4 Global Fundraising Trends

According to the recently released 2010 Global State of the Nonprofit Industry survey by Blackbaud, four global fundraising trends emerged from the data. Here are those four trends shared in the press release.

1. New fundraising and communication channels, although growing, are not replacing traditional channels. Most organizations continue to leverage traditional channels, even while they are increasingly using new interactive channels. This use of new channels is placing a tremendous strain on organizations because revenue has not risen significantly in aggregate, yet costs for each communication channel have risen. This situation creates a demand for more integrated communication tools and database platforms.
2. ROI and organizational effectiveness are under scrutiny and more important than ever. Baby boomers, who have entered their prime giving years in the United States, are not as trusting of government and institutions to solve problems and want to see greater evidence. However, this trend is clearly not just a United States phenomenon. Donors worldwide want to see evidence that their money is being spent well and that nonprofits are being run as efficiently as possible.
3. There is a new focus on the total supporter journey vs. traditional “donor management.” In light of an increased focus on donor retention coupled with increasing costs for acquisition, constituent relationship management is transitioning from transactional fundraising to a relationship-focused supporter journey. To have a constituent-centric focus, nonprofits need to consolidate data on supporters and eliminate silos so everyone in the organization has the same view of the many ways supporters interact with the organization. Technology is essential for helping them track the supporter journey, from service recipient to volunteer to event participant to donor.
4. Fundraising is emerging as a widely-recognized profession around the globe. The vast majority of nonprofits around the world are expecting to increase their investment in fundraising staff, according to the survey. It is clear that fundraising is no longer someone’s “part-time” responsibility. Techniques and data are becoming more complex, and the rate of change is increasing. What was once mostly art is rapidly becoming science, requiring new tools and techniques, partnerships, and better skilled staff.

View the full report here.