Donors Say They Don’t Give More Because of Money Constraints and Lack of Nonprofit Transparency

Title: “Overcoming Barriers to Giving”

Organization: Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund

Summary: Nearly two in three donors say they would like to give more to charity.

Still, many worry that their personal budgets are too tight, or they are unsure if their donations are making a difference, according to a new survey of 3,200 people who had claimed a charitable deduction in 2015.

Some 81 percent of donors said they have concerns about the impact of their charitable giving, with 67 percent saying they are uncomfortable when they can’t properly vet a “charity’s credibility or trustworthiness.”

Despite their past giving, 75 percent of donors also harbor concerns about their financial ability to make charitable gifts in the future. To ease donors’ anxieties about their personal finances, nonprofits might consider advising donors about tax benefits they may be unaware of, such as the benefits of writing off donations of stock that has risen sharply in value, according to the study. Charities should also make a strong effort to communicate how charitable gifts help them carry out their missions, it said.

Among the findings:

• Nearly half of donors said they would like to get a larger tax deduction or benefit for their giving.

• 75 percent expressed concern about their “engagement” with charities — with 49 percent saying they worry about charities soliciting them for further donations.

• 37 percent said they get annoyed when charities don’t thank them for their gifts.