Survey Informs Fundraisers on Donor Trends, Motivations and Where Philanthropy Is Headed

Fundraising has always been about understanding what motivates donors to give, but when the economy was flourishing and the population had more discretionary income, it was easier to cut corners and still bring in the dollars. Not anymore.

Given the ever-growing desire of donors to demand personal relationships and accountability from the nonprofit organizations they support, it is perhaps more important than ever to understand donors' true motivations and characteristics, and how they plan to give moving forward. That's why there are so many studies out there tracking donor activity, giving habits and response channels. Last month, Penelope Burk, president of Cygnus Applied Research, released the third annual Cygnus Donor Survey, Where Philanthropy is Headed in 2011.