Survey: Nonprofit Professionals Anticipate Another Year of Revenue Increases

(Press release, March 3, 2015) — For the second year in a row, approximately three-quarters of the nonprofit professionals surveyed at the annual Greater Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants (GWSCPA) Nonprofit Finance & Accounting Symposium indicated that they expect their nonprofit organizations to grow. Seventy-seven percent of the respondents expect growth and increased revenues in 2015, compared to 76 percent last year. The percentage of respondents reporting improved current financial health rose to 63 percent, up from 57 percent in last year’s survey. The environment for nonprofits has improved to the point that one in five survey respondents see 2015 as an opportune moment to launch a capital campaign.

This guarded optimism has shaped nonprofits’ priorities as they look ahead to 2015. Almost a third (32 percent) are considering investments in hardware and software. Of those considering technological investments, 29 percent plan to make the transition to cloud computing, while 25 percent are considering upgrading their websites. Seventeen percent are also hoping to increase donor engagement by investing in customer relationship management (CRM) tools. Twenty-eight percent of those surveyed currently use Big Data analytics.

“The economic recovery has begun to pick up steam and with it the pace of giving,” said Adam Ostrach, executive vice president and head of Mid-Atlantic Middle Market Banking for Capital One. “Nonprofit industry professionals now feel confident enough to make investments to strengthen their organizations. Our team of banking professionals can provide the support they need to make the most of this emerging opportunity.”

Challenges remain
The nonprofit sector continues to address longstanding challenges, however. Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed expect increased competition for donations to be the greatest fundraising challenge they will face in the coming year. Nineteen percent of nonprofits expect to reduce administrative costs by partnering with other organizations in 2015.

“Nonprofits clearly understand the value in deploying a variety of interrelated strategies to maximize their ability to fulfill their missions,” added Kathleen Malloy, senior vice president, Capital One Bank’s Not-For-Profit Banking Group. “Capital One Bank is committed to providing nonprofit organizations with customized financing and growth solutions for continued success.”