Attending this webex from Merkle today called “Five Strategies for Successful Fundraising in a Challenging Economy” and jotted down some useful resources that I need to look into more later and decdied to share with all of you in the meantime. Interesting stuff looking into the future and current state of charitable giving.
Trends in Giving from Contributemedia.com 
NY Times blog on Freakenomics
About Freakonomics
Stephen J. Dubner is an author and journalist who lives in New York City.
Steven D. Levitt is a professor of economics at the University of Chicago.
Their book Freakonomics has sold 3 million copies worldwide. This blog, begun in 2005, is meant to keep the conversation going.
Giving and volunteering in the US data
Key findings:
Giving (households)
89 percent of households give.
The average annual contribution for contributors is $1,620.
Volunteering (individuals)
44 percent of adults volunteer.
83.9 million American adults volunteer, representing the equivalent of over 9 millionfull-time employees at a value of $239 billion.
Nonprofit times survey about Online giving this holiday season
Among those who plan to donate, 42% plan to give $100 or less, 20% plan to give between $100 and $1,000 and 4% claimed that they will give $1,000 or more, 35% are not sure of the amount but plan to donate.
“Micro charities set up for giving online”:
Mission fish
Just giving
Six degrees.org – started by Kevin Bacon!
One.org – more advocacy highlights
Network for Good
Understanding the Giving Model – AUDIENCE 98’s Giving model is an statement of the interactions between givers’ motivations, mindsets, and means.
A little fundraising rant – boy did this search come up with a lot of information, all very interesting to read… and it lead me to this about “Baby and the Bathwater”…. to my favorite quote of the day –
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Get some more bathwater. And maybe a few more babies.
One of Schuyler’s favorite books was mentioned that i have pictured here. The book was so popular that it inspired the If You Give A series, which includes If You Give A Pig A Pancake, If You Give A Moose A Muffin, and If You Give A Cat A Cupcake.
If you give a mouse a cookie and he will ask for some milk:
Compare that to: If you give a donor power and they will ask for options, customization, greater insight and issue focused giving and ability to designate.
Ending thoughts….
“It’s time we stop talking about giving as being voluntary when the great bulk of history looks at it as a moral obligation”.
Hope you enjoyed my notes!
