Top 10 Emerging Trends in Major Gifts, Terry Burton from Dig In Research

services@supportingadvancement.com — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Top 10 Emerging Trends in Major Gifts

1. The importance of Stewardship Equity

Think about donor retention and spreading the word about your mission and vision.

2. Increase in the number of transformational gifts to smaller nonprofits

A residual effect of stewardship time and effort, these change the landscape forever in terms of cash flow, staffing, brand name / brand presence in the market to name a few.

3. Namesake donors stepping up to make a second, third and fourth major gift

Follows from #1. Broaden the stewardship to the direct family & extended family,lots of great follow along major gifts coming out.

4. Convergence of online giving and text messaging gifts

The cell phone has quickly emerged as the most dynamic electronic device ever and when you add in online giving, people can get to your web site from the cell phone, making the gift an impulse buying type of decision, more to come on this.

5. Shifts in the frequency and dollar amounts of major gifts

The number of major gifts has decreased during 2008 and 2009 but the dollar value of each major gift appears to be shifting upwards. The start of 2010 has seen a burst of major activity.

6. Planned Giving expanding

People are choosing to make gifts of cash, securities, large properties, art and other valuable assets. The dollar amounts of planned gifts appears to be shifting upwards as well.

7. International competition for major gifts

This is accelerating at the top of the major gift charts with large amounts coming in and going out of the USA. Evidence can be found in health care, higher education and arts & culture.

8. Pockets of Philanthropy

During 2009 over 25 campaigns across the USA reported record breaking years and other degrees of success at a time when traditional media claimed disaster. I believe it comes back to #1, Stewardship Equity in those communities.

9. Communication with major gift donors and prospects

We have shifted towards more electronic style of communication with email, voice mail and power point messages as compared to the face-to-face meetings, measure the difference in your own organization.

10. The growing importance of research

When developing a donor profile start with giving history to your organization AND to other nonprofits. Think like a wealth management adviser in terms of "Share of Wallet" a term they use to describe accepting that the individual wants to spread things around and not have all their eggs in one basket.

One last thought, please take the time to develop for the Ask Amounts with benchmarks for your Naming Opportunities.

best regards

Terry Burton
Dig In Research
cell 248-881-2323

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Top 10 Emerging Trends in Major Gifts, Terry Burton from Dig In Research