Salvation Army

Charity Dynamics released the findings of its Independent Fundraising Event (IFE) Study demonstrating the emergence of IFEs as a core strategy for allowing donors to drive their engagement and support avenues. IFEs, also known as DIY fundraising, are donor-led peer-to-peer initiatives and often include virtual events, tribute campaigns or other grassroots activities.

More than half (57 percent) of organizations with existing IFE programs cite factors related to donor happiness or engagement as the driving forces behind their programs.

The bottom line is you must develop a major-gift program to increase fundraising revenue, reduce expenses and increase your ROI.

Jeff Brooks, creative director at multichannel fundraising agency TrueSense Marketing, answers the questions he's most often asked about direct-mail fundraising:

Is the Internet the death knell for direct mail?

Not even close. Direct mail is a long way from death. It's still the most effective fundraising medium (after the church offering basket), and it's many times more effective than email.

The crucial year-end giving season appears to be producing big increases in donations for many charities. In a spot check of 20 charities, all but one said they were raising more during the last quarter of the year than they did before the fall of 2008, early in the financial crisis. And online donations also show signs of a healthy giving season, according to Network for Good.

Russ Reid, a marketer who determined that nonprofit organizations could benefit from a modern, professional approach to raising funds, died Saturday, Dec. 7, at his home in Sierra Madre, Calif. He was 82 years old.

What motivates your personal charitable philosophy? Have you ever received the help of time, talent or treasure from any charity? Do you need a season of giving to stimulate you? As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected. Why not surprise yourself and a charity by giving your time, talent or resources this holiday season? I promise you that you will receive the greatest gift in the world when a child smiles with joy because of your efforts.

Two nonprofit organizations share how they secured the proper matches to run three extremely successful fundraising campaigns. Toronto-based Kids Help Phone secured a corporate partner to match gifts to its holiday campaign. And the Coast Guard Foundation struck matches with two campaigns — matching donors' desire to help during an emergency for a Coast Guard tragedy and incorporating a matching gift in its annual Memorial Day campaign.

The beauty of the upcoming holidays should never be about what new material item we can acquire and eventually throw away. It should be about your personal joy of giving to others.

As your nonprofit prepares for a holiday fundraising campaign, hundreds of other charities are doing the same.

The majority of decisions regarding bequests are happening at a younger age than historically believed (younger than 50 years old).