Cover Story: Faith-based Fundraising

More dollars, fewer donors
The perversity of focusing on modes of giving is exemplified in the philanthropic sector’s emphasis on major-gift campaigns.

While America has seen a steady increase in the number of charitable dollars raised each year, analysts finally have become alarmed at the sharp decline in the actual number of people who give those dollars. We should not expect that people who have not been called upon, for lack of apparent affluence, to make even a small gift will magically emerge in our moment of need as fully formed philanthropists.