Nonprofit News

Access the latest news in the nonprofit sector.

Molly Saks

Molly Saks is a Senior Marketing Associate and Online Fundraising Consultant at Campbell & Company. She works with all the firm’s service areas to drive thought leadership strategy and helps organizations increase their impact through online fundraising.

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2018 was a year of mixed results for charitable giving, influenced by a strong economy, a volatile fourth quarter for the stock market, significant tax law changes, and a complicated policy environment. How did this complex landscape impact organizations in communities across the country?

We unpacked the Giving USA 2019 report’s nuanced results in four in-person events—in Chicago, Cleveland, DC, and Milwaukee—and two webinars throughout the month of June. In all, over 1,000 nonprofit professionals attended our events and 23 speakers weighed in on the data and discussed prevailing trends.

Read on for five key themes that emerged during our National and Northwest webinars, as well as our in-person events.

Fundraising Tips, Giving USA, Fundraising, Blog

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Donor-advised funds. Fundraisers across the nonprofit sector see enormous opportunity in this increasingly popular giving vehicle, but many don't feel confident in their knowledge of DAFs.

In recent months, we shared introductory information on donor-advised funds, we advised on how to engage DAF holders, and we hosted a webinar to explore the latest trends in donor-advised funds. 

During that webinar, our panelists received many insightful questions from the over 250 fundraising and nonprofit professionals in attendance. Our team compiled the most common questions and shared quick answers to help fundraisers understand DAFs and incorporate them into development strategies. 

Download donor-advised fund FAQs.

Fundraising Tips, Campbell & Company Research Findings, Fundraising

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The specter of tax reform has been looming over development programs since the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017, but has it made an impact so far?

There’s been plenty of speculation about how these tax changes—especially nearly doubling the standard deduction—may have affected giving in 2018, and the national nonprofit community is deeply concerned. “In the face of diminishing broad-based giving, it’s even more important to monitor how tax reform is impacting the average donor choosing to make a gift,” noted President and CEO Peter Fissinger of Campbell & Company.

Nonprofit Trends, Nonprofit News, Campbell & Company Research Findings, Fundraising

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In the rapidly-changing world of online fundraising, you should never underestimate the power of an email. According to the M+R Benchmarks 2018 Study, email accounted for 28% of online revenue in 2017, with nonprofits raising an average of $42 for every 1,000 fundraising messages sent.

Email still matters—but it’s getting more and more important to craft those messages strategically. The same study reported that response rate to fundraising emails declined by 6% in 2017. Following the same formula and crossing your fingers for better results won’t cut it.

So how can you start refining your fundraising emails? Through A/B testing.

Fundraising Tips, Fundraising, Blog, online fundraising

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What’s on the horizon in 2019 for philanthropy and the nonprofit sector? We took a moment to discuss emerging trends with our executive team as the year gets going.   

Peter, Julia, and Kate shared their insights and predictions on tax reform, broad-based giving, online fundraising, and beyond. Read on for their perspective and advice for the year ahead.  

Nonprofit Trends, Fundraising Tips, Fundraising, Blog

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Campbell & Company teamed up with the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to produce a four-part podcast series that combines academic research with real-world experiences and advice.

Each episode focuses on a different aspect of women’s philanthropy, sharing research findings from WPI and on-the-ground experience from a development leader and a Campbell & Company team member. Join us as we explore how gender impacts philanthropy and what you can do to build stronger relationships with your female supporters.

Our final episode focuses on outcomes—how charitable giving affects female and male donors.

Fundraising Tips, Fundraising, Podcast, Blog

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As 2019 continues to unfold, what external forces and organizational priorities are likely to impact nonprofit hiring and talent management?

We sat down with three of our Executive Search team members to discuss trends and topics that deserve attention from nonprofit leaders and board members, including emotional intelligence, the tight labor market, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Read on for our interview with Kris, Marian, and Dan for insights and advice to guide you in the year ahead.

Nonprofit Trends, Talent Management, Talent Management Strategies, Executive Search, Blog

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Campbell & Company teamed up with the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to produce a four-part podcast series that combines academic research with real-world experiences and advice.

Each episode focuses on a different aspect of women’s philanthropy, sharing research findings from WPI and on-the-ground experience from a development leader and a Campbell & Company team member. Join us as we explore how gender impacts philanthropy and what you can do to build stronger relationships with your female supporters.

Our third episode focuses on causes—where women and men give and how certain factors affect the causes they support.

Fundraising Tips, Fundraising, Podcast, Blog

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At the end of February, Senior Counsel Aggie Sweeney is retiring, capping off a four-decade professional career devoted to advancing the nonprofit sector and strengthening communities throughout the Northwest.

Aggie joined Collins Group in 1999, became President and CEO in 2004, and led the firm as it joined forces with Campbell & Company in 2013. She transitioned to her current Senior Counsel role in 2017, spending more time working with clients, mentoring consultants, and serving as Chair of the Giving USA Foundation Board.

To mark this occasion and celebrate her legacy, we asked Aggie to reflect on her time with our firm and share her perspective on the Northwest nonprofit sector.

Campbell & Company News, Northwest, Blog

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Campbell & Company teamed up with the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to produce a four-part podcast series that combines academic research with real-world experiences and advice.

Each episode focuses on a different aspect of women’s philanthropy, sharing research findings from WPI and on-the-ground experience from a development leader and a Campbell & Company team member. Join us as we explore how gender impacts philanthropy and what you can do to build stronger relationships with your female supporters.

Our second episode focuses on behavior—specifically how women give.

Fundraising Tips, Fundraising, Podcast, Blog