Charitable Giving Climate Continues to Decline, Nonprofits Say

“For the past 18 months, fundraisers have reported significantly less success with major gifts and foundation grants than they have historically,” said Una O. Osili, interim director of research at the Center on Philanthropy. “Since December 2007, reported success with major gifts and foundation grants has fallen 23.1 percent and 39.2 percent respectively. However, nearly two-thirds are still reporting success with direct mail, perhaps because it may bring more immediate returns than other fundraising techniques.”

The full PGI report, including results by organization size, donor base and subsector (e.g., arts, environment, etc.), is available to premium services members of the Center’s Web site at http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/PremiumServices/login.aspx or may be purchased at http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/Products/products_research.aspx. Journalists may obtain the full report from Adriene Davis, (317) 278-8972, adrldavi@iupui.edu or Josh Sprunger at (317) 278-8932, jgsprung@iupui.edu.

PGI survey participants are chosen to represent a cross-section of nonprofits nationwide in terms of geographic region, annual revenue size and type of organization. The survey was mailed to 394 nonprofit development executives and fundraising consultants. Of those, 188 fundraisers and consultants responded, for an overall response rate of 49.2 percent. Survey administration and coding of data was conducted by the Center for Survey Research at Indiana University.

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, a part of the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, is a leading academic center dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy and improving its practice worldwide through research, teaching, training and public affairs programs in philanthropy, fundraising, and management of nonprofit organizations.