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25 Days of Giving: Global Trends in Giving Report

Charitable Giving, Nonprofits
25 Days of Giving: Global Trends in Giving 2017 Report

The 2018 Global Trends In Giving report is full of important and valuable statistics for nonprofit professionals. These statistics are not just interesting, but can also impact your donor plans and marketing strategies. But, December is an incredibly busy month with all the year-end fundraising pushes and policy reviews in prep for the coming operating year. So guess what? I read it for you! (You’re welcome.)

The 28-page report, sponsored by Public Interest Registry (PIR) with research completed by Nonprofit Tech for Good, surveyed a global sample of more than 6,000 donors in a time period from April through June of 2018. (It should be noted that although global, the results only represent the views of respondents that read in languages Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish; have access to the Internet, and use email and/or social media.) 

Here are just a few highlighted insights from the report:

  • There are some clear similarities across generations. For instance, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers all prefer to give online, compared with options like cash, bank/wire transfer, and mail. Furthermore, approximate 14-15% of each generation group gave on #GivingTuesday 2017. Additionally, approximately 56% of donors from each generation group attend fundraising events. 
  • Millennials and Generation X donors are both most inspired to give through social media and their top cause category is children and youth. In comparison, Baby Boomers are most inspired to give through email and their top category cause is health and wellness.

Occassion of tribute gift

  • By gender, women make tribute gifts more often than men (35% v. 21%). However, male and female donors are within 1 percentage point of one another when it comes to enrollment in a monthly giving program (~55%) and volunteering locally (~67%).
  • Social media, closely followed by email, are the communication tools that most inspire giving.

nonprofit communication

  • Planning your social media awareness and advertising for the year ahead? Facebook remains the undisputed champion of online donations.

Global giving social media

  • Your nonprofit’s website should end in .org. 68% of donors most trust the “.org” domain extension. 
  • Adopting policies such as those regarding ethics, document retention, and confidentiality are essential! 92% of donors say it is important charitable organizations “make a concerted effort to protect their contact and financial info from data breaches.”

how donors prefer to be thanked for donations

  • When thanking donors, the majority (69%) prefer email the most.

Free gifts report giving

  • When thinking about incentivizing and inspiring donors, free gifts don’t always do the trick. Only 20% of donors are more likely to donate if they’re offered a free gift. (Plus, donors need to be aware of considerations when claiming quid pro quo donations.)

Again, these are just a few of the most important figures picked from an extremely well done and detailed report, 2018 Global Trends In Giving. If you give the report a read, what were the most unexpected and unique statistics to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts and insights!

For any aspect of donation facilitation, organizational compliance, as well as legal training, I’m happy to provide beneficial services to help your nonprofit best pursue its mission. Don’t hesitate to reach out via email or phone (515-371-6077) at any time.

December 25, 2018/by Gordon Fischer
https://www.gordonfischerlawfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/rawpixel-com-445828-e1514078162985.jpg 2401 5683 Gordon Fischer https://www.gordonfischerlawfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GFLF-logo-300x141.png Gordon Fischer2018-12-25 19:15:152020-05-18 11:28:4925 Days of Giving: Global Trends in Giving Report

GoFisch Book Club December Pick

Book Club, Charitable Giving

We’re taking a brief break from the details about the logistics of donation substantiation and the benefits of giving stocks to talk about one of my favorite subjects: books! 

The people of Iceland have a lovely tradition called jólabókaflóð where books are exchanged with loved ones on Christmas Eve and then a cozy night is spent reading together. If you choose to start your own “Yule book flood” holiday custom, consider passing along one of the GoFisch Book Club selections we’ve chosen over the year. Which brings us to this month’s title: Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World.Winners Take All

The author, Anand Giridharadas, explores how rich and powerful donors utilize donations not just in attempt to change the world, but to shape policy. He presents an argument that the wealthiest of donors perpetually intend to do good, but never intend less harm. The author explores tough questions, which at times, are hard to reconcile with the current state of major giving in the world today. Giridharadas also offers ideas, with a call to action for everyday citizens, on how robust social change can, and should, be more egalitarian.

Not all of the ideas in Winners Take All will be popular with all (especially not the upper crust of the richest donors), but that’s what makes this book so intriguing. It’s not afraid to push the envelope on the conversation around how the public sector operates and delve into the realities of philanthrocapitalism.

What are your thoughts on Winners Take All? I’d love to hear how this inspires your charitable giving or influences your giving strategy. Want to discuss how you can make the most impact with your year-end donation? Don’t hesitate to drop me a line!

December 23, 2018/by Gordon Fischer
https://www.gordonfischerlawfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-23-at-11.08.08-PM.png 622 946 Gordon Fischer https://www.gordonfischerlawfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GFLF-logo-300x141.png Gordon Fischer2018-12-23 23:08:392020-05-18 11:28:49GoFisch Book Club December Pick

Young People Should Be the Most Concerned with Estate Planning

Estates & Estate Planning, Powers of Attorney, Taxes & Finance, Trusts, Wills, Wills, Trusts & Estates
Young couple holding hands

So, WHO needs an estate plan, anyway?

Who needs to be most concerned with estate planning? What age group? Ask Iowans this question, and I’ll bet most would conjure up the image of a retiree who just spent 50+ years working hard to acquire significant assets. Of course, it’s important for this demographic to have a quality estate plan, that’s fairly obvious.

But, imagine a young, married couple. They both have good jobs, live in a fine starter home, and have a baby.

 

crying newborn baby

This young couple tries to put away a little bit of money for savings, in a 529 college fund, and for retirement. Why should they worry about estate planning?

The truth is, this young couple should be just as concerned–arguably, even more concerned–with estate planning as the retiree.

Here are four reasons why:

  • Choosing guardians for minor children. In an estate plan, you can choose the guardians of minor children (e.g., children under age 18). If you should become incapacitated, or even die without any estate plan, an Iowa court would have no choice but to appoint a guardian for your children – but it may not be who you wanted or would have chosen. Better to have plenty of time to consider and make a careful, well-reasoned choice.

Show Your Kids You Love ‘Em with a Testamentary Trust

  • Save on fees, court costs, and taxes. A good estate plan can save you and your estate money on fees, court costs, and taxes. These savings can be even more critically important for a smaller estate (more likely when you’re younger), than for larger estate (more likely as you grow older). Often, young folks actually have the greatest need to save money to pass along the greatest amount they possibly can to family and loved ones.

 

  • Help favorite charities. Having an estate plan means that you can put into place immensely helpful donations for your favorite charities. Without an estate plan there’s no opportunity for you to help your favorite charities

Let’s Head Back to School! First Lesson is on Planned Giving

  • Life is uncertain. It may be awkward to talk about, but life isn’t guaranteed for any of us, young or old. There’s an old saying in estate planning circles that goes, “People don’t always die when they are supposed to.” Wives usually outlive their husbands, parents usually outlive their children, and so on, but not always. It is best to be prepared for anything and everything.

 

Mom and daughter hugging

Who should be most concerned with estate planning? I actually think young people should be!

Whatever your age, if you are interested in estate planning (as everyone should want to check it off their list), a good place to start is my free Estate Planning Questionnaire. Questions? Want to discuss you personal situation? Contact me for a free consult!

November 28, 2018/by Gordon Fischer
https://www.gordonfischerlawfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sweet-ice-cream-photography-250621.jpg 3797 5696 Gordon Fischer https://www.gordonfischerlawfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GFLF-logo-300x141.png Gordon Fischer2018-11-28 11:44:422020-05-18 11:28:49Young People Should Be the Most Concerned with Estate Planning
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Gordon Fischer Law Firm, P.C.

Gordon is based in Cedar Rapids and serves clients all across Iowa

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