Where in the World Are We Headed?

“In 10 years we will still have direct mail, corporate giving and personal, one-on-one major-gift solicitations. However, many of those relationships will start with an organization’s online presence. We will be tested online first before anyone agrees to having lunch or attending an event in person.”
— Kimberley MacKenzie, director of development, Ontario Nature
(Author’s note: Kimberley is the honorary head of fundraising for the Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration.)

Scenario: It’s bad to be in the middle
“There will be a dramatic change in the voluntary sector over the next 15 to 20 years as a direct consequence of a dash for market share, mergers and acquisitions, and a significant contracting of the medium-sized charities. Small charities will continue to thrive, and politicians will support them deferentially to the larger charities. Midlevel charities, those between $1 million and $20 million, will find it really difficult to compete. The larger charities will have reduced in number, and mergers will have created super brands. International super-league charities will have emerged from the States, China, India, with the U.N. organizations continuing to be dominant.