The Giving Crisis: How to Attract Everyday Donors

Plus, a Q&A with Lois DeBacker, a pioneer in supporting environmental-justice groups ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. FUNDRAISING [Everyday Donors Want to Give. Here’s How to Find Them.]( By Ben Gose and Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( It’s challenging to focus on small-dollar contributors when you need money today — but experts say a broad base of support is key for nonprofits’ long-term health. Plus, see the rest of our [July issue]( posted online today. EXIT INTERVIEW [After 30 Years of Environmental Grant Making, Lois DeBacker Remains Optimistic About the Future]( By Jim Rendon [STORY IMAGE]( A pioneer in supporting environmental-justice groups, DeBacker will retire from the Kresge Foundation in September. WEBINARS [July 18 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( It isn’t easy to create holiday appeals that capture donors’ attention during the busiest fundraising time of the year. To get a jump on these critical campaigns and a handle on what to expect this year, join us for Planning a Year-End Fundraising Strategy in the Current Giving Climate. You’ll learn from Skyler Reep of KSPS PBS and Seth Rosen of The American LGBTQ+ Museum as they share real-world appeals, proven approaches, and tips for planning ahead while staying flexible. FORUMS [July 23 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( For years, nonprofits have been worried about the decline in the number of Americans who give. To reverse the trend, many are using new messages and communication channels to reconnect with middle-class donors. To explore what’s working now, join our free online forum, Bring Everyday Donors Back Into the Fold. You’ll hear from Sara Lomelin, CEO of Philanthropy Together; CJ Ortuño, vice president of philanthropy at Civic News; and Victoria Vrana, CEO of GlobalGiving. [July 31 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join us for How Data Is Driving Fundraising Success to learn about the latest data-driven fundraising techniques and tools that savvy nonprofit leaders are embracing. You’ll hear from Louis Diez of the Donor Participation Project, Don Irwin of Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, and Natalia Pierson of Norfolk State University. They’ll explain how they put their donor data into action — and how your nonprofit can, too. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE [Chronicle of Philanthropy Subscription] Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online Social service nonprofits in Massachusetts are frantically looking for new sources of funding as they face the sunset of federal pandemic aid at the end of 2026. As demand and costs surge and the money runs out, a group that helps domestic violence survivors could decide to cut its services, and a Hyannis food pantry must figure out how to serve a client base that is five times its pre-pandemic size. “We’re all feverishly writing grants,” said the executive director of a group that supplies about 1.4 million pounds of food to pantries and other agencies around Boston, more than double the amount it moved before the pandemic. ([Boston Globe]( Background from the Chronicle: [Federal Food Assistance Cuts Should Spur Charities to Rethink How They Feed Families]( Over the past 15 years, funder collaboratives have become possibly “the most significant trend in how philanthropy is operating today,” according to an executive at the Bridgespan advisory firm. Working via pooled funds or co-granting, they allow donors to share the cost of administration and expertise, and to spread the risk of investing in innovative but untested approaches to a problem. By 2022, collaboratives had poured more than $3 billion into nonprofits and social movements, according to Bridgespan research. ([Financial Times]( Background from the Chronicle: - [Billions Flood Into Blue Meridian as It Seeks to Help Innovative Nonprofits]( - [Donor Collaboratives Are a New Approach That Advances Equity and Efficiency]( More News - Louisiana Governor Cuts $1 Million for Catholic Charities Homeless Shelter Over Serving Migrants ([National Catholic Reporter]( - This Detroit Goodwill Wants to be the Center of a New EV Workforce ([Fast Company]( - Background from the Chronicle: [In the New Green Economy, Philanthropy Must Take a Smarter Approach to Creating Good Jobs]( - Nonprofit Hospitals’ Community Benefits Come Under IRS Scrutiny ([Bloomberg Law]( - Dorothy Lichtenstein, President of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, Dies at 84 ([ARTnews]( Opinion - Americans Can Fix Their Fraying Society ([Washington Post]( - The Authoritarian Side of Effective Altruism Comes for A.I. ([Reason]( Note: In the links in this section, we flag articles that only subscribers can access. But because some journalism outlets offer a limited number of free articles, readers may encounter barriers with other articles we highlight in this roundup. EDITOR'S PICKS BIG GIFTS [Michael Bloomberg’s New $1 Billion Gift to Johns Hopkins Matches the Year’s Biggest So Far]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( The media mogul’s donation is the latest aimed at making medical school tuition-free. COMMUNICATIONS [Can Your Group Stay Neutral on Controversial Topics? 5 Things to Know]( By Seth Chalmer [STORY IMAGE]( A communications pro offers tips for nonprofits considering whether to publicly take a stand on divisive issues GIVING USA [Giving Continues Its Decline, Down 2.1% in 2023. Can Fundraisers Turn the Tide in 2024?]( By Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( ‘Giving USA’ found that inflation took a bite out of giving again last year, but nonprofits are cautiously optimistic about 2024. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our webinar]( —It isn’t easy to create a campaign that captures donors’ attention — and gets them to give — during the most competitive fundraising time of the year. And 2024’s giving season presents even more challenges, including wars, economic worries, and a politically charged presidential election. To learn how to build a smart strategy despite the tricky climate, join the Chronicle on Thursday, July 18 at 2 p.m. ET for a 75-minute webinar and get a jump on your planning. Our expert guests will share tips for creating a timeline that can be adapted if needed, ways to engage everyone at your organization in fundraising to boost results, and real-world examples of approaches that are working — and which to avoid. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Apply today](. [Executive Director for Advancement, Trulaske College of Business]( University of Missouri - Columbia [Executive Director for Advancement, College of Engineering]( University of Missouri - Columbia [Chief Development Officer]( Princeton Symphony Orchestra [Chief Development Officer]( Economic Mobility Pathways - EMPath [Search other jobs.]( [Chronicle of Philanthropy Logo]( This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2024 [The Chronicle of Philanthropy]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037