While direct mail is still king in bringing in funds, online fundraising remains an ever-growing channel that is vital to the future of every organization. Studying the trends and understanding where opportunities lie going forward as today’s online generation reaches prime giving age are musts. To that end, nonprofit technology provider Convio recently released its Online Nonprofit Benchmark Study.
Charleston, S.C. (June 15, 2010) – Blackbaud, Inc. today announced the launch of the Blackbaud Index of Charitable Giving, a broad-based fundraising index that reports revenue trends of 1400 nonprofit organizations representing $2.2 billion in yearly revenue on a monthly basis. The Index is based on actual revenue statistics from nonprofit organizations of all sizes representing arts, culture, and humanities; education; environment and animals; healthcare; human services; international affairs; public and society benefit; and religion sectors. (Read more about the methodology at www.blackbaud.com/blackbaudindex.)
The economy struck another blow to charitable donations last year, causing contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals to decline by 3.2 percent, according to Giving USA, the annual tally of American philanthropy released this morning.
The dip comes after the first year of the recession depressed giving by 2.4-percent in 2008. Giving USA said last year’s drop was partly due to foundations, which decreased their giving by 8.6 percent. Corporate giving rose by 5.9 percent, although the report speculated that companies shifted their giving to goods and products and away from cash.
It is no surprise that charitable giving by the wealthy declined last year. According to a report released today by Giving USA and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, individual giving fell an estimated 0.4% in 2009, to $227.41 billion–a fairly mild drop. Total giving, by the wealthy, companies, foundations and bequests, fell 3.9% to $303.75 billion.
Pew Internet Research has issued two studies that should be great interest to nonprofits in the advocacy and community action spaces.
The first, Neighbors Online, notes the increasing use of online tools by citizens interested in tracking community events, news and issues. Most folks still engage each other around such matters either face-to-face or over the phone (cell phone, these days), but online interaction is growing. In the twelve months preceding their survey:
Austin, Texas (June 8, 2010) —
Convio, Inc., today announced the results of its annual Convio Online Marketing Nonprofit Benchmark Index Study. This year’s study shows that online giving is growing steadily, there has been an increase in the number of online gifts and nonprofits are continuing to grow their email files. The full study is available at www.convio.com/2010benchmark
The study is designed to help nonprofit professionals evaluate beneficial online marketing metrics, evaluate the effectiveness of their organization compared to similar organizations and determine strategies for future success. The study focused on key areas related to online success, including:
WASHINGTON—Members of associations across the country give generously to community causes and organizations, but fewer than 15 percent ever make a contribution beyond dues and fees to the professional associations to which they belong. A new study recently published by ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership, The Decision to Give: What Motivates Individuals to Support Professional Associations, explores giving by association members both to community causes and to associations, while also highlighting some opportunities to increase donations among association members.
For the seventh year in a row, Charity Navigator has published its list of America's Most "Charity-Conscious" Cities. After analyzing and averaging nonprofit efficiency and fundraising from over 30 cities, their highly scientific score has ranked the cities. Pittsburgh ranked #1, while Baltimore came in at #30, far below the national average in nearly all categories.
Most people say they care about supporting effective charities over mediocre ones, but they don’t necessarily have the appetite for research that could help them sort the good from the bad.
That’s one of the findings of a new study of donors conducted by Hope Consulting, a firm in San Francisco. Based on a poll of 4,000 people and on interviews with donors, the study was supported by the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, the Metanoia Fund, and the Rockefeller and William and Flora Hewlett foundations.
Recently, nonprofit software company Blackbaud released its top 10 predicted nonprofit trends. This list of emerging trends was compiled "based on the combined input from Blackbaud management, nonprofit customers, partners and industry leaders who work directly with nonprofits," said Melanie Mathos, public relations manager for Blackbaud.
