GOOD TO KNO W

The personal connection for high-net-worth donors is extremely important. The 2008 Bank of America Study of High Net-Worth Philanthropy found that 58 percent gave to causes or issues that affected them personally or affected someone they know. Additionally, people volunteering for charity gave more than people who were not volunteering.

University of Pennsylvania researchers found that at least some people make a practice of NOT giving to organizations that request funds impersonally, such as in email or letters.

It may be that too many nonprofit organizations look at someone’s wealth or ability to give rather than focusing on strengthening the relationship with a prospective donor so that the donor is personally linked to the organization and its work.

is a drop of 6 percent. Additionally, organizations in the Convio study saw total online giving increase slightly, by 3 percent.

Studies of giving by wealthy
donors show common results
A survey conducted in 2008 of high-
net-worth households for the Bank of
America by the Center on Philanthropy
at Indiana University found that nearly
all ( 98 percent) contributed to charity
and that on average, these households
gave more than $56,600 in direct con-
tributions (from family resources). 14
In addition, 30 percent also made gifts
through a foundation or fund, which
could be a donor-advised fund at a
community foundation or another
charity. On average, those foundation
or fund contributions were just over
$119,350 (excluding outliers). In this
study, high-net-worth was defined as
annual income of $200,000 or more
or net worth of $1 million or more.

Compared with data from a similar survey conducted for Bank of America

in 2006 about giving in 2005, average and median charitable donations from high-net-worth households had declined in 2007. However, nearly the entire decline occurred in households with income (not wealth) of $5 million or more. The amounts increased in other income categories.

High-net-worth donors motivated to give back; prefer personal appeals The 2008 Bank of America Study of High Net-Worth Philanthropy reported that more than 80 percent of nearly 700 respondents reported making charitable contributions because they want to give back to the community. More than two-thirds ( 66. 9 percent) said they gave to make an immediate difference on the world around them. A majority ( 57. 5 percent) said they gave because an issue or cause affected them personally or was important to someone they were close to.

In interviews with donors who gave, on average, $1.5 million each, Kathleen Noonan and Katherina Rosqueta from