Outlook Good: Giving Trends Predict Philanthropic Growth

Image via Marts & Lundy

In the market for good news? Look no further than “The Philanthropy Outlook 2016 & 2017,” a study from Marts & Lundy, researched and written by Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The report projected national giving trends and examined factors that impact the outlook.

Here are some of its key findings:

• Giving by individuals/households is expected to increase by 3.7 percent in 2016 and 3.8 percent in 2017, equal to and slightly higher than the 40-year average, respectively. Giving by foundations, estates and corporations also is expected to grow.
• Giving to education is predicted to increase by 6.3 percent in 2016 and 6.1 percent in 2017.
• Above-average growth in the S&P 500, average growth in personal income and slightly above-average growth in household and nonprofit net worth will affect giving in 2016 and 2017.

But the biggest takeaway from the study is that total giving is projected to increase by 4.1 percent in 2016 and 4.3 percent in 2017. While this falls just below the 40-year average growth rate of 4.4 percent, the projected results do exceed the 10-year and 25-year average rates of growth, pointing to an uptick in expected giving over the coming years.

Since the philanthropic sector continues to see growth, the study advised nonprofit leaders to keep watching changes within the landscape. It also recommended developing new partnerships with a variety of organizations to strengthen support; investing in analysis, structuring and developing programs that align the organization with its supporters; incorporating new technologies; developing internal training and programs on emerging trends; and investing more resources in developing planned-giving programs.

Download the full survey to learn more.