2013 Highlights: Fundraising Trends and Tactics

Fiscal Crisis Reshaped How Donors Give
More than 80 percent of participants in a survey say the economy is no longer causing them to give less. But they are getting angrier about oversolicitations.

3 Major Charity Groups Ask Donors to Stop Focusing on Overhead Costs
GuideStar, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and Charity Navigator say donors should focus on results and transparency, not just administrative expenses.

As Wedding Bells Ring, Charities Seek Support From Newly Visible Same-Sex Couples
With more states legalizing gay marriage, nonprofits see a source of new money—but some donors say they have been put off by a lack of sensitivity.

Nonprofits Race to Get Ahead of the Explosion in Small Screens
Many charities are devising game plans to adjust their fundraising and communications to accommodate the growing use of smartphones and tablets.

The Big Boom in Online Giving
Online donations to nonprofits of all sizes grew by 14 percent last year, according to two new studies by The Chronicle.

Charities Deal With a Stream of Lawsuits From Disenchanted Donors
Legal challenges raise thorny questions about a benefactor’s demands and a nonprofit’s responsibility to adhere to them.

Withdrawal of $250-Million Gift Points to Need for Formal Donor Contracts
The public embarrassment surrounding the loss of a Centre College donation holds important lessons for other charities.

Charities Borrow Ideas From Political Campaigns to Increase Donations
The Joyce Foundation hired digital gurus from the 2012 presidential campaign to help grantees learn new techniques in online fundraising.

Raising Money From the Crowd: What Charities Find Works Best
Now that Kickstarter and other mass-appeal sites have been around for a while, charities are mastering what works best to attract large sums.

An Artful Way to Show What Gifts Achieve
Emory University’s campus is dotted with playful exhibits showing exactly what donors paid for in a $1.7-billion campaign, including endowed professorships and scholarships.