Individual Giving

Report: Do Couples Make Giving Decisions Together?
February 14, 2017 at 12:54 pm

Today is Feb. 14th, so Happy Valentine’s Day! In celebration, let’s explore some information on how couples donate to charities. Fidelity Charitable recently released a report called “How Couples Give,” which was based on survey responses from 694 Fidelity Charitable donors who are either married or live with their significant other...

Don’t Write Off ‘In Memoriam’ Donors as One-Time Donors
February 14, 2017 at 10:01 am

There is definitely the tendency in our sector to write off “in-memoriam” donors as one-time donors, yet I think we must understand the emotional connection and make an effort to grow that relationship—with tact and in the gentlest, most-loving way possible...

Attracting 'Big' Philanthropy in a Changing Landscape
January 6, 2017 at 12:32 pm

The philanthropy pie is growing, but the slices are getting bigger. Those slow to the table are going to be left hungry. The evolving behavior of philanthropists will also require an innovative approach from the nonprofit organizations and leaders that seek their investment. Focusing on improvement and activity in three key areas will best position nonprofits to win in an increasingly competitive market...

Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander Pledges $4 Million to Charity
December 22, 2016 at 2:00 pm

Rockets owner Leslie Alexander's team might have started the season on a roll that arrived sooner than he expected, but it could not win a championship in December. So on Tuesday, he concentrated on the other half of his mission statement. The Rockets announced that Alexander would give a donation of $4 million to eight…

When Doing Good Is Bad
December 21, 2016 at 10:30 am

Since I work for nonprofits, I figure everyone wants to participate in do-gooding. Predictably, I make contributions to charity on behalf of the recipients for gifts. Call them socially responsible gifts. It makes me feel good to do that. I always presumed it made the recipient feel good, too.

Year-End Giving Is Here—Are You Ready?
December 9, 2016 at 10:48 am

As Black Friday approached, I became very aware that our peak giving season is now here. For my organization, during the last four months of the year, we receive more than 60 percent of our donation revenue. I stopped for a moment the other day during lunch and wondered why giving at the end of the calendar year is so important...

Struggling Middle-Class Americans Are Giving Less to Charity
November 17, 2016 at 8:46 am

The average American household is giving far less to charity than it did a decade ago. Over the past 10 years, charitable-giving deductions from lower-income donors have declined significantly, at almost the same rate that charitable giving from higher-income donors increased. Itemized charitable deductions from donors making less than $100,000 a year declined by 34…

4 Phrases You Can Use to Make Asks More Comfortable
October 27, 2016 at 11:03 am

I talk a lot about ways to raise money and not have to ask for the gift. But, please, don’t get me wrong—there are times it’s important to make the ask. Asking for the gift is part or all of your work if you have the position of executive director; development director; major gifts, planned…

Infographic: Report Reveals Secret Sauce for Effective Fundraising
September 12, 2016 at 11:38 am

Are you wondering how your fundraising program is really doing? How you compare to your peers? Where you could be raising even more money? Each year, the Individual Donor Benchmark Report examines individual donor fundraising data from small and mighty organizations—those with budgets less than $2 million. There’s no other source of this kind of…

Report: Small Nonprofits Kicking Butt at Individual Fundraising
August 26, 2016 at 11:13 am

Did you know that for small nonprofits, one out of every $5 is raised online? And about half of individual donor revenue comes from donors giving less than $1,000? In addition, small nonprofits retain about 60 percent of their donors from year to year—that’s astounding! For nonprofits with budgets that are less than $2 million,…