May 7, 2009

Online Giving Slows

Charities look for ways to raise smaller sums from more donors

By Noelle Barton and Paula Wasley

Even with the dismal economy, charities continue to see steady increases in online donations, but the rate of growth is slowing as the recession takes its toll, according to The Chronicle's annual survey of online fund raising.

Online gifts to 203 nonprofit organizations that provided data for 2007 and 2008 grew by a median of 28 percent last year, meaning that half of the organizations saw giving grow by more than that amount and half did less well. The increase is far