[NPFX Ep. 52] Donor Behavior Is Changing: Insights from Chronicle of Philanthropy’s New Fundraiser Survey
Welcome to The Nonprofit Fundraising Exchange, a podcast from IPM Advancement. Our mission is to empower nonprofits to succeed so they can make the world a better place.
Today’s topic: Donor Behavior Is Changing — Insights from Chronicle of Philanthropy’s New Fundraiser Survey
The Chronicle of Philanthropy's 2023 survey of 1000 fundraisers reveals much about how donor behavior is changing and the impact that's having on nonprofit fundraising. In today's podcast episode, the IPM team digs deep into the data to help explain why donors are responding differently now and what nonprofits can do to meet their financial and mission goals for 2024.
Time-Stamped Episode Shortcuts
- Topic and guest introductions [1:35]
- Individual giving during the pandemic was artificially high and fundraisers are worried [3:00]
- The majority of fundraisers say groups of donors are giving less, are delaying their giving, or have stopped giving [6:51]
- Inflation and economic challenges are reasons why donors say they are giving less [8:52]
- Revenue from large gifts has dropped by 50% from 2022 to 2023 [12:06]
- Diverting resources from the annual fund can cut off the feeder line to major giving [13:08]
- Monthly giving programs are suffering as donors experience recurring charge fatigue [17:36]
- When the economy is down, ask donors if they have a donor-advised fund [20:50]
- Staffing challenges and high-pressure work environments are hurting fundraiser morale [22:19]
- Staff turnover can hurt donor relationships, especially major gift programs [28:01]
- Key take-aways and advice for fundraisers [30:14]
Special Offer: Free 30-minute consultation for NPFX listeners
Additional Resources
- IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library
- Chronicle’s Exclusive Survey Finds Skittish Donors and Fundraisers Searching for a New Normal
- [NPFX] Inflation and Impact: How Nonprofits Are Navigating Economic Realities (with Ali Colbran and Nicole Williams)
- [NPFX] Donor-Advised Funds: Making DAFs Work for Your Nonprofit
- [NPFX] Giving USA 2023: Key Insights behind the Numbers
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Guest
Samantha Timlick is the VP of Client Services at IPM Advancement. Since 2007 she has managed renewal, appeal, and acquisition programs encompassing more than 200 million total recipients — focusing on highly segmented direct mail microtargeting, personalized inbound and outbound telemarketing, and integrated e-campaigns.
Hosts
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.