Why do so many nonprofits struggle to raise funds, while at the same time, America is undergoing its greatest wealth transfer in history? Bill High and Ray Gary address this dichotomy and other issues by explaining how recent cultural shifts have revolutionized fundraising. By reading Charity Shock, you'll learn how to network with giving influencers, harness the $40 trillion wealth transfer, quadruple gifts by accepting noncash items, engage future generations of donors, and more. Fundraisers will move forward in confidence, knowing their nonprofits are prepared for the future of fundraising.
Bill High is the co-founder and CEO of The Signatry – A Global Christian Foundation, and is a well-known speaker and consultant on generosity, charitable giving and family legacy.
His recent books include Giving It All Away…And Getting It All Back Again: The Way of Living Generously, coauthored with David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, and Charity Shock: Ten Critical Trends Revolutionizing the Fundraising World, coauthored with Ray Gary.
Bill and his wife Brooke have four children and three grandchildren.
Demographic studies show major generational changes in attitudes toward charitable giving. Younger people aren't as enthusiastic about giving to nonprofits. Instead of just complaining about it, nonprofit organizations are going to need to innovate. This chapter explores an exciting new field: impact investing.
Book Excerpt
Charity Shock: Ten Critical Trends Revolutionizing the Fundraising World
Much of this change in mindset comes from a changing generation. As we discussed in Chapter 1, demographic shifts have revolutionized fundraising. It’s safe to assume that donations to ministries will go down, both for new nonprofits just starting out and for existing nonprofits. Most donations currently come from a donor base age fifty and older. As these donors age, retire, and eventually pass away, they’ll need to be replaced by a younger, equally enthusiastic donor base. Frankly, this isn’t going to happen. The twenty-, thirty-, and forty-year-olds of today are not as enthusiastic about giving. They’re burdened with debt and college loans. Moreover, they aren’t religious like their parents or grandparents were. Since religious interest has been the driving motivation for donating to charity, they’re not giving to charities like older generations have. Charities that have been around for one hundred years or more can’t keep assuming they’ll have a stable donor base in the years to come. As all their major donors age, they’ll have a big problem. Their donor base will disappear, and they’ll need to find new ways to sustain themselves.
Comment on this Bubble
Your comment and a link to this bubble will also appear in your Facebook feed.