The Economy’s Effect on Fundraisers

Here are more findings from the report.

Did total contributions increase, decrease or stay about the same from Jan. 1, 2010, to May 31, 2010, compared to the same period last year?

• 40 percent said contributions decreased
• 30 percent said contributions increased
• 28 percent said contributions were about the same
• 2 percent were unsure

Evaluating further, 6 percent responded that contributions increased greatly and 24 percent said they increased modestly (making up the 30 percent); 26 percent said they decreased greatly and 14 percent said they decreased modestly (40 percent).

What factors caused total contributions to decrease?

• 67 percent said fewer individuals gave
• 66 percent said gifts from individuals were smaller
• 40 percent said corporate gifts were smaller
• 40 percent said private foundation gifts were smaller
• 22 percent said private foundation grants were smaller
• 20 percent said government grants were smaller
• 19 percent said corporate gifts were discontinued
• 10 percent said government grants were discontinued
• 10 percent said government contracts were smaller
• 9 percent said other factors contributed
• 5 percent said government contracts were discontinued
• 2 percent weren’t sure

Did demand for your organization’s services increase, decrease or stay about the same?

• 63 percent said demand increased
• 29 percent said demand stayed about the same
• 6 percent said demand decreased
• 2 percent weren’t sure

Of the respondents, 28 percent said that demand increased greatly and 35 percent said it increased modestly, while 1 percent said it decreased greatly and 5 percent said it decreased modestly.