December 19, 2008
Fund Raisers Grow Increasingly Anxious About the Economy, Poll Finds
By Holly Hall
Fund raisers are less confident than ever in their ability to raise money now and over the next six months, according to a new poll conducted by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy.
The survey, conducted twice annually since 1998, found that 65 percent of fund raisers, who were polled in November and during the first week of December, are confident in their ability to raise money. (That percentage is based on an average of their responses to two measures, one assessing confidence in the current fund-raising environment and another examining their confidence over the next six months.)
The 65-per-cent confidence rate is a new low since the survey was unveiled. The rating has ranged from a low of 72 percent in mid 2003 to a high of 95 percent at the end of 1999. Fund raisers’ confidence declined by 22 percent from the most recent survey, just six months ago, and by 27 percent compared to a year ago.
Those results are a direct result of the recession, said Patrick Rooney, interim executive director of the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy.
The results of the poll were not all bad: More than 40 percent of fund raisers reported that they had received increased donations from individual retirement accounts. That’s in part because Congress extended a provision that offers a special tax break for IRA donors older then 70 1/2.
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This is far better news than I expected, if that is, it is a realistic appraisal of the current economic situation and its effect upon professional fund-raising efforts. I can’t help wondering if the fund raisers aren’t expressing their innate optimism. In practicing their craft, they certainly need to be optimistic. Pessimists tend to be driven out of the fund-raising business quickly. Does anyone out there have a different perspective on the results of the survey?
— Richard S. Thill Dec 19, 02:31 PM #
I don’t know if there is another perspective if you are going to be successful as a fundraiser. Basically, we have to be able to see what it will takes to fund our program which we believe in. The economy is bad, but people still need us to do our job. Quite frankly, they need us more than ever because there is a greater need for the funding because we have more people to serve.
— O Caldwell Dec 19, 03:53 PM #
This current economic climate will certainly test our creativity. That’s not necessarily bad as we are motivated to try new approaches, meet with donors 1:1, rely less on the mail and more on the mission. Experienced fundraisers are needed now more than ever to make things happen. I think that’s good news (and job security) for all of us willing to accept the challenges.
— Marcia Dec 22, 05:52 PM #
Fund developers, by the nature of their job, are inherently optimistic. Being optimistic does not always equate to strong talent. Good fund developers succeed in a strong market, but great fund developers thrive under any condition. The next two years will certainly vet out those that can raise funds by their ability to meet the looming economic challenges. Buckle your seat belts, we are in for a bumpy ride.
— Laurie DeWitt Dec 23, 09:21 AM #