Less than half of American households donated to charity in 2018, according to the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy – that is down from two-thirds of households in 2000. This and other data points, such as the fact that grassroots donors (those who give under $100/year) are also declining at an alarming rate – point to what’s being called a “generosity crisis.”
Two ways THG is working with clients to mitigate the “generosity crisis” are through technology and education.
- Technology represents a significant aid to facilitating not just more gifts, but larger ones as well. In a recent post, we cited Artificial Intelligence as a tool that can significantly advance the Moves Management process and help with donor retention. It is more important than ever to make sure your donors are receiving customized messages based on their medium of choice (Facebook, email, etc.) and where their interest lies (success stories, event invitations, personal appeal, etc.).
- Regular educational sessions and training for your Board, staff, and best volunteers will always remain important. We encourage nonprofits to hold at least quarterly meetings where your staff and Board cannot just reflect on why they are personally invested in your organization, but also educate the Board on the general state of philanthropy as it pertains to your industry and location, and engage them in Peer Review sessions so they can see how the money is raised and why this is important. There will always be a strong link between an engaged Board and philanthropy.
Knowing how to make good use of technology and requiring Board training is pivotal today when thinking of conducting a feasibility study, a capital campaign, or even just building capacity for a more robust annual fund. These two points go a long way to mitigating the generosity crisis by positioning your organization as a Hyper-Philanthropic™ one. Contact us today to learn how you can become Hyper about Philanthropy!