GuideStar Survey Reports the Obvious

Everyone expected that charitable donations to non-profits would
decrease in the wake of economic troubles, so why not have a survey
that confirms it? The survey is somewhat uncertain though, at least
in its summary wording. The report states, "Last year, however, 60
percent of this group predicted that contributions during the 2007
giving season would exceed those from 2006, whereas this year, 49
percent said they expect decreased end-of-year donations." Does this
mean that conversely, 51% percent expected increased end-of-year
donations? If so, that's not such a terrible increase in those
expecting smaller gifts. The survey also showed that for many
organizations, the demand for services has increased, similar to last
year. This prompted GuideStar's CEO to state that he hopes donors
will realize that every gift makes a difference – how is this scenario
different from any other time in the world of non-profit fundraising?

For those interested in reading the full gloom report:
http://www.guidestar.org/news/features/2008_survey.pdf

- Courtney