holiday season
3 Important Marketing Things to Do This Fall
September 22 marked the first day of fall for 2016. As of today, there are 109 days remaining until 2017. What are you going to do with them?
The answer to this question can vary depending on the type of organization you have. So, let’s look at the most common denominators. Continue reading
Good News for Charities - Giving is Up!
U.S. year-to-date charitable giving through September 2013 totals $308.28 billion, an increase of 11.9% over last year! Wuhoo!
It’s another positive indicator that the economy is recovering and people are demonstrating their altruism. Plus, there’s more good news.
The Atlas of Giving predicts that 2013 giving will total $412.41 billion, 11.8% higher than 2012. The state with the most generous donors is New York, with a projected year-end increase of 23.8% The state with the least increase is Texas at 8.8%.
The report also forecasts an increase in foundation gifts - up 17.2%. But, the same increase isn’t true of corporate gifts.
Corporate gifts will account for the smallest growth in 2013 at 8.7%. What’s with that, corporations? Come on, get with the CSR program!
Religion will remain the largest giving sector, declining from 36% in 2012 to 35% overall in 2013. The most significant 2013 increase will be in human/disaster services – up 17.3%.
As we head into the holiday season, charities will be bombarding us with fundraising marketing. It’s up to all of us to give as much as we can to help restore the causes that took such a big hit during the downturn.
Do you plan to make donations before the end of the year? More, less, or the same as last year?
It’s Year-End Fundraising Time. Do You Plan to Give to Charities?
The latest Blackbaud Index just came out for the third quarter of 2012. The report suggests that the “unsettled economy and election season have been dampening fundraising.”
Chuck Longfield, senior vice president and chief scientist at Blackbaud, says that nonprofits are finding it very difficult to find new donors, but doing a decent job holding onto the donors they have.
This last quarter is the most important to charitable organizations in many countries. Many generate the lion’s share of their annual revenue before and during the holiday season when donors can capitalize on the tax benefits before December 31.
Many have felt the pinch and stress of the economic downturn. Add to this, the burden and devastation that those in Hurricane Sandy’s wake have endured, and it doesn’t look good.
Fundraising may be down, but the need is greater than ever. In almost every nonprofit category, demand for programs and services have increased, but giving hasn’t been able to keep up.
For those who are fortunate enough not to have experienced Sandy’s wrath, or have held their own during the past year, I hope you’ll consider helping the myriad of charities that need your help to do their work.
Give what you can afford. Offer to volunteer. You’ll feel so good.
Do you plan to give to charitable organizations before the end of this year? Why or why not? Please share.
