Impact counts

Impact counts: Charity should focus on performance.
Philanthropy Journal: Your Online Source for Nonprofit News

Self-criticism seems to be a trend in the NPO community. This is the second opinion piece I’ve seen in the last couple of weeks from within the clan that has not been kind to “ineffective” charities. The concern seems to be that the sins of some are dragging everyone down.

They (unnamed fat, smug charities) pander to donors’ vanity, sugar-coat failure and waste with feel-good jargon, and masquerade as team players while grubbing for turf.

Some charitable agencies and foundations also insulate themselves in a kind of philanthropic priesthood, justifying whatever they choose to do by the rightness of their cause.

Zing!

I did a few workshops about the future for some Bay Area nonprofits a couple of years ago. I was not impressed with what I saw (nor they with me). Some didn’t seen to realize that the ‘70s were over and just maybe they ought to have a hard look at their mission. Their most frequent question was: “How can I raise more money?” Well, how about doing something relevant to the new millennium?

New Tithing

Not a brand new idea, but it always sounds refreshing: tithing.

Corporate Philanthropy – What to Expect in 2004

The author of this article is not shy about making a forecast about corporate philanthropy in ’04. The focus is corporate giving but many of the things apply to fundraising in general.
onPhilanthropy – Corporate Philanthropy – What to Expect in 2004

No big bequests for baby boomers

Here’s a new story in the spirit of Dickens’ Scrooge. It seems that bequests to baby boomers are falling short of expectations. I recall that about five years ago a study indicated that some $3 trillion was about to change hands from the WWII generation to baby boomers. Many charities were rubbing their hands together with glee because it was expected that even after the boomers got their inheritances there would be a windfall for charities.

The reality is that in 2001 only 26.8% of boomers surveyed got what they expected in inheritances according to an AARP survey. Why the shortfall?

1. The BOOM in baby boom means there are more children to spread the wealth among.
2. The expiring generation is spending down their assets. They can’t make it on Social Security.
3. The retired are living longer and larger and spending their money on better lifestyles.
4. Attitudes are changing. The percent who think it’s important to leave an inheritance has shrunk from 55.5 to 46.8 between ’92 and ’98.

But, you major gifts people, don’t despair. This problem is happening mainly among the middle-class. The rich are leaving more than ever.

Experts at the Federal Reserve think that baby boomers will leave more 50 years from now. I seriously doubt that. Speaking as a front-of-the-pack boomer, I predict that baby boomers will spend every nickel they have on rejuvenation, life extension and the best of everything to the last breath.