Looking for funding opportunities? We've identified a few funds that might be useful to you. Visit the links below to learn more about the requirements and deadlines for these opportunities.
We hope you all you are staying well. COVID-19 has upended our lives in many ways. Our office continues to operate normally, and have quickly adjusted to our remote work environment. Many organizations and professional associations have already published tips, webinars and other helpful resources related to fundraising during COVID-19 that allow us to organize and function according to the changes in the current environment. Nonprofit leaders are shifting their focus from implementing an emergency response to creating more strategic and adaptive plans, as they continue to navigate through COVID-19.
Many nonprofit organizations are participating in the new global day of giving, #GivingTuesdayNow, in the month of May, as a response to the emergency crisis. This is meant to be an opportunity to provide immediate relief funds to those who are affected by COVID-19. I hope USM institutions implemented a variety of strategies to take advantage of this international giving day by seizing it as an opportunity to encourage donors and supporters to give to your specific funding initiatives. Furthermore, this is a time to express gratitude to all supporters and show how their gifts are impacting your institutional needs. It is also necessary to have a plan to reach out to those constituents who may have missed the opportunity to participate in the #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5.
A recent article from Fidelity Charitable provides great insights from a study they conducted in March 2020 among a national cross-section of 1,842 adults in the U.S. who donated at least $1,000 in 2019. The study helps us to gain a better understanding of how COVID-19 is affecting philanthropy and donor giving behaviors. This study reveals that 25% of donors plan to increase their donation in response to COVID-19, while 54% of donors plan to maintain their giving levels. It is promising to know that younger generations plan to increase their donations in response to COVID-19: 46% of millennials are likely to give more to nonprofits at this time, compared to 25% of Gen-X and 14% of Baby Boomers. The study also informs us that many donors feel like they do not have the necessary information for them to understand where they can direct their support effectively, and this information from the study is valuable as it allows us to better plan to reach out to donors. In order to aid donors in making the right choices, fundraisers in higher education should communicate effectively with them to inform them your institutional needs.
As everyone is trying their best to work in the midst of this crisis, let’s remain positive and continue to work on the future while embracing uncertainty. This would be the perfect time to look at your list of donors and prospective donors to qualify them for future engagement or identify prospects for a special current initiative at your institutions. We would like to remind you that we are here to assist you with your prospect research needs. As always, please feel free to reach out us with questions, comments or any assistance with prospect research!
Despite the uncertainty we are facing, we have quickly learned that almost anything is possible digitally. RAISE Hub suggests utilizing Facebook and other social media outlets to promote news that engages alumni and donors. They also suggest tailoring digital events to specific populations. For example, host a webinar for alumni who are homeschooling for the first time or a webinar for alumni looking to change careers. This will help your events feel tailored to the individual in a time when people are overwhelmed with a multitude of online engagement options. Lastly, make sure you are keeping your volunteers close. Keep them in the loop by sharing "insider" news from your campus and thank them for their continued support. Read more here.
A new report from the Women's Philanthropy Institute shows how women give in comparison to men and how each gender utilizes the internet and social networks to give. The study found that women are giving more gifts and more total dollars online. It also found that women's and girl's organizations receive substantially more support from women than men. Read more findings here.
While many donors are rethinking their giving strategies as a result of COVID-19, there are still donors who are doing well and are willing to give. In this article, Forbes outlines the top major gift opportunities that are still possible. First, Forbes encourages organizations to consider gifts from donor-advised funds. Second, help donors understand the benefit of income tax reduction by putting a summary of the CARES act on your website. Next, consider reaching out to business owners planning to sell and ask them if they have considered the opportunity to reduce their tax liability before the sale by giving ownership interest (the law allows them to deduct 30 percent of their income using asset-based gifts.) Lastly, prepare for gifts of publicly traded securities. Nonprofits can play a crucial role in educating their donors on the benefits of giving publicly traded stock. Read more here.
Currently, there is a great need for philanthropic support, which means that there is a great need for advancement offices to continue to sustain what they began cultivating before the pandemic hit. In this article, GG+A suggests fifteen ways to do so. Among their recommendations, they suggest revising messaging to acknowledge the evolving impact of the health and economic crisis. Treat key leadership donors as insiders and bring them in for briefings to share good news and challenges. Motivate staff members by reminding them of the importance of philanthropy during tough times. Start considering a post-pandemic plan that will make your office and operations more efficient in the future.
Advancement and alumni relations teams are adjusting to online programs and virtual events, while giving days have adjusted to support students and a community in need. Sue Cunningham and Tiffany Crumpton from CASE have identified three themes that have emerged in higher ed as a result of the global crisis. First, it has been proven that education transforms lives and society. Second, it has enforced that mission and institutional stewardship is key. Lastly, it has shown that communication strategies and priorities must shift in order to spread pertinent information and engage constituents in new ways. Read more here.