Was 2016 a Good Year for Charitable Giving? Will 2017 be Better?

We’re rapidly approaching the close of what has been a tumultuous year. In 2016, the U.S. experienced an unusually bitter presidential campaign culminating in the unexpected election of Donald Trump. In the U.K., voters chose to exit the European Union—the surprise Brexit vote sent shockwaves around the globe. The civil war in Syria continued to spin out of control, resulting in a massive wave of refugees. Terrorism continued to be an international problem.

"Uncertainty," "fear" and "stress" are all words that one might use to describe the atmosphere in 2016 given much of the news. However, at least for fundraising professionals, there has also been much good news.