In Which Quarter Shall We Ask for Support?

In Which Quarter Shall We Ask for Support?

===> Short answer, keep the fires burning during all four quarters.

📅 We have learned from donor data (sources covering donor-advised funds, foundations, and individual/household giving data), that the time of the year donors prefer to make gifts varies greatly. 

💵 Although the 4th quarter is the most popular time for giving, a large % of individuals and households actually prefer making gifts earlier in the year (Source: Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.), with choices varying by generation.

📉 Yes, giving in the United States has sadly experienced a structural, long-term decline in the percentage (66% to 46%) of households that participate (Source: Osili, Gupta, Han et al, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, 2024). 

📊Yes, the overall donor base is eroding, and yet total dollars moving towards charitable dollars is still increasing most every year. 📈 

***For 2026: While overall giving is expected to go down, folks in Gen Z (64%), Millennials (58%), Gen X (66%), and Boomers (68%) reported they will either maintain or increase their giving (Church, 2026).

===> In-kind, ACH/EFT, Donor-advised funds, text-to-give, and other giving methods are increasingly popular, a reminder to me how important it is to consider having multiple platforms and means to contribute.

To receive the Church Insurance report, visit here: https://lnkd.in/e9ZcrEQH

Lilly School of Philanthropy report by Una Osili, Amir Pasic, et al, visit: https://lnkd.in/eW_sBS3W

📩 me here to explore how I could help you to integrate findings such as these into your own strategy. 

Photo credit: my iPhone at Apple Frog Pond adjacent to Keuka Lake at the Michael Johnson/Kara Bailey household.