Year-end Online Giving Survey
Online giving, on average, accounted for 15 percent of total funds raised
Among in all 43 surveyed organizations, the amount raised online was reported to be 15 percent of the total amount received in philanthropic support. The share online was not significantly different for those whose total results increased, vs. those whose total results were the same or lower.
Increased online receipts attributed to additional promotion of online giving and donors’ familiarity with online transactions
Among the organizations reporting higher online receipts in 2018 than in 2017, 11 offered a comment about why their giving online was up. Responses fell into two groups:
- The organization made an effort to promote online giving, including through social media, at its website, and elsewhere; and
- The individual responding believes that donors are becoming more familiar with online transactions.
With fewer than 30 responses to this question, analysis does not meet any tests for statistical significance, but the responses as written are potential helpful guides for others. The following are a sampling:
- “We implemented an actual plan and process to recruit online donors”
- “More emphasis on promoting online giving”
- “Held an event that encouraged [people] to give on line”
“We think awareness is growing among people in the area about how easy and quick it is to give online using Pay Pal on our website.”
Increases in online giving supported growth in total charitable revenue.
Of the 19 organizations that had increased total funds raised in 2018, 11 (57%) also reported higher online giving. Among the three (16%) organizations that saw increased total revenue but did not increase online receipts, explanations included: “in a campaign” and “last year, sponsors paid online but this year they didn’t.” The third mentioned lack of trust in technology among the population served by the organization (seniors).
Constant Contact/Mail Chimp/other e-blast systems generate inquiries and funds
On average, organizations in this quick poll use 2 different methods of outreach to promote or seek gifts via online portals. One uses as many as five methods. There is no clear relationship between how many methods a charitable organization uses and the direction of change in results for online giving in 2018.
Methods used include eblasts from Constant Contact, Mail Chimp, Luminate or another product; social media including Facebook; the entity’s own website; printed materials such as newsletters; and organized “Give” days whether Giving Tuesday, Cincinnati Gives, or Kentucky Gives.
Boards remain ambivalent about participating in online fundraising
A higher share of organizations raising less than $1 million said their online giving increased
This result is not statistically significant. It might be due to chance, to lower “starting points” for online gift amounts received in 2017, or other factors. Nonetheless, two-thirds of surveyed organizations that raise less than $1 million in a year reported growth in online giving in 2018; compared with 41 percent of the organizations raising $1 million or more. N = 15 in the group with philanthropic revenues of less than $1 million and 17 for the group with revenues of $1 million or more. Among the organizations raising more, a majority (53%) reported online giving the same as in 2017.
63 percent of surveyed charitable organizations raised more in 2018 than in 2017
80 percent of surveyed organizational leaders attribute overall fundraising results to changes in staffing
