Nonprofit News

According to Giving USA 2020: The Annual Report on Philanthropy, U.S. charitable giving reached $449.64 billion in 2019, a 4.2 percent increase in current dollars over 2018. Total giving in 2017, 2018, and 2019 represent the three highest levels on record.

In 2019, individuals drove this generosity, buoyed by a robust economic environment. The S&P 500 soared 28.9 percent over 2018,^[1] while disposable personal income increased 4.3 percent^[2] and GDP grew 4.1 percent,^[3] all in current dollars. These three economic indicators are closely tied to charitable giving, paving the way for strong growth in giving in 2019.

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Major gift work is demanding. As a frontline fundraiser, you need to stay laser-focused on donors to build relationships, meet goals, and fund vital programs. It’s difficult to take a step back and look at the big picture—but that context can make you a better fundraiser.

How is the sector changing? What developments are impacting who gives and how they show their generosity? Do we need to change the way we raise money in response?

We distilled five of the most important trends shaping the fundraising landscape into a quick overview for our busy audience. Read on for our roundup, plus one strategy per trend to help you adapt. 

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Major giving is built on relationships. The process of developing trust and rapport between a major gift officer and a donor takes time—cultivating a major gift is typically an 18 to 24-month process. But it’s not uncommon for fundraisers to leave their job before they reach the two-year mark.^[1] Why are fundraisers so quick to jump ship, and what can nonprofits do to recruit and retain top talent?

This article explores the issue of high fundraiser turnover and lays out a framework for hiring and keeping high-performing fundraisers.

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At the start of each year, we sit down with our Executive Search team to talk trends in nonprofit hiring and talent management. What’s in store for 2020? Our team members Kris McFeely, Marian DeBerry, and Dan Nevez weighed in.

Keep reading to explore what developments they’re watching, from in-demand skills to recession concerns, high fundraiser turnover to a focus on equity.

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After closing out one decade and moving into the next, the Campbell & Company executive team came together to discuss fundraising trends facing the nonprofit sector moving forward.

From recession worries to fundraising ethics to broad-based giving, Peter, Julia, and Kate commented on the challenges, opportunities, and new developments that have their attention. Read on for their insights and recommendations.

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According to Giving USA 2019: The Annual Report on Philanthropy, charitable giving in the United States reached $427.71 billion in 2018. This represents a slight increase of 0.7 percent in current dollars and a decline of 1.7 percent when adjusted for inflation. Following four years of steady growth in giving, these mixed results for 2018 reflect a complex giving environment, influenced by economic conditions, public policy, and significant tax law changes.

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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.

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Studies in philanthropy often focus on the strong fundraising presence of baby boomers as well as the increasing importance of appealing to the millennial generation as a part of your development strategy. However, something that gets less attention in the philanthropic landscape and in the media is the role of Generation X, those born in the early-to-mid 1960s to the early 1980s.

As Gen X philanthropists come into their own—and we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of their era-defining film “Reality Bites”—2019 is the perfect time to give this often-overlooked generation the attention it deserves.

We’ve outlined some thoughts on the matter below, but we also want to hear from you! Drop us a note in the comments section and let us know your impression of what’s working (or not working) as you think about reaching Gen X.

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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.  

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As nonprofit fundraisers look at the year ahead, it’s clear that rapid changes in technology show no signs of slowing. As technology moves forward, your donors’ expectations for their online giving experiences and their behavior online change too.

While nobody can fully predict where online fundraising is going, it’s likely that these four noteworthy online fundraising trends will shape the success of your operation this year. I’d love to hear what other online trends you’re seeing. Drop a note below or send an email to me at sarah.barnes@campbellcompany.

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