The Blackbaud Institute Releases New Research on Major Givers in Vital Signs Part 3

Rhea-AI Summary

The Blackbaud Institute has released Vital Signs Part 3, revealing that fewer US households are contributing to charitable donations, with major donors increasingly controlling the sector’s funding. The report, which spans data from 2010-2019, indicates a decline in both the number of donor households and their retention rates. The findings emphasize the need for organizations to adapt fundraising strategies to maintain donor engagement and to consider the preferences of the Baby Boomer demographic, who significantly influence philanthropy today.

Positive

• The report highlights critical trends that can guide organizations in adjusting their fundraising strategies.
• Understanding donor preferences can lead to more effective engagement and retention efforts.

Negative

• The number of donor households making gifts has declined, impacting overall philanthropic contributions.
• Overall donor retention is lagging, which could pose future risks for revenue generation.

CHARLESTON, S.C., Oct. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Blackbaud Institute, a research division of Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world's leading cloud software company powering social good, today releases Vital Signs Part 3: How Major Donors Are Shaping Philanthropy. The third in a series of reports first launched in 2017, this report uncovers continued evidence that fewer households are making up a larger portion of dollars donated, making a donor-centered approach to fundraising more important than ever before.

The Blackbaud Institute set out to better understand what influences sector growth and how organizations can respond to the ever-changing market. Adding data from 2015-2019 to round out a review of trends throughout the decade, this latest report in the Vital Signs series examines giving patterns in the sector. "Vital Signs Part 3 focuses on the makeup of donor households in America to guide changes in our fundraising strategies and priorities," said Ashley Thompson, managing director of the Blackbaud Institute.

Key Findings from the Blackbaud Institute Vital Signs Part 3 Report

• Between 2010 and 2019, the number of donor households making gifts declined, the incidence of donor households adding new organizations to their portfolios declined and overall donor retention lagged.
• With fewer donors enjoying more choices and easier routes to giving, the initiative has moved from the organization to the donor. As a result, strategies to strengthen donor retention are more critical than ever.
• As Baby Boomers continue their influence on philanthropy, their specific preferences must be accounted for through fundraising practices.

"With the exception of 2017, when we saw a flurry of new donors flood the market due to political activation and an extraordinary hurricane season, we have seen philanthropy continue to concentrate in fewer hands," says Thompson. "Some of the fundamental concepts, and many of the mechanics of 21st -century giving, are unlike those of any other time in history, and philanthropic organizations must adjust accordingly. The assumptions of bygone days are often no longer valid."

Download the report at www.blackbaudinstitute.com/vitalsigns.

About The Blackbaud Institute
The Blackbaud Institute drives research and insight to accelerate the impact of the social good community. It convenes expert partners from across the philanthropic sector to foster diverse perspectives, collective thinking and collaborative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. The Blackbaud Institute and its partners conduct research, uncover strategic insight and share results broadly to drive effective philanthropy at every stage, from fundraising to outcomes. Knowledge is powering the future of social good, and the Blackbaud Institute is an engine of that progress. Learn more, sign up for our newsletter, explore our knowledge base of social good best practices and trends, see the latest quarterly statistics on giving, and check out our most recent resources at BlackbaudInstitute.com.

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world's leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, higher education institutions, K–12 schools, healthcare organizations, faith communities, arts and cultural organizations, foundations, companies and individual change agents—Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through cloud software, services, expertise and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and CRM, marketing, advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate social responsibility, school management, ticketing, grantmaking, financial management, payment processing and analytics. Serving the industry for more than three decades, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit  www.blackbaud.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

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Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organization; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.

 

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SOURCE Blackbaud, Inc.

FAQ

What does the Blackbaud Institute's Vital Signs Part 3 report reveal about donor households?

The report indicates that fewer households are contributing to charitable donations, with major donors controlling more of the funding.

How have donor retention rates changed according to the Vital Signs Part 3 report?

The report shows that overall donor retention has lagged, highlighting a need for improved engagement strategies.

What time period does the Blackbaud Institute's Vital Signs Part 3 cover?

The report analyzes giving patterns and trends from 2010 to 2019.

How do Baby Boomers influence philanthropy according to the report?

The report notes that Baby Boomers significantly impact philanthropy and their preferences must be considered in fundraising strategies.

What key trends were identified in the Blackbaud Institute's Vital Signs Part 3 report?

Key trends include a decline in the number of donor households and an increase in the concentration of donations among fewer households.