and two-thirds of them a retirement plan."

Notre Dame Funding Generosity Studies - Newsroom - Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick

Notre Dame Funding Generosity Studies - Newsroom - Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick: "Press Release

The University of Notre Dame’s Science of Generosity Initiative has awarded $1.4 million to four research projects that will study the origins, manifestations and consequences of generosity. The winning projects were chosen from among 325 proposals by scholars in 32 countries and numerous disciplines."

Acronym: New study on exec attitudes about the economy: "ASAE & The Center just released its latest economic study, this one features results of a survey that generated 960 responses, each from a different association, conducted earlier this year. The survey form duplicated the questions asked in the Spring of 2009, providing a nice comparison and benchmarking tool. A few of the things that interested me:"

Studies and research regarding online volunteering / virtual volunteering: "Studies and Research Regarding
Online Volunteering / Virtual Volunteering


There are lots of studies regarding volunteerism, but rarely within these studies are any questions asked about the Internet, to determine how volunteers are using the Internet to provide some or all of their service, or how organizations are using the Internet to support and train volunteers. And while there is a plethora of general articles, commentaries and information about online volunteering, there has been relatively little research published regarding the subject, even though the practice of online volunteering has been around for more than 30 years, and even though online mentoring programs have been the 'buzz' for several years now by several high-profile corporations."

Colorado Nonprofit Association

Colorado Nonprofit Association: "Weathering the Storm: Challenges and Opportunities Facing Colorado Nonprofits During Recession, jointly published by the Colorado Nonprofit Association and the Community Resource Center, highlights the impact of Colorado's economy in early 2009 on the demand for programs and the fundraising to support those programs"

State's charities need experienced leadership | delawareonline.com | The News Journal

State's charities need experienced leadership | delawareonline.com | The News Journal: "While they may be well-capitalized, a culture of fiefdoms stagnates too many organizations. The internal inefficiency and disarray are obvious in the substandard level of service being provided.

As it should be, the recently released 'Philanthropy In The First State, Delaware's Nonprofits, Individual Donors and Grantmaking Organizations' report is the talk of the state's nonprofit community.

This first-ever analysis brims with demographic and philosophical validity for a sea change in individual and corporate giving ."

Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management - School of Public Affairs - Baruch College

Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management - School of Public Affairs - Baruch College: "Working Papers
Usable Knowledge for Nonprofit Professionals and Scholars

The Center’s Working Papers Series includes work in progress on significant and emerging policy and management issues. Contributors include Baruch and CUNY faculty as well as major and emerging scholars from other institutions."

Research on tax aims to encourage greater giving | UK Fundraising

Research on tax aims to encourage greater giving | UK Fundraising: "Research on tax aims to encourage greater giving

Submitted by paulartherton on 10 November, 2009 - 11:50.

Philanthropy Ireland and the Irish Charities Tax Reform Group have published research on tax and regulatory policy with the aim of encouraging greater charitable and philanthropic giving in Ireland.

The research was carried out by Farrell Grant Sparks Consulting (FGS) and the key recommendations include:

-- Reducing the current threshold above which tax relief may be applied from €250 to a new rate of €175"

Oregon non-profits adjust to recession challenges - Oregon Business News: "Challenged by the recession, survey results show that nonprofits must take steps to contain costs and continue to serve their communities. In 2009, private donations have decreased by 50% while the demand for services has increased 12%.

The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) surveyed 208 Oregon nonprofit organizations about the impact of the economic recession on donations, demand for services, and cost-saving measures. 134 nonprofits completed the survey. The survey results showed:"

Study: Nonprofits, arts, culture have major impact - The Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida

Study: Nonprofits, arts, culture have major impact - The Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida: "The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville announced last week the results of an economic impact study of the nonprofit arts industry in Duval County. These local results were compiled as part of a comprehensive national economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry. Entitled Arts & Economic Prosperity III, the study was conducted in 156 communities and regions (116 cities and counties, 35 multi-county regions, and 5 states) including Jacksonville. The Cultural Council helped to facilitate the gathering of the detailed economic data from 43 local arts organizations that were among 6,080 arts organizations surveyed nationwide. Americans for the Arts, which conducted the national study, is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America."

Northern California Grantmakers : Beyond Five Percent: The New Foundation Payout Menu: "Beyond Five Percent: The New Foundation Payout Menu
Executive Summary

The majority of US foundations are set up to exist in perpetuity. Most pay out, in grants and administrative costs, around 5% of their assets each year, the minimum required by US law. However, some donors and foundations, driven by their missions, have moved beyond the 'default' positions of perpetuity and 5% payout."

United Way study indicates one-third of region's non-profits could close

United Way study indicates one-third of region's non-profits could close: "The 2009 Non-Profit Pulse Survey results were released this week and it was reported that one-third of the region's non-profits may close operations in the next year due to lack of funding and resources. The annual survey conducted by the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut looks at the fiscal health of the 1,900 non-profits in a 40 town region."

Southern or Midwestern, Geography Does Little to Influence Giving - Philanthropy.com

Southern or Midwestern, Geography Does Little to Influence Giving - Philanthropy.com: "Southern or Midwestern, Geography Does Little to Influence Giving

Money and education, not geography, influence why people give to charity, says a new study by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

The study, based on data from 10,000 households, found that people who make at least $100,000 a year are more likely to give because of an obligation to help others less fortunate, or a desire to improve the towns and cities in which they live."

Aging: United Way a worthy recipient no matter reason for generosity | news-press.com | The News-Press

Aging: United Way a worthy recipient no matter reason for generosity | news-press.com | The News-Press: "The 2008 Generational Differences in Charitable Giving and in Motivations for Giving report, which was prepared by The Center for Philanthropy at Indiana University, summarizes trends in charitable giving across generations of donors.

In the survey, donors representing the Great, Silent, Boomer, X and Millennial generations were asked about their motivation for giving to charitable organizations."

Survey: Economy impacts charitable giving - South Florida Business Journal:

Survey: Economy impacts charitable giving - South Florida Business Journal:: "The economy is impacting American’s charitable mood.

A new survey by World Vision, an international Christian relief and development organization, found three out of four adults saying the current economic climate has impacted their giving, and one in three giving less."

38% of Companies Cut Cash Giving in 2009, Study Finds - Philanthropy.com

38% of Companies Cut Cash Giving in 2009, Study Finds - Philanthropy.com: "38% of Companies Cut Cash Giving in 2009, Study Finds

By Caroline Preston

Business leaders say they remain committed to being good corporate citizens even during the recession, but financial pressures have forced some to cut back on philanthropy and volunteerism, according to a new study by the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and the Hitachi Foundation."

Article

Article: "Sixty-eight percent of the nonprofits surveyed for the 13th Annual Report Card on Charitable Giving say the economic downturn has caused a drop in giving. Sixty-three percent of the agencies feel the state of philanthropy is getting worse. Of the organizations providing direct services to clients, 62 percent say demand for assistance is increasing."

AFP > Resource Center | Fundraising news > Study Shows Americans Pulling Back From Volunteering

AFP > Resource Center | Fundraising news > Study Shows Americans Pulling Back From Volunteering: "Study Shows Americans Pulling Back From Volunteering

(Sept. 1, 2009) Americans say they have cut back on volunteer service to their communities and believe others have chosen to look out for themselves as a result of the recession."

Nonprofits' Outlook After A Year Of Living Dangerously- City Limits: News for NYC's Nonprofit, Policy and Activist World

Nonprofits' Outlook After A Year Of Living Dangerously- City Limits: News for NYC's Nonprofit, Policy and Activist World: "A survey of nearly 250 executive directors of New York City human services nonprofits, conducted in June by the Human Services Council of New York City and Baruch College’s Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management, found that 80 percent of the organizations surveyed had lost at least some private funding in the last year. That survey, to be released in full on September 9, also found that two-thirds of respondents had seen decreases in their public funding."

Press Release: In Tough Times, Volunteering In America Remains Strong

Press Release: In Tough Times, Volunteering In America Remains Strong: "New Federal Report Ranks 50 States and 200 Cities, Shows Young Adults & “Do-It-Yourself” Volunteers Leading Compassion Boom

Washington, DC – A new report released today by the Corporation for National and Community Service finds that even during a time of prolonged economic recession, volunteering has remained steady, fueled by a compassion boom led by young adults and a wave of do-it-yourself volunteers working with their neighbors to fix problems."

Memphis Daily News - Study Shows Recession’s Impact On Nonprofit Orgs

Memphis Daily News - Study Shows Recession’s Impact On Nonprofit Orgs: "A prolonged recession that increases demands on Mid-South nonprofit organizations while their revenues falter is having a severe impact, according to a report by the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence."

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story: "Last month, the HR Council for the Voluntary & Non-Profit Sector (HR Council) released the third and final part of its ongoing study on labour force issues within the sector.

The first two reports - Report #1: A framework for understanding the sector's labour force and Report #2: Findings from Canada-wide surveys of employers and employees - were published last year and can be found on the HRVS website if one wants to start from the beginning. (Note: CharityVillage covered the second report last year.)"

Study Ties Charity’s Board Size to Losses in Madoff Scandal - NYTimes.com

Study Ties Charity’s Board Size to Losses in Madoff Scandal - NYTimes.com: "Study Ties Madoff Loss to Charity’s Board Size




By STEPHANIE STROM
Published: June 24, 2009

A majority of more than 100 foundations that lost 30 percent to all of their assets in the Madoff scandal had four or fewer board members, according an analysis by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, a charity watchdog organization."

Learning from Madoff: NCRP

Learning from Madoff: NCRP: "Full title: Learning from Madoff: Lessons for Foundation Boards

Published: June 2009

More than 80 percent of foundations that lost between 30 to 100 percent of their assets to Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme had fewer than five trustees serving on their boards."

MCN

MCN

Welcome To The Bethel Citizen, Bethel, Maine

Welcome To The Bethel Citizen, Bethel, Maine: "New survey assesses potential for nonprofit collaboration here
Michael Daniels
Have nonprofit organizations in the greater Bethel area evolved to the point where a greater degree of mutual collaboration could be of benefit to many them — especially when it comes to raising money?"

Professional Fundraising | Personality-led philanthropy for family business

Professional Fundraising | Personality-led philanthropy for family business: "The personality of a charity’s leader is as critical to philanthropic decision-making by family businesses as the organisation’s charitable mission, according to new research."

Asian American Giving: New philanthropy resources (06/07/09)

Asian American Giving: New philanthropy resources (06/07/09): "The philanthropy field is now so popular that new studies are coming out almost every week. Three studies were released in the past several weeks that I think are worthwhile to take a look at. First, corporate foundation giving will decline in 2009 so nonprofits that are working on their 2009 budgets now should take this reduction of revenue stream into consideration. Second, a study of giving circles and how it impacts giving and civic engagement was released. Since giving circles are social vehicles, it was not suprising that those that participate in giving circles have a higher engagement with their communities. However, more research on giving circles and how they impact communities like the Asian American community is still needed. Third, women play a prominent role in philanthropic decisions and not surprisngly - are much more open to receiving advice on their giving. As I come across more philanthropic research that affects our community in the future, I will be sure to share it with you."

Professional Fundraising | Philanthropists not cutting back

Professional Fundraising | Philanthropists not cutting back: "Major donors show no signs of winding back their giving, according to a survey released today.

Nearly nine in ten philanthropists at a recent forum said that they planned to increase their giving (42 per cent) or maintain their current levels (45 per cent) over the next year, regardless of the economic downturn."

Hire More Fundraising Rain-Makers During Recession, New AHP Study Concludes - Examiner.com

Hire More Fundraising Rain-Makers During Recession, New AHP Study Concludes - Examiner.com: "These and other important findings come from the latest series of reports from the AHP Performance Benchmarking Service for fiscal year 2007, which takes in the early months of the current recession. The AHP's annual surveys examine the performance of organizations, such as hospital-affiliated foundations, that raise funds for nonprofit health care facilities."

San Francisco Sentinel » Blog Archives » SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA NONPROFITS STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE - SURVEY

San Francisco Sentinel » Blog Archives » SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA NONPROFITS STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE - SURVEY: "One third of Bay Area nonprofits are concerned they may cease operations within the next year, according to United Way of the Bay Area’s 2009 Nonprofit Pulse Survey. Correspondingly, 34% report they have two or fewer months of operating expenses in reserves."

Passion and Purpose Video Page 1 of 4

Passion and Purpose Video Page 1 of 4: "In June of 2008, when the Boston Foundation published its first major report on the state of the nonprofit sector in Massachusetts, called Passion & Purpose, one of the goals was to explore ways to enhance this powerful sector’s financial viability and maximize its impact. The data in the report uncovered the strength and the vulnerabilities of the sector. With $87 billion in revenues, $207 billion in assets, and close to 450,000 workers, the Massachusetts nonprofit sector emerged as a major economic force. But the impact of the sector’s growth—combined with a lack of growth in financial support and increasing community need—had taken its toll, resulting in a weakening economic condition. By 2007, the sector had just about recovered from the recession that started in 2001 and worsened after 9/11. We had no way of knowing, of course, that the next recession was just around the corner—and that it would be the most serious economic downturn since World War II."

Gifted at giving: An 11-year-old buoys Oregon coast food bank - OregonLive.com

Gifted at giving: An 11-year-old buoys Oregon coast food bank - OregonLive.com: "FLORENCE -- By the time Taylor Graham started school, he was already gifted at giving -- though it's doubtful anyone would have predicted by age 11, he would be the dynamo behind the biggest fundraiser the local food sharing agency has known."

Report: Foundation budgets decreasing - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

Report: Foundation budgets decreasing - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:: "The economy has changed the state’s philanthropic landscape, a new State of Giving Report released Thursday by the Donors Forum of Wisconsin found."

Analysis of Gates Foundation grants shows reach of the world’s largest philanthropy fund

Analysis of Gates Foundation grants shows reach of the world’s largest philanthropy fund: "SEATTLE — A new study of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation illustrates its global reach with spending on health issues, but notes a need for accountability on whether the money is being spent in the most effective way."

frogloop Home~Care2's blog for nonprofits - frogloop

frogloop Home~Care2's blog for nonprofits - frogloop: "Tis the season for benchmark studies. In that spirit, Convio released their comprehensive online marketing study today that looked at close to 600 nonprofit organizations’ online marketing results and compiled benchmarks for evaluating fundraising, email, advocacy, and marketing success online. Overall, the nonprofit online landscape looks good. Online fundraising, email list growth and website traffic continue to increase. However, in the fourth quarter nonprofits experienced a dip in average gift sizes. While donors continued to donate money, the average gift was smaller. Nonetheless, revenue still grew by 3% in the fourth quarter."

Community Newswire

Community Newswire: "When given a range of potential areas of household expenditures that they could cut, more than a third (34%) of the public said they expected to cut back on giving to charity in the next 12 months.

But almost half (46%) of non-donors who claimed to give less because of the credit crunch, don't give money to charity anyway, or they haven't in the past three months. The figure dips to just 31% among those who have given to charity recently.

The study was carried out by research consultancy nfpSynergy's Charity Awareness Monitor, which carries out an annual survey, with a representative sample of 1,000 people aged over 16 throughout mainland Britain, asking a range of charity-related questions."

Downturn is hurting non-profits | www.azstarnet.com ®

Downturn is hurting non-profits | www.azstarnet.com ®: "Arizona non-profits have been forced to do more with less in these trying economic times, a survey conducted in February confirms.
The Arizona Alliance of Nonprofits queried organizations throughout the state and got responses from 87. Non-profits from every county participated."

Survey: Recession stalls U.S. corporate giving - Business First of Columbus:

Survey: Recession stalls U.S. corporate giving - Business First of Columbus:: "Tough economic times for businesses are likely to make their mark on philanthropy efforts this year, according to a new survey by the Conference Board.

The survey, which polled 158 companies last month on planned changes in corporate giving programs, found that 45 percent of those surveyed already have cut 2009 giving budgets and another 16 percent are considering that move, according to the New York-based board."

GCIP in New Mexico

GCIP in New Mexico: "Grantmaking for Community Impact Project (GCIP)
Increasing philanthropic resources for advocacy, organizing and civic engagement

In New Mexico

NCRP selected New Mexico as the first site for our Grantmaking for Community Impact Project (GCIP). In the newly-released report Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in New Mexico, NCRP documented how local and state organizations leveraged foundation resources to secure billions of dollars in benefits for New Mexicans."