The Future of Fundraising: Should You Be Concerned or Optimistic?

An upcoming speaking engagement has gotten me thinking about the future of fundraising. I’m guessing you’re thinking about it too.

If you’re paying attention to statistics on giving trends, you’re probably discouraged. The number of donors, dollars, and donor retention rates have trended down every year for nearly a decade.

Reasons to Be Concerned

You should be concerned about the downward trends in number of donors and dollars. The statistics should not be ignored or taken lightly. However, I’m convinced you can buck the trend.

Successful organizations are investing in technology, research, AI, and consulting support to ensure success. But if your organization is sticking with “same old, same old,” I believe you have good reason to be concerned — because you’re likely to become part of those statistics.

That said, I’m a big fan of optimism. And there are also reasons to be optimistic about the future of fundraising.

Reasons to be Optimistic

Contrary to what recent fundraising statistics show, I’ve got a respectable sample group of my own to measure. And the stats are quite promising.

Close to 100 organizations currently working with Capital Campaign Pro are raising more than they ever thought possible — in most cases, millions more than they ever raised before. While I’d love to take all the credit for their success, there are clearly some themes and throughlines to their success stories.

6 Characteristics of Future Fundraising Success

Here are some qualities and characteristics I attribute the success of the organizations I have the opportunity witness firsthand.

1. A strong case for support
2. Commitment to building relationships
3. Identifying the best prospective donors for them
4. Taking the time to plan and strategize
5. Asking for annual, capital, and planned gifts
6. Willingness to invest in outside help and expertise

While attributing success to working with my team is self-serving, if external support (whether with me or another expert) is one key factor in the secret fundraising sauce, I want you to be aware of it.

Individual Nonprofits Can Buck Bad Trends

The good news is that while I’m concerned about the sector and trends as a whole, I’m not concerned about individual organizations. There are plenty of strategies, tools, and technology to use to help ensure your organization raises more money than ever.

6 Questions to Consider

Knowledge and insight are pivotal to fundraising success. Here are six questions to help you and your team navigate the future of fundraising:

1. What is changing or likely to change in fundraising in the next three years?
2. Are the changes happening with donors at the top or bottom of our giving?
3. Is AI making fundraising more effective? How so?
4. What does the next generation of fundraising look like?
5. How is social media impacting fundraising?
6. How can I use services and technology to improve donor relationships?

From your perspective, what does the future of fundraising look like? What are you doing to shield your organization and propel your fundraising efforts forward? Please share in the comments below.