By Carrie Cobb, Chief Data and AI Officer, Blackbaud At the Blackbaud Institute, we’ve been closely watching how fundraisers are navigating today’s evolving landscape—and what we’re seeing is both inspiring and instructive. Yes, 2025 brings its share of uncertainty. Economic shifts, changing donor demographics, and policy changes
By Ann Fellman, Chief Marketing Officer, Bloomerang Fear is not a sustainable fundraising strategy. Yet, too many nonprofits operate from a place of anxiety and uncertainty. Budgets get slashed, bold plans are shelved, and decisions are shaped by “what if” scenarios. This reactive approach can lead to
By Lieve Hendren, Senior Consultant at Alford Group If you’ve ever spent a day in a development office, you know it’s a bit like herding cats — except the cats wear blazers, carry clipboards and are split between those who can’t wait to work the room at
By Gail Perry, President & Founder of Gail Perry Group You may be thinking… how do I bring Giving USA data to life for my board members? You’re in the boardroom. You’ve got the latest Giving USA report in hand. Charts ready. Statistics memorized. You launch
By: Laura MacDonald, CFRE, Founder & Principal of Benefactor Group Last week, I met with the board of a historic property. They had spent years preparing for a campaign to create a new education center and enlarge their endowment. Each step was carefully taken: strategic planning,
Before committing resources, time, and energy to a major campaign, you have to be sure your nonprofit is ready. This is where feasibility studies come in. However, feasibility studies are an investment in and of themselves, and there’s some debate in the nonprofit world about how necessary these assessments are.
Media Contact for the FOUNDATION: PC*********@***pr.com Media Contact for the SCHOOL: Adriene Davis Kalugyer 317-278-8972 ad******@**.edu Giving USA 2025: U.S. charitable giving grew to $592.50 billion in 2024, lifted by stock market gains 70th annual report reveals giving to most nonprofit subsectors rose in 2024 What to Know Key findings
By Jeff Jowdy, President & Founder, Lighthouse Counsel Capital campaigns have been a vital fundraising strategy in America for more than a century. Churches, hospitals, colleges and YMCAs were early pioneers of organized fundraising. They focused on volunteer-led efforts to build facilities or
Over the past decade, I’ve watched with interest as the traditional donor pyramid has steadily morphed into a new shape. Traditionally, about 50% of a Rescue Mission’s revenue came from donors giving less than $1,000 per year. Today, our pyramid has become top heavy: Higher value donors are making up
By Aly Sterling, Founder and President, Aly Sterling Philanthropy Foundations are one of the most powerful philanthropic vehicles for charitable families. From big names like the Ford Foundation to smaller scale grantmaking organizations you can find next door, family foundations all share one common goal: to
By Mary Whitrow, Content & Creative Marketing Manager, Kindsight The art of fundraising has undergone a seismic shift. Shrinking donor pools, rising nontraditional giving channels, and the vast amount of available donor data are redefining how fundraisers operate. The teams staring at long sets of outdated spreadsheets
By Justine Morgan Senior Associate, Ruotolo Associates If recent history has shown us anything, there are virtually no guarantees regarding funding sources. We’re all living in a world of Fundraising Disruptors (FD). If you’re in the nonprofit sector, or even the community at large, you’ve likely seen
