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May 21, 2009

Donors Show Rising Confidence in the Economy

Battered by the recession, few donors plan to increase their giving anytime soon. But their confidence in the economy is now showing some signs of improvement — which could bode well for longer-term fund-raising efforts — according to a new survey.

The study, released by Campbell Rinker, a Valencia, Calif., company that specializes in research on donor behavior, is based on data from 504 donors who answered questions in April about their charitable intentions and their views on the nation’s economic health.

The company used those data to compile its Donor Confidence Index, which rose to 88.2, up from 87.5 in February and 84.7 in December.

The index is calculated every two months. In the April survey, 51 percent of donors were satisfied with the country’s economic direction, up from 32 percent in December. Only 29 percent said the economy is in decline, down from 58 percent in October.

But even though donors are feeling somewhat better about the economy, only 15 percent said they expect to give more this year and 28 percent expect to give less.

Optimism about the economy is not yet leading to an appreciable rise in donors’ willingness to give, said Dirk Rinker, president of Campbell Rinker. (A full copy of a report on the survey findings may be purchased for $165 from Campbell Rinker.)

What about donors to your organization? Do you see any signs that the recession may be loosening its grip on their purse strings?

— Holly Hall

Thursday May 21, 2009 | Permalink

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