As the global pandemic continues, many companies are rethinking how they do business in a world that expects more than yesterday’s “doing well by doing good” Corporate Social Responsibility campaigns. In every community, the local economic, health and social impacts are in flux and no matter the corporation’s size or location; a company is a part of that … [More]
Record Giving Reaches $471 Billion. What Does It Mean for 2021?
While a strong year-end stock market and record giving in response to COVID-19 and racial justice efforts drove growth in contributions, a tumultuous year created an uneven picture. Total estimated charitable giving in the United States rose 5.1% from 2019 to 2020 (3.8%, adjusted for inflation), to $471.44 billion in contributions. This increase reflects flat or positive … [More]
Affordable Homes within Reach
As our state confronts the third most severe affordable housing shortage in the nation, it’s clear that the status quo won’t cut it for average Arizonans. Compounded with rising rental rates, soaring overall demand and a high percentage of households at risk of eviction, the number of people experiencing homelessness has risen steadily in recent years. As a community-centric … [More]
Talent Management Reimagined
While attracting great talent and reducing staff turnover is a persistent challenge in often financially constrained nonprofit organizations, there are solutions. The key is to think holistically. Taking a holistic approach to talent management requires an organization to look beyond the day-to-day issues and crisis management that human resource teams naturally get pulled … [More]
Teaming Up with the Business Community to Achieve Bold Community Goals
A little over a year after the rampant rise of COVID-19, there’s hope on the horizon. Vaccination programs continue to roll out and the next round of stimulus checks are reaching many Arizona families. Although there is light at the end of the tunnel, recovery efforts could take years. Additionally, the pandemic shone a bright light on health and economic disparities, … [More]
New Public-Private Partnership Supports Rural Communities
How can rural communities get the support they need for infrastructure and development projects? Small communities have long struggled with the prohibitive costs of upgrading and maintaining their water systems and expanding or building the new schools, housing, firehouses and parks that are critical to the well-being of residents. Take the community of Bouse, located in La … [More]
Sustaining and Growing Your Fundraising Performance in 2021
If there is one key takeaway for philanthropy professionals from 2020, it’s that they have to be prepared to pivot quickly. With COVID-19, social unrest, market volatility, the elections and natural disasters, it was a year like none other. But even with the challenging landscape, there are professionals and institutions that were successful in sustaining and growing their … [More]
How Corporate America Stepped Up during the Pandemic
The Giving USA 2020 report showed 2019 philanthropic giving close to the record level set in 2017 and that the past three years were the highest years on record. This report also showed corporate giving was up 13%. Then, COVID-19 hit home —hard — requiring all of us to quickly adapt and bend to respond to new situations and needs for our communities, employees and our … [More]
Community Foundations: First Responders of Philanthropy
After a year full of crises and uncertainty, the dawn of 2021 seems like an appropriate time to reflect on the work of community foundations across the country. Any reflection must consider a nation dealing with a public health pandemic, social justice issues taking a prominent space on the national stage, and an unprecedented presidential election. This confluence of … [More]
Tell Me a Story and Capture My Heart
Who doesn’t love a great story? The complex characters, engaging plot, drama, tension and, finally, the memorable outcome. And like a page-turning novel or an Academy-award-winning movie, storytelling in the business world can be powerful — influencing how consumers make decisions and persuade others. Storytelling is as old as business itself, and has been adopted and used … [More]
Virtual Events: Embrace the Opportunities
A recent study conducted by Charity Navigator and Reuters News gauging the impact of COVID-19 on the nonprofit sector showed 83% of respondents are suffering financially. The pandemic has also restricted their ability to raise critical funds; 74.6% of nonprofits reported cancelling in-person fundraising events. Nonprofits struggle to envision an online event that has the same … [More]
Deepening Donor Relationships in a Virtual World
As local and global communities grapple with the immediate and long-term effects of the pandemic, many organizations and businesses are struggling to stay afloat in these uncharted waters. Meanwhile, the nonprofit sector is feeling the severe economic impact of the crisis at the same time that requests from individuals and families they serve are at record highs and … [More]
It Is Time to Truly Embrace Donor Advised Funds
The secret has been out on Donor Advised Funds for some time now. Once a misunderstood niche giving vehicle, DAFs have been growing at an astonishing rate over the last decade, by as much as three times the overall growth in giving, according to the Giving USA Foundation. The appeal is obvious — the model allows donors to centralize and simplify their giving, easily transfer … [More]
Best Communications and Fundraising Practices during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has understandably left everyone dealing with feelings of uncertainty and fear. This is hard and, for some, scary. Many local nonprofit organizations and their employees are suffering. Offices are shut, budgets are getting tighter by the day, valued staff is being furloughed and programs are at risk of being slashed just when they are needed most. As … [More]
The Changing Nature of America’s Donors
At first glance, the state of philanthropy in the United States appears strong. The second decade of the century has seemingly proved beyond doubt the resilience and adaptability of the American philanthropic model — one which the rest of the world continues to emulate. While the global financial crisis of 2008/2009 roiled the philanthropic community and severely dented overall … [More]
Optimizing the Role of the CEO in Fundraising
Today’s nonprofit CEOs and presidents are expected to set the strategic direction of the organization, ensure organizational efficiency and accountability, inform and be answerable to the board and key stakeholders, and serve as the public face of the organization. With so much on their plate, it may seem logical to delegate the responsibility for fund development to the chief … [More]
Beyond People and Place – to Purpose
Appealing to aspirational and transformational donors requires moving beyond typical prospect development — moving beyond simply looking at people and place — to purpose. Ask any competent development professional how to enhance fundraising performance, and he will tell you to work prospects from the inside out. Typically, this involves focusing on people — those within an … [More]
