DONORS & DAFs
FPLG COVID-19 RESPONSE
DONORS & DAFs
[UPDATE: May 26, 2020]
The worst fears of the nonprofit sector – that donor support would evaporate because of the widespread financial disruption in society – have not happened. Donors have stepped up in a big way. Donor-advised funds, too, have responded with increased grants.
But there are worrisome statistics about overall contributions. And – of course – for many organizations, including those that rely on ticket sales, the lost revenue has been crippling. They will have a more difficult time during the COVID-19 crisis.
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[April 3, 2020]
The coronavirus outbreak is different than past emergencies or disasters precisely because it’s affecting everyone around the world at about the same time.
This is a period of confusion and disruption; many organizations may wonder if this is an appropriate time to connect with donors. But experts, including those who have conducted fundraising campaigns in difficult circumstances, say that it’s critical to communicate with supporters right now.
There is also a consensus that the time is right for donor-advised funds to play an important part in the support and recovery of the nonprofit sector. DAFs control an enormous amount of wealth that can, and should, be distributed as soon as possible.
Seventy-three percent of charities say they have seen a decline in contributions, and half say they expect to see revenue decline by more than 20 percent over the next year, according to a new global survey. Only 6 percent expect giving to increase.
— Dan Parks, Chronicle of Philanthropy (5/18/20)
The coronavirus outbreak has shut down entire school districts and turned bustling commercial corridors into ghost towns, but there’s one sector of society that’s busier than ever: philanthropy.
The charitable acts have come in all shapes and sizes. Small checks to food pantries, foundations issuing emergency grants to desperate nonprofits and, most conspicuously, billionaires doling out big-dollar gifts with all the attendant publicity.
— Laurence Darmiento, LA Times (4/20/20)
The coronavirus pandemic has touched off an explosion of grant making from donor-advised funds, according to a spot check of the big national donor-advised fund-sponsors and community foundations of all sizes.
— Michael Theis, The Chronicle of Philanthropy (4/7/20)
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
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Ask an Expert: Setting Fundraising Goals and Priorities During a Crisis (May 20, 2020) Eden Stiffman, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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73% of Charities Worldwide See Decline in Contributions (May 18, 2020) Dan Parks, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Community Foundations Study Finds Surge in Donor-Advised-Fund Grant Making (May 14, 2020) Michael Thies, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Coronavirus-Related Giving Tops $10 Billion Worldwide (May 7, 2020) Dan Parks, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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As COVID-19 Pushes Some Nonprofits to the Brink, at What Point Do Donors Abandon Ship? (May 7, 2020) Mike Scutari, Inside Philanthropy
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One in Five Donors Has Stopped Giving, Survey Says (May 6, 2020) Michael Theis, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Ask an Expert: Donor Fatigue and Taking the Helm During a Pandemic (May 6, 2020) Eden Stiffman, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Fidelity Donor-Advised-Fund Account Holders Have Directed $230 Million for Covid Response (May 6, 2020) Michael Theis, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Will Donor-Advised Funds Meet Their “Rainy Day” Promise? (April 28, 2020) Jeanne Bell & Steve Dubb, The Nonprofit Quarterly
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Replacing Lost Revenues for Charities: Ways to Consider Charitable Giving Diversification (April 28, 2020) Elizabeth Manchester, Esq., Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
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Fundraising and Your Board During a Pandemic: Lean into the trends (April 28, 2020) Dave Sternberg, BoardSource Blog
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Handling Gifts in Kind and Donated Services During COVID-19 (April 22, 2020) Nicole Riley, CPA, Pannell, Kerr, Foster of Texas P.C.
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Donors that are stepping up right now (April 23, 2020) Helen Brown
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Charity is off the charts amid the coronavirus. Is that a sign of America’s strength or weakness? (April 20, 2020) Laurence Darmiento, The Los Angeles Times
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Silicon Valley’s favorite charity is asking its donors to give away hundreds of millions of dollars. Right now. (April 20, 2020) Theodore Schleifer, The Los Angeles Times
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Non-Profits Benefit from Relaxed Charitable Deduction Limitations (April 17, 2020) Davis Brown Law Firm
- Coronavirus and Fundraising: What to Expect and How to Prepare (March 28, 2020) Gail Perry, Fired-Up Fundraising
- Let the Donor Decide: Don’t Assume Giving is Off the Table During a Crisis (March 25, 2020) June Bradham
- Bluefrog Fundraising share free resources for creating a coronavirus appeal (March 19, 2020) Mark Phillips, BlueFrog Fundraising
- Experts Urge Charities to Communicate Their Needs Clearly to Their Donors (March 17, 2020) Maria Di Mento, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Tips for Communicating with Donors During Uncertain Times (March 12, 2020) Bo Crader for SG Engage
- 10 Important Donor Types to Communicate To During the Coronavirus Outbreak (March 2020) Bloomerang
- COVID-19 Resources: How to Reach Your Donors and Volunteers (March 2020) Aspen Leadership Group
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