Hey, where's my $10 million?
Last year, 272 donors made $10M+ #gifts totalling $10.9 billion. Those data, while striking, don't offer much insight into the individual stories underlying the breathtaking scope and impact of this transformative #philanthropy. There are patterns here that inform strategy for those organizations that could be in the running for such generous demonstrations of support.
My wise and experienced colleagues Don Fellows, Mark Kimbell, and Karen Callahan share their perspectives on the trends and implications of these findings for #highereducation, #healthcare, and #schools. At first blush, it seems that these mega gifts are on the decline - until we recognize that Microsoft founder Bill Gates gave a total of $20 billion to his own foundation over 2021 and 2022. Removing those outliers shows the dollars about holding steady in 2023. That's good news for the charitable sector.
Economic uncertainty, a complex political landscape, and #donor caution are all factors impacting giving behaviors. Higher education faces political headwinds connected both to global conflicts and domestic ideological divisiveness. Similarly, healthcare enterprises, contending with the complexity and fragility of the American health system, strive to show the impact of philanthropy and align donor objectives with institutional goals. In schools, trust in #leadership and alignment with donors' #values are crucial for successful philanthropic efforts.
My colleagues offer suggestions that are evergreen in the practice of our craft: increased #transparency, addressing societal challenges with courage and clarity, demonstrating #impact, and fostering trust through personal engagement with #donors. Adjusting #fundraising approaches to be informed by and responsive to these trends and donor sentiments will be essential to the future health of the #nonprofit sector.
Click below for a richer dive into these topics. What are you seeing in your corner of our sector?
Let's continue our exploration of Marts&Lundy's $10M+ Gifts Report.
In this week's #FocusForwardWisdom, we share perspectives on the report from Marts&Lundy Practice Leaders Karen Callahan, Don Fellows and Mark Kimbell. We asked them these questions:
Q. What do the findings in the $10M+ Giving Report suggest for the future of mega gifts?
Q. What sentiments are emerging from Marts&Lundy’s campaign planning studies – particularly as regards personal interviews with major prospects and donors?
Q. What strategies should institutions consider given the trends we see in this report? Or, if not specific strategies, what actions can they take to inform conversations with leadership and boards? What questions should they be asking themselves?
Read their responses here: https://lnkd.in/ghP6HkN3
#megagifts #perspectivesonphilanthropy #fundraising
Practice Leader Perspectives on the Marts&Lundy $10M+ Gift Report 2024 – Marts&Lundy
https://martsandlundy.com
Vice President Education - Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
1moCongratulations Molly. I am so privileged to have had (and still have) a chance to partner with you. This is so well deserved, and an apt recognition of your incredible skills. So happy for you!!! Again, congratulations!!!!