70 Nonprofit Trends for 2015

The Dutch have an expression: “He who does not honor the small is not worthy of the large,” and that holds very true with monthly giving.

Rich Dietz, senior product manager of digital fundraising, Abila
3. Online and mobile: Online and mobile have played an increasingly key role for organizations the last few years, and that will continue in 2015. Social will play a key role in the “attention economy,” and responsive design will be necessary to allow supporters to access an organization’s website at any time from any device. 2014 was the tipping point for more Web traffic coming from mobile devices than desktop computers. According to Pew Research Center, more than 90 percent of all Americans own a cell phone.

Allison Porter, president, Avalon Consulting Group
4. Digital continues to soar. There’s no denying that, while mail is still the heavy hitter in direct response fundraising, digital wins for fastest growth as a channel. But how does it fit into your program? Most organizations are still trying to figure that out. The key is to invest responsibly — with the goals of engaging those multichannel donors that we know are the most productive, and positioning your organization as modern and relevant in an increasingly digital world. Ensure that your digital strategies are aligned with what you’re already doing, and collaborate across departments and offline channels for seamless messaging and maximum impact. With so many options, determining your digital strategy can be tricky — but keep in mind that the payoff is better engagement with your donors, prospects and advocates.

GIVING PYRAMID
Tycely Williams, association director of major gifts, YMCA of Metropolitan Washington
1. Smart development officers are sharing more gift options with donors. Nonprofits won’t be able to achieve or maintain competitive advantage by following the giving pyramid. It is a new day. As a result of technology, donors are smarter and have many avenues for education — forget the mechanics of major and planned giving. Donors turn to nonprofits to make a difference, to eradicate a disease, to end an epidemic. First rule of thumb when integrating major and planned gifts is to know what your organization needs financial resources to do — it must be something extraordinary that will invoke excitement.