Study: Conservatives and liberals are equally charitable, but they give to different charities

Study: Conservatives and liberals are equally charitable, but they give to different charities: Leaving aside the fraught question of whether charitable donations and taxes serve the same question, is this really true? Do conservatives give more away? According to a new study by two MIT political scientists, not really.

Michele Margolis and Michael Sances note that Brooks’ conclusion comes from a dataset that doesn’t really ask how conservative people are politically so much as how conservative they are socially. Using a dataset which uses more traditional questions to test political beliefs – the General Social Survey – they found no statistically significant relationship between peoples’ political beliefs, or their partisan affiliation, and their charitable giving level. And this held at the state level too. There was no significant relationship between a state’s level of giving and the vote share that Bush received in that state in 2004.

Acquisition, But First … | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits

Acquisition, But First … | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits: But we are compelled — yes, compelled — to start the ball rolling with yet another warning about donor retention!

Compelled because this recent ‘Must Read’ report — the 2012 Fundraising Effectiveness Report — from the Association of Fundraising Professionals drives home once again the utter futility of pouring newly acquired donors into leaky buckets.

Here are the grim facts (looking at 2011-12 fundraising by 3,184 organizations, who raised over $2 billion in 2011):

Giving in recession? - Web Exclusive Article - Significance Magazine

Giving in recession? - Web Exclusive Article - Significance Magazine: How generous are we now, as times get harder? The British Social Attitudes Survey, published last month, suggests that our attitudes towards the unemployed and the retired are becoming less generous; those out of work are generally viewed as not deserving of welfare. In 2011 almost two thirds of Britons thought that unemployment benefits discourage work, and just over half the population thinks that if benefits were less generous people would become more self-reliant. The latest survey also shows a continuing decline for public spending on all types of benefits; only 28% of the population thinks the government should spend more on welfare benefits.

Young donors: donation deficit or an engagement deficit? - Institute of Fundraising

Young donors: donation deficit or an engagement deficit? - Institute of Fundraising: The recent University of Bristol/CAF report ‘Mind the Gap’ suggests 18-30 year olds are giving significantly less likely to give to charity than previous generations. But are we are actually facing a ‘donation deficit’? Catherine Miles is not convinced…

Typical Twitter user is a young woman with an iPhone & 208 followers — Tech News and Analysis

Typical Twitter user is a young woman with an iPhone & 208 followers — Tech News and Analysis: witter’s endless funnel of data is producing an equally endless series of studies — including on Twitter itself. The latest study offers fun tidbits about who is using Twitter and why.

In “An Exhaustive Study of Twitter Users Around the World,” analytics firm Beevolve claims to have crunched data from 36 million Twitter profiles. What they found probably corresponds to what you suspected: most Twitter users are young iPhone users from English speaking countries.

Charities’ Fundraising Improves Slightly, But Still Not Retaining Donors - The Paramus Post - Greater Paramus News and Lifestyle Webzine

Charities’ Fundraising Improves Slightly, But Still Not Retaining Donors - The Paramus Post - Greater Paramus News and Lifestyle Webzine: While we’ve seen some positive movement in the FEP survey numbers compared to previous years, the sector cannot become complacent when it comes to donor retention,” said Andrew Watt, president and CEO of AFP. “We’re still losing more donors than we gain, and that puts such a financial strain on our organizations because of inflation and the fact that it’s more expensive to find new donors than keep existing ones.”

Senior Fundraisers and CEO's Don't See Eye to Eye - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Senior Fundraisers and CEO's Don't See Eye to Eye - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Senior Fundraisers and CEO’s Don’t See Eye to Eye

October 11, 2012, 10:58 am

By Holly Hall

As turnover among fundraisers becomes a growing problem for nonprofits, a new study suggests that the revolving door in development offices may be due to a big gap in how chief executives and development officers see the process of attracting donations.

The study, conducted by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, questioned 70 community-college leaders and 137 chief fundraisers at such institutions.

Welsh voluntary sector is pleased with itself

Welsh voluntary sector is pleased with itself: Ninety per cent of Welsh trustees judged themselves ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ good at managing their charities in a Charity Commission survey.

The Commission regulates charities in England and Wales, and this is the first survey conducted amongst Welsh charities looking at how well trustees think they are running their organisation.

The survey was completed by trustees of over 500 charities with an income over �100,000 in Wales. There are more than 8,000 charities registered in the country in total, with a joint income of �1.9bn.

Philanthropy Management: China Strives to Adopt Another U.S. Practice: Strategic Philanthropy - San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.com

Philanthropy Management: China Strives to Adopt Another U.S. Practice: Strategic Philanthropy - San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.com: According to a UBS-Insead study, the earliest Chinese foundations were established barely 30 years ago but Chinese philanthropic initiatives are growing rapidly, with more than 70% formed since 2000. "While family giving is an established practice in much of Asia, China lacks a longstanding culture of structured philanthropy, though there is increasing social pressure on China's newly wealthy to give more generously," said Schwartz. In 2011, Chinese entrepreneur Cao Dewang gave $700 million in donations. Although this is dwarfed by Margaret A. Cargill's $6 billion bequest last year, it would have placed Dewang at number two in the US.

How charities can make the most of their reserves | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

How charities can make the most of their reserves | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: How charities can make the most of their reserves

Many charities do not keep a close enough eye on whether they have too much or too little in reserves, says Andy Rich

Stamps $33 Million, Alpert $6 Million Mark Rise in Giving - Businessweek

Stamps $33 Million, Alpert $6 Million Mark Rise in Giving - Businessweek: Nonprofits can expect to see more giving from wealthy donors, according to the 2012 Bank of America “Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy,” published last week.

About 24 percent of the 700 donors surveyed will increase their giving in the next three to five years. About 52.4 percent said their giving will remain at current levels, and 9.4 percent say they’ll give less.

Lasa report showcases top digital tips from sector leaders

Lasa report showcases top digital tips from sector leaders: Lasa has launched an online report exploring the potential of technologies for the sector and urged others to share their thoughts.

Titled Digital: What Every Charity Leader Should Know, the report asked 31 relevant parties to summarise their top five digital insights using one digital presentation slide. The report includes contributions from Martha Lane Fox (chair, Go On UK and the UK's digital champion), Nigel Lewis (CEO, AbilityNet), and Karl Wilding (head of foresight, NCVO).

Wealthy to increase or continue charitable donations - chicagotribune.com

Wealthy to increase or continue charitable donations - chicagotribune.com: Wealthy U.S. investors plan to donate more to charity in the next three to five years or continue giving at current levels, and about half contributed to political campaigns last year, according to survey results released on Wednesday.

The findings appear to indicate that wealthy investors are optimistic about the stock market and their financial well-being, said Una Osili, director of research for the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, which conducts the biennial study.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 28, 2012: Report Details Use of Payments in Lieu of Taxes by Nonprofits | PRNewswire | Rock Hill Herald Online

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 28, 2012: Report Details Use of Payments in Lieu of Taxes by Nonprofits | PRNewswire | Rock Hill Herald Online: The great majority of PILOT revenue comes from universities and hospitals, most PILOT activity occurs in the Northeast, and a small number of multi-million dollar PILOTs account for the majority of all revenue received nationwide, according to Payments in Lieu of Taxes by Nonprofits: Which Nonprofits Make PILOTs and Which Localities Receive Them, authored by Daphne A. Kenyon, Adam H. Langley and Patricia C. Bailin.

Charity Dynamics and NTEN Conduct Nonprofit Donor Engagement Research, Gather Benchmark Data on Individual Engagement Trends - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee

Charity Dynamics and NTEN Conduct Nonprofit Donor Engagement Research, Gather Benchmark Data on Individual Engagement Trends - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee: AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 27, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit organizations that engage their supporters stand to benefit the most when it comes to receiving their cut of an individual's overall charitable donations, according to results from a recent benchmark survey conducted by Charity Dynamics and the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN).

Philly Arts Worth $3.3 Billion - TheNonProfitTimes

Philly Arts Worth $3.3 Billion - TheNonProfitTimes: he arts and cultural sector in Philadelphia, Pa., has a $3.3-billion impact on the region’s economy, employing 44,000 jobs and is outperforming the nation as a whole, according to research published by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.

The Arts, Culture and Economic Prosperity in Greater Philadelphia report details how spending by cultural organizations and their audiences ripples through the economy, generating revenues for businesses, families and local governments.

To Raise More Money, Talk About Impact, New Guide Advises - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

To Raise More Money, Talk About Impact, New Guide Advises - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The manual is based on a study that found donors would be willing to shift $15-billion in giving to high-performing nonprofits if they had easy access to good information about the organizations’ work. The study, conducted by GuideStar, the nonprofit online publisher of data on charities, and Hope Consulting, was based on surveys of more than 5,000 donors, 875 donor advisers, and 725 foundation officials.

The venture philanthropy ecosystem in India - AVPN

The venture philanthropy ecosystem in India - AVPN: There are several gaps in India’s venture philanthropy (VP) ecosystem, which is currently still at a nascent stage, according to a study jointly published by the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network and Ernst & Young. “Exploring the Venture Philanthropy Ecosystem in India” explores all the elements operating in the VP domain in the country.

Utah lost 38 percent of nonprofits, charities since 2009 | Deseret News

Utah lost 38 percent of nonprofits, charities since 2009 | Deseret News: Nonprofits in Utah dropped by 38 percent to 3,568 since 2009 as many are struggling to find finances for already struggling budgets, according to a study by the Community Foundation of Utah.

Four out of every five nonprofit organizations in Utah work with budgets of less than $100,000 while employing more than 5 percent of the state’s work force.

Generation gap in giving needs urgent attention, warns CAF

Generation gap in giving needs urgent attention, warns CAF: Charities Aid Foundation has produced new research indicating that younger people today are much less likely to give to charity than those of the same age a generation ago – and that people in their sixties are now six times more generous than those under 30.

Nonprofits Need a Strong, Unified Voice to Lobby Government, Report Says - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Nonprofits Need a Strong, Unified Voice to Lobby Government, Report Says - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A two-year study involving more than 100 interviews with experts and studies of 500 advocacy efforts was released Wednesday by Independent Sector, a coalition of charities and foundations. The report estimated that it would cost $20-million over four years to establish a national organization to push a nonprofit agenda.

Tax Hikes a Threat to Charitable Giving, Say Billionaires - U.S. Business News - CNBC

Tax Hikes a Threat to Charitable Giving, Say Billionaires - U.S. Business News - CNBC: But there is another incentive for the rich to give: lowering their taxes.

According to a poll of the 150 attendees of the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy, sponsored by Credit Suisse, 56 percent of the billionaires present said that “taxes impact our philanthropic giving.” (Read more: Rich Give Less to Charity Than Middle Class)

Affluent Donors Prefer Restricted Gifts - Donors - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Affluent Donors Prefer Restricted Gifts - Donors - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The richer a donor is, the less likely he or she is to make unrestricted gifts, a new study of the world’s wealthiest donors has found. Nearly 70 percent of donors with $1-million to $5-million in investable assets say they prefer to give unrestricted gifts to charity, while among those with assets of $50-million or more, just 45 percent say they prefer to make unrestricted gifts.

The study, conducted by Forbes magazine and Credit Suisse, polled 264 donors with investable assets of at least $1-million.

Micro-finance can make the poorest poorer, study warns

Micro-finance can make the poorest poorer, study warns: The Institute of Education has praised micro-finance as a means of reducing poverty, but warns that caution must be used when lending to the very poorest.

In a Department for International Development-commissioned report that compiles worldwide data, researchers from the EPPI-Centre at the Institute of Education, University of London have concluded that micro-credit can end up making people poorer as well as better off – and in fact the poorer the borrower is, the more in danger he or she is of suffering in the long term.

Micro-credit – giving minor loans for establishing a small business, such as a market stall – is designed to be a stable way to help people out of poverty.

Nonprofit Leaders: Foundations Don’t Support Assessment

massnonprofit.org ::: According to the study conducted by Cambridge-based Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), a nonprofit that helps philanthropic funders assess and improve their effectiveness, 81% of nonprofit leaders surveyed believe that nonprofits should demonstrate the effectiveness of their work by using performance measures, but 71% report receiving no foundation support, monetary or nonmonetary, for their organization’s assessment efforts.

“Nonprofits are routinely castigated for their unwillingness to make a hard-nosed assessment of their impact,” says CEP President Phil Buchanan. “Some even suggest that what we need are hybrid businesses that combine a for-profit focus on the bottom line with a mission. But when we actually stop and listen to nonprofits a very different picture emerges. The 177 nonprofit leaders we surveyed overwhelmingly care about measuring their impact. What they need is help – financial and practical help from their funders.”

New GuideStar Nonprofit Compensation Report Reveals Struggling Economy Continued to Affect Nonprofit CEO Compensation in FY 2010 - MarketWatch

New GuideStar Nonprofit Compensation Report Reveals Struggling Economy Continued to Affect Nonprofit CEO Compensation in FY 2010 - MarketWatch: uideStar--the leading source of nonprofit information--today published its 2012 GuideStar Nonprofit Compensation Report, the only large-scale analysis of its kind that relies exclusively on data reported to the IRS. Between 2009 and 2010, increases for incumbent CEO compensation started to creep back up at larger organizations, though still below levels seen before the economic meltdown. At organizations with expenses of $1 million or less, compensation increases were lower than during the period between 2008 and 2009

Times Higher Education - Faith and hope in �2 billion of charity by 2022

Times Higher Education - Faith and hope in �2 billion of charity by 2022: Charitable donations to universities could treble to �2 billion a year within a decade if institutions continue to invest in fundraising, a report has claimed.

The Review of Philanthropy in Higher Education led by Shirley Pearce, former vice-chancellor of Loughborough University, found that just 1.2 per cent of UK alumni give to their alma maters compared with 10 per cent of US graduates.

Universities benefit from rise in philanthropy - Charity fundraising news - News - Civil Society

Universities benefit from rise in philanthropy - Charity fundraising news - News - Civil Society: There is a growing culture of donating to universities, but there is still more to be done, according to a new report.

Review of Philanthropy in UK Higher Education Institutes looked at philanthropy in the UK over the last 10 years. It found that for the last five years the total amount and number of donors to universities has increased.

For the financial year 2006-2007 131 UK institutions reported they had raised a total of �513m from 132,000 donors. Five years later this had risen to 152 institutions reporting �693m from 204,000 donors.

Recession and competition are changing Indiana’s social assistance nonprofits, IU report shows: IU News Room: Indiana University

Recession and competition are changing Indiana’s social assistance nonprofits, IU report shows: IU News Room: Indiana University: BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana nonprofit social assistance agencies are feeling the effects of the Great Recession and the increased competition from for-profit firms, a new report from Indiana University shows.

MCF | Giving in Minnesota

MCF | Giving in Minnesota: New Research Released on the Arts

According to new MCF research, Minnesota grantmaking to the arts rebounded significantly in 2010, growing to $129 million, which is 20 percent above 2009 levels. The rise follows an almost steady decline in arts giving since 2004.

MCF also released a report in August on education giving, finding more grantmaking dollars funneled toward K-12 needs. The complete Giving in Minnesota, 2012 Edition will be released in October.

This update includes trends and analysis on over $30 million in donations to more than 20,000 charities through the Network for Good platform in the second quarter (Q2) of 2012. The platform includes donations to Network for Good’s nonprofit customers through their own websites; other nonprofits through more than 40 corporate partner websites; and Network for Good’s giving portals, NetworkforGood.org and SixDegrees.org.

How well are large charities governed? | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

How well are large charities governed? | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: Detailed research by Compass Partnership and Cass Centre for Charity Effectiveness has revealed key findings in the effective governance of charities. Over the last 20 years, great effort has been put into reviewing governance and making improvements. We wanted to discover how successful large charities have been in doing so and, crucially, which characteristics of governance are associated with high performance.

Number of women FDs at top-100 charities continues to fall - Charity finance news - News - Civil Society

Number of women FDs at top-100 charities continues to fall - Charity finance news - News - Civil Society: Fewer women occupy the top finance jobs at the UK’s largest 100 charities than six years ago, exclusive new research by Charity Finance magazine has revealed.

Behaviour is key to successful governance, survey finds - Charity governance and trustee news - News - Civil Society

Behaviour is key to successful governance, survey finds - Charity governance and trustee news - News - Civil Society: A survey of the 500 largest charities has revealed that their governance would be improved by focusing on their leaders’ behaviour, rather than structures and processes.

Survey says: Most noprofiteers blend their personal/professional brands | Big Duck

Survey says: Most noprofiteers blend their personal/professional brands | Big Duck: Last week I had the joy of presenting a workshop with the fabulous Danielle Brigida of the National Wildlife Federation at the 7th Annual Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference in Washington, DC. To gear up for our session on "Mixing Business and Pleasure: Managing Your Personal Brand in Social Media," we asked nonprofiteers (readers like you!) to respond to a quick survey about their own behaviors.

We heard from 209 nonprofit staff, consultants, and the people who love us--and some of the results suprised us. While not scientific, the survey offers some interesting insights and we highlighted the key findings in our presentation (included in the slides below and online here). Here are some of those insights:

Boomer women bigger donors, study says � Philanthropy North Carolina

Boomer women bigger donors, study says � Philanthropy North Carolina: At all income levels, and no matter what share of permanent income they give, Boomer and older women give 89 percent more to charity than their male counterparts, says Women Give 2012, a study from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Among women in the top 25 percent of permanent income who give at the highest level, or 3 percent or more of income, Boomer and older women give 156 percent more than men the same circumstances.

Grey Matter - Non-profit Overhead

Grey Matter - Non-profit Overhead: The average American adult believes it is reasonable for non-profit organizations to spend 23 cents out of every dollar on overhead expenses such as fundraising and administration. The problem is, that same average adult believes non-profits actually spend 37 cents out of every dollar on overhead – in other words, 60% more than they should.



These figures come from a new study conducted by Grey Matter Research (Phoenix, Arizona) among a demographically representative sample of 1,011 American adults. The study is titled Where’d My Money Go?, and is a follow-up to a 2008 study of the same name.

Study Reveals The Geography of Charitable Giving : NPR

Study Reveals The Geography of Charitable Giving : NPR: Ever wonder how charitable the people are who live in your state or community? It turns out that lower-income people tend to donate a much bigger share of their discretionary incomes than wealthier people do. And rich people are more generous when they live among those who aren't so rich.

How America Gives - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

How America Gives - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Local infrastructure organisations to lose 19 per cent of income this year, poll finds | Third Sector

Local infrastructure organisations to lose 19 per cent of income this year, poll finds | Third Sector: Findings of a Navca survey paint a worrying picture of the state of the sector, says Joe Irvin, its chief executive

Local infrastructure organisations are expected to see an average 19 per cent drop in their income over the next year, according to a report published by Navca today.

A survey carried out by the local infrastructure umbrella body among 90 of its 350 members in April and May showed that average income was expected to fall from �477,500 in 2011/12 to �385,000 in 2012/13.

Local nonprofits look for new ways to navigate tough economic times - St. Louis Beacon

Local nonprofits look for new ways to navigate tough economic times - St. Louis Beacon: Nonprofit organizations are experiencing a tectonic shift in the way they function, requiring many organizations to experiment with new practices, said Rob Reich at the annual Philanthropic Landscape event on Thursday. The event presented the results of the organization's survey of more than 500 St. Louis area nonprofits, grant makers and community representatives.

New Study: Donations Grow at Slow�Pace - Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media -

New Study: Donations Grow at Slow�Pace - Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media -: Nonprofits raised $298.4 billion in 2011, according Giving USA, one of the largest studies conducted in the nonprofit sector. While $298.4 billion might seem like a lot of money, it’s only about 2% of the GDP. The study also shows how much charities are still struggling to raise money in a bad economy. Charitable giving only grew by 0.9%. At this rate, philanthropic giving would not recover until 2022, said Patrick Rooney, Executive Director of the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, which coordinates the Giving USA study.

Pro-bono work tops nonprofits’ volunteer needs � Philanthropy North Carolina

Pro-bono work tops nonprofits’ volunteer needs � Philanthropy North Carolina: Still, nonprofits face challenges making productive use of volunters, says the Pro Bono Readiness Survey conducted by LBG Research Institute for a collaborative convened by Capital One Financial Corporation and including Common Impact, Points of Light and the Taproot Found

Women bring a new approach to philanthropy - CSMonitor.com

Women bring a new approach to philanthropy - CSMonitor.com: Women are taking ownership," said Andrea Pactor, associate director of the Women's Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University, which has found that female-headed households are more likely to give to charity than male-headed households, and that in nearly all income groups women give more than men.

Sonoma Valley Sun | Sonoma nonprofit executive directors earn about $95,000 a year � Nonprofit Matters

Sonoma Valley Sun | Sonoma nonprofit executive directors earn about $95,000 a year � Nonprofit Matters: The results of the 2012 “Fair Pay for Northern California Nonprofits Compensation and Benefits Survey” are in and things are looking up for the employees of our local nonprofits. Nonprofit Compensation Associates has produced an annual survey among the 48 counties in Northern California for the past 33 years and was generous enough to provide a customized report summarizing the results regarding the 29 nonprofit organizations in Sonoma County that were included in the study. The study reports that salaries are up two to two-and-a-half percent over the prior year.

Donors trust charities, non-donors far less, says FRSB research | UK Fundraising

Donors trust charities, non-donors far less, says FRSB research | UK Fundraising: People who give to charity are much more likely to trust charities than those who do not give. This was confirmed by research commissioned by the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB).

North Jersey non-profits still see giving suffering from recession - NorthJersey.com

North Jersey non-profits still see giving suffering from recession - NorthJersey.com: Economists tell us the recession has officially been over for three years.

They should try telling that to charity officials.

Or to the people who make donations.

A recent survey of more than 2,500 non-profits found contributions are down across the country so far this year. That comes on the heels of the nation’s largest study of charitable giving, which found that donations in 2011 were virtually unchanged from the recession-depressed levels of the year before, after adjusting for inflation.

Consumers, i.e., Donors, Starting To Like Tumblr - TheNonProfitTimes

Consumers, i.e., Donors, Starting To Like Tumblr - TheNonProfitTimes: Tumblr, to me, is a great platform to reach a new, young audience,” said Rochee Jeffrey, FB’s social media coordinator. FB’s Tumblr has between 25,000 and 30,000 (number of Tumblr followers are not made public), compared to 22,000 Facebook fans and 20,000 Twitter followers. “The virality factor is fairly high. We’ve had more success spreading messages on Tumblr than Twitter or Facebook,” said Jeffrey.

The Blackbaud Index: Overall Charitable Giving down 1.1% in May and Online Giving up 6.9% - Press Release - Digital Journal

Press Release

The Blackbaud Index: Overall Charitable Giving down 1.1% in May and Online Giving up 6.9% - Press Release - Digital Journal: Charleston, South Carolina (PRWEB) July 02, 2012

The Blackbaud Index of Charitable Giving, a broad-based fundraising index that reports overall giving trends of 2,564 US-based nonprofit organizations representing $7.1 billion in yearly giving on a monthly basis, today reported that charitable giving decreased 1.1% for the three months ending May 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011. The Blackbaud Index of Online Giving, comprised of actual revenue data from 2,026 nonprofits representing $387 million in yearly online giving, reported that online giving rose 6.9% for the three months ending May 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011.

Number of women trustees at the largest UK charities rises - Civil Society - Governance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Number of women trustees at the largest UK charities rises - Civil Society - Governance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: Charity 100 Index boards include increasing numbers of women, but they are falling short in other areas of diversity, according to the Trustee Leadership of the Largest 100 Charities survey published this month.

The survey, which is in its third year, is a biennial look into the make-up of trustee boards on the Charity 100 Index, which tracks income levels of the largest 100 charities in the UK.

Morale plummets among fundraisers, survey shows

Morale plummets among fundraisers, survey shows: Home �
News �
By Ian Griggs, Third Sector, 2 July 2012


Survey finds morale is low
The quality of leadership is one of the major areas for concern among fundraisers, according to the results of the Charity Pulse poll

Fundraisers suffered a sharp fall in morale and job satisfaction over the past year, according to this year’s Charity Pulse survey.

The survey, run by Third Sector and Birdsong Charity Consulting, gathered opinions from 579 charity staff in 170 organisations, including 246 fundraisers.

Websites profile Canada's leading charities

Websites profile Canada's leading charities: According to the most recent reports by Statistics Canada, nearly six million Canadians gave $8.3 billion to about 85,000 registered charities in 2010, up 6.5% from 2009. And that doesn't include support given unregistered good causes or the value of millions of hours of volunteer time.

Many of those donors make an effort to ensure their donations go to the most worthwhile causes. Yet according to a recent Fraud Prevention Month survey by Angus Reid Forum, a surprising percentage of donors give money to causes without prior research.

Study Shows Expansion Can Be Unhealthy for Arts Groups - NYTimes.com

Study Shows Expansion Can Be Unhealthy for Arts Groups - NYTimes.com: Other reasons that organizations will build too much are overambitious trustees, self-interested architects and unrealistic financial projections, according to the study by the Cultural Policy Center at the University of Chicago that is to be released Thursday.

The study, “Set in Stone,” examined the cultural building boom between 1994 and 2008, when museums, performing arts centers and theaters in the United States

Philanthropists and foundations are 'unnecessarily risk-averse', says report

Philanthropists and foundations are 'unnecessarily risk-averse', says report: Philanthropists and foundations can often be unnecessarily risk-averse when making decisions about development funding, according to a report published today.

Risk and Philanthropy, commissioned by the Resource Alliance and the Rockefeller Foundation, is based on 27 detailed interviews with development philanthropists, philanthropic intermediaries, grant-makers from leading international foundations and sector academics.

Philanthropists and foundations are 'unnecessarily risk-averse', says report

Philanthropists and foundations are 'unnecessarily risk-averse', says report: Philanthropists and foundations can often be unnecessarily risk-averse when making decisions about development funding, according to a report published today.

Risk and Philanthropy, commissioned by the Resource Alliance and the Rockefeller Foundation, is based on 27 detailed interviews with development philanthropists, philanthropic intermediaries, grant-makers from leading international foundations and sector academics.

mplications of the New Normal for Fundraising

massnonprofit.org ::: The poll of more than 1000 Americans, commissioned by the Boston Public Relations firm of SolomonMcCown, contains both good and bad news for non-profit fundraising.

Entitled “The New Normal,” the presenting poll firm, Anderson Robbins Research, summarized the findings by stating “We care more about the rainbow than the pot of gold.” Making a lot of money ranked dead last in the most important elements of the American Dream.

The Currency of Social Change | Barr Foundation

The Currency of Social Change | Barr Foundation: Now, a new case study from SSIR (“Networking a City”) introduces what may prove to be a vital sixth condition – what the magazine dubs the “return on relationships” and what is more commonly referred to as social capital. The case study features the Barr Fellowship and the novel idea that the bonds of trust and respect that form among leaders are truly the “currency of social change.”

Foundation, Operating Charity Investment Turn Negative - TheNonProfitTimes

Foundation, Operating Charity Investment Turn Negative - TheNonProfitTimes: Two companion studies of the nonprofit sector show that investment returns were slightly negative in FY2011 after increasing in the range of 12 percent during FY2010 and 21 percent in FY2009.

Over 66 percent of U.S. Nonprofits Identify Pro Bono Service As Top Volunteer Need, But Roadblocks Prevent Effective Implementation - MarketWatch

PRESS RELEASE
Over 66 percent of U.S. Nonprofits Identify Pro Bono Service As Top Volunteer Need, But Roadblocks Prevent Effective Implementation - MarketWatch: Over 66 percent of U.S. nonprofit organizations need pro bono services more than any other volunteer service, according to a national Pro Bono Readiness Survey released today by a collaborative convened by Capital One Financial Corporation and including Common Impact, Points of Light and the Taproot Foundation. The survey was designed to help identify core challenges and solutions related to pro bono services and skills-based volunteering.

Giving donors control over comms reduces retention, finds survey - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Giving donors control over comms reduces retention, finds survey - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: Allowing donors to choose how a charity communicates with them has a negative effect on donor retention, according to an annual report on face-to-face fundraising.

Charities increased the amount of contact they had with donors signed up via face-to-face fundraising in 2010, but the researchers behind the annual Donor Acquisition and Retention Survey (DARS) warn that allowing donors to choose how they are communicated with at the outset reduces the retention rate by 3.5 percentage points over five years.

Your rich parents may give your inheritance to charity - Jun. 18, 2012

Your rich parents may give your inheritance to charity - Jun. 18, 2012: About 32% of high and ultra-high net worth Americans say it isn't important to leave inheritances for their children, according to a report released Monday by U.S. Trust, Bank of America's private wealth management division. Among baby boomers, that percentage rises to about 45%.

The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy - Canada / Ipsos Reid Survey: "What Canadian Donors Want" - Press - AFP

The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy - Canada / Ipsos Reid Survey: "What Canadian Donors Want" - Press - AFP: The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy - Canada / Ipsos Reid Survey: "What Canadian Donors Want"

The 10 Best Marketing Infographics of 2012 (So Far)

The 10 Best Marketing Infographics of 2012 (So Far): Ha, just kidding. You know what infographics are! They're this, and this, and this. But those are all so 2011. What has 2012 delivered marketers in the way of awesome infographics? This post has rounded up the best of the best -- the ones that are chock full of information, excel at data visualization, and deliver brand new data to marketers. Take a look at our favorite marketing infographics so far in 2012!

High Pay for Nonprofit Execs? Analysis of 100,000 Salaries | Blue Avocado

High Pay for Nonprofit Execs? Analysis of 100,000 Salaries | Blue Avocado: Everybody has an opinion about whether nonprofit executives are paid too little or too much, but almost nobody has any real data outside their own experiences. At last! Economist Linda Lampkin (left) analyzed 100,000 nonprofit CEO salaries and has a definitive (if a little statistics-wonky) answer:

Your Annual Membership Marketing Reality Check | Avectra Blog

Your Annual Membership Marketing Reality Check | Avectra Blog: ur association stacks up against others.

This year 691 associations participated in the survey. Take a moment right now to find out if anyone at your association contributed. If not, please make sure you get on MGI’s email list so your organization can participate next year. The more data MGI collects, the more comprehensive its report will be.

75% of Young Adults Gave to Charity Last Year, Study Finds - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

75% of Young Adults Gave to Charity Last Year, Study Finds - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: About 75 percent of young people who provided data for the 2012 Millennial Impact Report said they gave money to a nonprofit in 2011, while 70 percent said they have helped solicit donations by encouraging colleagues and others to support a cause.

Dangerous cuts are putting vulnerable people at risk

Dangerous cuts are putting vulnerable people at risk: A new British Red Cross study shows that elderly and vulnerable people are being put at risk by swingeing cuts to home-based care.

The survey – held among both GPs and the general public – highlights concerns that a lack of support for people in their own homes is having a negative impact. This can include increasing isolation among older people, more falls and accidents, and growing pressures on hospital beds.

Some Treasure Coast professionals find it pays to work for a nonprofit � TCPalm.com

Some Treasure Coast professionals find it pays to work for a nonprofit � TCPalm.com: According to a list compiled by Scripps Howard News Service, 64 nonprofit organizations along the Treasure Coast each bring in more than $1 million a year, and several pay their top employees with six- and in some cases, seven-digit salaries.

Study: Arts earn their keep in Portland | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Study: Arts earn their keep in Portland | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram: A new study by a national arts advocacy organization offers a more complete snapshot.

Americans for the Arts collected data specific to Portland for its Arts & Economic Prosperity IV survey.

It suggests that Portland's nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $49.1 million industry, with organizational spending of $26.5 million and audience expenditures of $22.6 million.

Charity Navigator Study: U.S. Cities With Top Charities (SLIDESHOW)

Charity Navigator Study: U.S. Cities With Top Charities (SLIDESHOW): We've all seen the endless studies on city rankings, indexing everything from the quality of life to best bikini bodies!

Charity Navigator released what may be the most important study yet -- the cities with the most potential to do good.

Foundation Giving Did Not Keep Pace With Inflation in 2011 - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Foundation Giving Did Not Keep Pace With Inflation in 2011 - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Giving by U.S. foundations totaled an estimated $46.9-billion last year, an increase of only 2 percent from 2010 and a more than 2 percent drop from 2009, according to a new study on foundation giving.

Third of small charities can't cope with volunteer demand, survey finds - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Third of small charities can't cope with volunteer demand, survey finds - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: More than half of English and Welsh small to medium-sized charities have seen interest in volunteering rise, but nearly a third are unable to cope with the demand, a survey has revealed.

Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales, which surveyed 660 charities, has found that 56 per cent have seen interest in volunteering opportunities increase, with medium-sized charities with incomes of between �101,000 and �300,000 receiving the greatest level of interest.

Annual Donor Advised Fund Report | NPTrust

Annual Donor Advised Fund Report | NPTrust: NPT's Donor-Advised Fund Report

Every year, we provide an up-to-date analysis of the donor-advised fund market, based on data we collect from charitable organizations that administer donor-advised funds. The majority of data is taken from public tax returns (IRS Form 990), audited financial statements, an

Fighting Fundraiser Turnover: What Charities Can Do - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Fighting Fundraiser Turnover: What Charities Can Do - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: As turnover among fundraisers becomes a bigger and bigger cost for charities, two nonprofits are joining forces to figure out what they can do to about it.

What Gives in Maine? And Who?

What Gives in Maine? And Who?: PORTLAND, Maine - The slow economic recovery has presented challenges to both individual and foundation-based philanthropy - and it shows in a new report on giving in Maine in 2010.

New Study Finds Men are More Charitable than Women - Press Release - Digital Journal

New Study Finds Men are More Charitable than Women - Press Release - Digital Journal: CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The results of a national survey released today by BiddingForGood, a marketplace that connects consumers and marketers to nonprofits and schools by hosting online and mobile charity auctions, found that men give more money, more frequently to charitable causes than women. According to the results, 52 percent of men who donate to charity say they do so every week or month compared to 42 percent of women. Also male respondents were more likely to give larger contributions, with 62 percent of men giving more than $500 a year to charity compared to 46 percent of wome

Spontaneous donations to UK charities likely to fall by about �150m this year, says survey | Third Sector

Spontaneous donations to UK charities likely to fall by about �150m this year, says survey | Third Sector: Home �
News �
Spontaneous donations to UK charities likely to fall by about �150m this year, says survey


By Jenna Pudelek, Third Sector Online, 25 May 2012

Stephen Dilworth of the financial services group Foresters says a fall would be 'unsurprising' given the economic situation
Click here to find out more!

Almost a third of people expect to give less to charity in spontaneous donations this year, a new survey suggests.

The poll of more than 2,000 UK adults, carried out by Wriglesworth Research for the financial services group Foresters, found that 29 per cent of respondents said they would have to reduce the amount they give because they were worse off than last year.

Oh, The Humanities!: Does a donation really count if no one sees you giving? | News | National Post

Oh, The Humanities!: Does a donation really count if no one sees you giving? | News | National Post: Donating money to charity has become highly fashionable, a status symbol that has been dubbed “conspicious giving,” and comes with the burden of social expectation and manipulation, according to a paper to be presented at the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences conference on Wednesday.

University of Alberta instructor Margrit Talpalaru coined the “conspicious giving” term to describe the way corporations, charities and society at large have latched onto North Americans’ desire for the visibility that comes with donating time or money.

Charities 'streamlined due to cuts' - UK News - News - WalesOnline

Charities 'streamlined due to cuts' - UK News - News - WalesOnline: A study of more than 100 charities in England and Wales showed that two thirds were cutting frontline services and three out of four were making staff redundant.

One in 10 said they risked closing down next year, said the report by the New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) think tank and insurance firm Zurich.

New Study: Donations Decline for�Nonprofits - Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media -

New Study: Donations Decline for�Nonprofits - Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media -: Target's data this year was drawn from 80 different nonprofit organizations, 38 million donors, 79 million gifts and $2.5 billion worth of donations revenue (although it excluded any donations worth $10,000 or more). Channels covered included online, direct mail, telemarketing and canvassing.

So what was the big picture "headline?" A sobering one, overall. But with a few very bright spots.

"The Increase in Revenue Per Donor Is Still Not Compensating for the Declining Quantity of Donors," Paige told us is the headline from the survey.

More than half of public want fewer charities, Ipsos Mori research finds - Civil Society - Governance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

More than half of public want fewer charities, Ipsos Mori research finds - Civil Society - Governance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: More than half of the public think there are too many charities and want the sector to be rationalised, research carried out for the Charities Act review has shown.

The findings, from research conducted by Mori among 1,004 people, were presented by charity lawyer Stephen Lloyd yesterday at the Charity Law Conference.

Despite dominating the industry, women at nonprofits lag in pay - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Despite dominating the industry, women at nonprofits lag in pay - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Bayer Center is conducting a foundation-funded project, "74 Percent: Exploring the Lives of Women Leaders in Nonprofit Organizations," as an effort to explore why women's earnings trail men's and how to reduce the disparity.

In a study released in early 2011, the Bayer Center reported that women account for 74 percent of the approximate 300,000 people employed by nonprofits in southwestern Pennsylvania and hold 56 percent of the executive positions. But the female executive directors earned an average $89,354 annually compared with an average $118,652 for their male counterparts.

Number of charities planning to hire staff is increasing, labour market study suggests

Number of charities planning to hire staff is increasing, labour market study suggests: The number of charities that plan to hire staff over the next three months has risen slightly, new figures suggest.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s quarterly Labour Market Outlook shows that 73 per cent of voluntary sector employers surveyed said they planned to take on staff, compared with 69 per cent in the previous quarter.

Philanthropy Northwest : Trends in Northwest Giving

Philanthropy Northwest : Trends in Northwest Giving: rends in Northwest Giving

Trends in Northwest Giving 2012 EditionTrends in Northwest Giving is Philanthropy Northwest's biennial report on organized philanthropy in our six state region (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming). The 2012 edition analyzes over $1.08 billion in grants made to Northwest nonprofits in 2010, offering the first in-depth look at the recession's effect on giving to the region.

Rise in Donors to Charities for the Destitute Looks Temporary

Rise in Donors to Charities for the Destitute Looks Temporary: A report last week in The Chronicle of Philanthropy said that donors to these charities have raised their giving to fund some of the increased needs, citing a study by Brewer Direct, a fundraising and marketing firm.

But holding onto new donors has been a challenge for the charities, with some reporting that many donors had stopped giving after two years or more.

Nonprofits expecting better year - The Washington Post

Nonprofits expecting better year - The Washington Post: According to a canvas of community organizations in the region, nearly half (46 percent) report that their donors have expressed plans to maintain or increase contributions this year, compared with 27 percent last year and only 15 percent in 2009, according to a report released Monday by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. The group surveyed nonprofits in the District, Northern Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland.

Recovery From Recession Has Been Uneven for Community Funds - Grant Makers - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Recovery From Recession Has Been Uneven for Community Funds - Grant Makers - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Recovery From Recession Has Been Uneven for Community Funds

By Maria Di Mento

Community foundations’ assets and grant making are slowly recovering from the recession, according to a new study of financial trends at U.S. community foundations.

Crowdfunding raised $1.5 billion worldwide last year

Crowdfunding raised $1.5 billion worldwide last year: Almost US$1.5 billion was raised in 2011 by crowdfunding platforms around the world, according to an industry report released Tuesday by Massolution, the research group of industry body Crowdsourcing.

There were almost 350 crowdfunding platforms, or online fundraising platforms that generally accept small donations, at the end of 2011, the report found, up by more than 50 percent from the beginning of the year. The platforms hosted roughly a million campaigns, it said.

Charitable pledges down due to slow economy | Healthcare Finance News

Charitable pledges down due to slow economy | Healthcare Finance News: These findings were contained in two recent reports published by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) based on its detailed Performance Benchmarking Service survey of fundraising activities in both countries - which for the first time examined a full year’s post-recession fundraising by U.S. and Canadian healthcare organizations.

Fundraising events seen as challenge | Philanthropy Journal

Fundraising events seen as challenge | Philanthropy Journal: Retaining participants in fundraising events is tough and requires long-term engagement and cultivation, while getting people to participate and raise money through events requires effective communication, two new reports say.

Indiawest: Report Outlines Indian American Philanthropy in Silicon Valley

Indiawest: Report Outlines Indian American Philanthropy in Silicon Valley: The Silicon Valley Community Foundation has issued a report on philanthropy by the Indian American community in Silicon Valley.

Co-produced by LTG associates, the study, “On the Shoulders of Generations: Philanthropy in the Indian American Community of Silicon Valley,” quotes comments by about 25 unnamed Indian American philanthropists in the Valley.

Aussies: generous in life, not so in death - ABC Adelaide - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Aussies: generous in life, not so in death - ABC Adelaide - Australian Broadcasting Corporation: A recent study has revealed Australians match western counterparts when it comes to charitable giving in the course of life with 70 per cent giving regularly but lag behind dramatically when it comes to leaving bequests to charity.

massnonprofit.org ::Study: Nonprofits Are Falling Short in Measuring Their Impact

massnonprofit.org ::: Study: Nonprofits Are Falling Short in Measuring Their Impact

April 30, 2012 — Despite increased pressure to be results-focused and demonstrate impact, nonprofits are not investing enough in their ability to measure their performance, according to a recently completed study, which identified five key elements for building measurement capacity.

Citing the “woeful under-investment” in measurement by nonprofit organizations, The Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit advisor, said that only 13% of nonprofits have a full time measurem

Survey by Austin firm Convio reveals the top two challenges nonprofits face - Austin Business Journal

Survey by Austin firm Convio reveals the top two challenges nonprofits face - Austin Business Journal: The Austin-based fundraising technology company (Nasdaq: CNVO) found that the four major issues of concern are funding and fundraising, communication and engagement, rising above the noise and data management and technology.

Global News | Foreign dollars a ‘minute segment’ of Canadian charities’ budgets

Global News | Foreign dollars a ‘minute segment’ of Canadian charities’ budgets: Figures provided to Global News from the Canada Revenue Agency show that out of 84,176 charities, only 2,014 reported receiving funding from foreign sources in the fiscal year ending in 2010.
The Conservative government first expressed its concern about how much money Canadian charities were getting from abroad in January when hearings for the $5.5-billion Northern Gateway Pipeline were about to begin.

Survey Says: Fundraising and Constituent Engagement are Biggest Challenges Facing Nonprofits in 2012 | SYS-CON MEDIA

Survey Says: Fundraising and Constituent Engagement are Biggest Challenges Facing Nonprofits in 2012 | SYS-CON MEDIA: Survey Says: Fundraising and Constituent Engagement are Biggest Challenges Facing Nonprofits in 2012

Study Finds Charities Tax Returns Expose Social Security Numbers: Accounting Today

Study Finds Charities Tax Returns Expose Social Security Numbers: Accounting Today: A new study has found that the Form 990 tax returns filed by tax-exempt organizations frequently expose the Social Security numbers of tax preparers, donors, employees, scholarship recipients and others to the public.

Report: 12.7 Percent Increase in Environmental Giving for 2012 : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success

Report: 12.7 Percent Increase in Environmental Giving for 2012 : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success: DALLAS, Texas (April 19, 2012) – Atlas of GivingOpens in a new window today announced a 12.7 percent increase in charitable giving for the environmental sector as Earth DayOpens in a new window preparations are being made around the world. The Atlas of Giving provides a monthly report on charitable giving in eight sectors, including religion, education, disaster services, health, arts, international, environment and society benefit. Currently, the environmental sector is leading the charitable giving economy in 2012.

Nonprofit Finance Fund | Where Money Meets Mission

Nonprofit Finance Fund | Where Money Meets Mission: tate of the Sector Surveys
2012 SURVEY
2012 survey generously supported by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation

Bank of America Charitable Foundation

In this year’s survey, more than 4,500 respondents at nonprofits across the country shared the details of how they are adapting their organizations and finances to economic conditions. The survey, which was supported for the second year in a row by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, reveals that while 2011 was a year of significant organizational and programmatic changes, many nonprofits are still facing fundamental challenges that threaten the stability of the sector and the well-being of the people they serve.

Good Governance Makes Tax Compliance More Likely - Boards - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Good Governance Makes Tax Compliance More Likely - Boards - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Charities that follow certain good-governance practices—for example, drawing up written mission statements and comparing their organizations to others when making compensation decisions—are more likely to comply with the Internal Revenue Service’s tax code, according to preliminary results from a new IRS study.