The AFP Blog: Worth Fighting For

The AFP Blog: Worth Fighting For: "But the financial incentives involved in most giving are also an important aspect of philanthropy.

That fact is, even if some donors don’t take a deduction or credit, tax incentives make a huge difference in giving.

I was on the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) America Radio Network recently talking with its president, Ted Hart, ACFRE, about its recent study of how different governments support charity through incentives."



'via Blog this'

Neighbor to Neighbor: Infectious Layaway Philanthropy

NPQ covered this story about community-based philanthropy when it first began last week. In Nebraska, Montana, Ohio, Idaho, and elsewhere over this past week, the wave of people paying off the Christmas K-Mart layaway accounts of their neighbors continued.

Neighbor to Neighbor: Infectious Layaway Philanthropy

Giving to charities surprisingly steady | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Giving to charities surprisingly steady | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram: The holiday season is critical to charitable organizations and the people they help, and this week before Christmas is especially important. Charities were not expecting significant increases in giving this year because of the struggling economy, but some representatives said Sunday they're thankful to be holding steady.

It's Never Too Early to Think About Next Year's Holiday Giving Campaign : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success

It's Never Too Early to Think About Next Year's Holiday Giving Campaign : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success: This year there seems to be more digital holiday fundraising programs than ever. It’s no secret that December is a great month for giving. Traditional increased giving around the holidays combined with greater access to digital, mobile and social fundraising tools have allowed nonprofit organizations to develop creative online holiday campaigns and programs centered around holiday giving.

Good Omen For Year-End Fundraising? | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits

Good Omen For Year-End Fundraising? | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits: Good Omen For Year-End Fundraising?
By tbelford | November 29, 2011

comScore has just released its estimate for 2011 year-end online retail shopping.

For the first 20 days of the November – December 2011 holiday season, $9.7 billion has been spent online, marking a 14% increase versus the corresponding days last year. comScore projects a 15% increase by the end of December.

4 things you can still do to make year-end-fundraising count : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success

4 things you can still do to make year-end-fundraising count : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success: In about a month, we'll be hearing "Auld Lang SyneOpens in a new window" and hanging up new calendars from our favorite charities. If we did our jobs all year long, our donations-processing team will be working overtime to process the last-minute donations people sent via the mail, clicked online to give or even dropped off in person.

Click-through Rates, Compelling Links and Your End of Year Fundraising Appeal | NetWitsThinkTank.com

Click-through Rates, Compelling Links and Your End of Year Fundraising Appeal | NetWitsThinkTank.com: Wondering how to get more from your holiday email appeals?

Reviewing the way you use links may be a good place to start – effective link copy and placement can have huge effects on click through rates and related fundraising results.

Philanthropy Front and Center - Washington, DC: What to Do Now to Improve Year-End Results!

Philanthropy Front and Center - Washington, DC: What to Do Now to Improve Year-End Results!: What to Do Now to Improve Year-End Results!

Barbara L. Ciconte, CFRE, co-author of Fundraising Basics: A Complete Guide recommended the following 12 action steps for improving fundraising year-end results to attendees at a program at the Foundation Center in Washington, DC, on September 20, 2011:

Nine Tips For Tax-Smart Charitable Giving - Forbes.com

Nine Tips For Tax-Smart Charitable Giving - Forbes.com: "Of course, as with anything tax related, there are rules. Here are some key guidelines for making and reporting charitable contributions:"

Prospecting - Risky December 31 Deadline for Year-End Fund Raising

Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "December 31, traditionally the single biggest day for online giving, falls on a Friday this year. And for many people—especially those who work in government jobs or private businesses—that’s a holiday. Few people will be near their computers to open that last-minute e-mail appeal.

While “last chance” reminders for procrastinating donors might have worked on December 31 last year, because that date fell on a Thursday, the same reminders could put charities’ fund-raising success at risk of not meeting year-end goals in 2010, according to officials at Convio, an Austin, Tex., fund-raising software company."

St. Louis comes up big for 100 Neediest Cases - STLtoday.com

St. Louis comes up big for 100 Neediest Cases - STLtoday.com: "St. Louis comes up big for 100 Neediest Cases
By Jane Coaston
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/06/2010

Despite a depressed economy, giving to the United Way's 100 Neediest Cases campaign has remained steady as donation efforts begin to wind down for the season.

The campaign thus far has raised approximately $1.25 million in cash contributions. Vanessa Wayne, director of the campaign for the United Way of Greater St. Louis, said she expects the campaign to hit its $1.3 million goal."

A surprise rise in holiday donations | TheUnion.com

A surprise rise in holiday donations | TheUnion.com: "Nevada County residents kept giving in spite of a sour economy: The Salvation Army reported the biggest offering so far for its holiday kettle drive, and food banks are seeing increased donations.

The Grass Valley Corps brought in $78,000 this season, exceeding their 2009 goal of $75,000 and toppling the previous record of $56,000 in a season."

AFP Holiday Giving Survey Shows Giving Still Lagging, But Optimism Rising Among Charitable Fundraisers - Press - AFP

AFP Holiday Giving Survey Shows Giving Still Lagging, But Optimism Rising Among Charitable Fundraisers - Press - AFP: "AFP Holiday Giving Survey Shows Giving Still Lagging, But Optimism Rising Among Charitable Fundraisers

December 15, 2009

About one-third of charities are raising more funds so far during the 2009 holiday season compared to the same time period in 2008, according to the Holiday Giving Survey by AFP.

These giving figures are better than they were in last year's survey, and optimism for the rest of the year and 2010 is much stronger."

Column: Strategy for charitable giving | Small Business | Reuters

Column: Strategy for charitable giving | Small Business | Reuters: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Charitable giving tends to peak in the last two months of the year as donors are doubly inspired by the holiday spirit and the prospects of boosting their year-end tax-deductible spending. But they often diminish the power of those donations by not carefully targeting their gifts or by making them in a less tax-advantaged way.

That's not good, especially this year when charities really need the help."

Tips for End-of-Year Campaign Success : By Abny Santicola : FundRaising Success

Tips for End-of-Year Campaign Success : By Abny Santicola : FundRaising Success: "End-of-year campaigns are so important for nonprofit organizations because they allow them to capitalize on the uptick in giving that occurs in November and December. Between 35 percent to 42 percent of online giving happens in November and December each year, and the average gift during the final quarter of the year is significantly higher — $84.51, compared to the average of $67.47 for the other three quarters."

March 08: Feedback from newspaper readers -- dailypress.com

March 08: Feedback from newspaper readers -- dailypress.com: "Generous Holiday Fund donations help add $214,000 to charities
In our current economic uncertainty, it's understandable why folks might choose to cut back on their charitable contributions — or perhaps forgo them entirely — for fear of spending money that they might need later for their families.

The fact that so many of our friends and neighbors resisted that tendency and gave so generously — and in record numbers — to our recently concluded Daily Press Holiday Fund is a reassuring testimony to your thoughtfulness and compassion."

Year-end giving: cold, hard facts

March 2009: "1. Year-end giving: cold, hard facts

By Peter Schoewe

If you were expecting the sky to fall as 2008 drew to a close, there’s good news: It didn’t happen. Sadly, however, we found that nearly four out of five of our clients raised less money during that period than they had the year before. Response to acquisition mailings fell 12%, and average gifts declined slightly in house appeals. But the details tell a far more complicated story. Read on . . ."

DailyProgress.com | Santa Fund collects record $129,090.71

DailyProgress.com | Santa Fund collects record $129,090.71: "Charlottesville-area residents and businesses were more generous than ever during the holiday season.

Donors contributed a record-breaking amount to the Santa Fund,"

Winston-Salem Journal | Goodwill Comes Up Short: Slow economy may be reducing charitable giving, some suspect

Winston-Salem Journal | Goodwill Comes Up Short: Slow economy may be reducing charitable giving, some suspect: "On a day when all hands were on deck at Goodwill Industries on Westover Drive to handle the usual last-day-of-the-year crowd, Mark Stegall seemed uneasy.

“Usually there are trailer loads and pickup loads here,” said Stegall, Goodwill’s executive director, motioning to a relatively empty parking lot. “We’re usually swamped. This is kind of scary.”"

Traditions of Charity for the Holidays | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Traditions of Charity for the Holidays | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "NEW YORK — Christmas may be fast approaching, but Cynthia McKay isn't interested in receiving any presents _ unless they're cartons or cans of dog food or cat food. McKay, of Castle Rock, Colo., is among thousands of Americans who believe the spirit of Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa is best expressed through charity. They aim to help struggling artists, educational programs, the environment, missionary work, needy families or, in McKay's case, unwanted dogs and cats. For many, charitable giving at the holidays has become a family tradition."