Nonprofit Leaders Bullish on Galas and Mergers and Worried About Keeping Young Talent

Title: Nonprofit Pulse

Organization: Marks Paneth, an accounting firm

Summary: Slightly more than half of nonprofit leaders believe that galas are “productive” events, according to a national survey of 114 charity executives and board members at organizations with annual budgets of $10 million to $200 million. The study covered special events, leadership, and talent.

Nearly three-fourths of the leaders said their nonprofits hold galas. A quarter of the top officials believe galas are useful for fundraising, and 27 percent think they help raise money and get donors involved in a charity’s work. But 10 percent say they question the value of galas because they take up too much staff time.

Among the other findings:

• 21 percent say their nonprofits have groups for young professionals who support their cause; 27 percent say they plan to start such groups.
• 53 percent say their charities have succession plans.
• 39 percent expect moderate to significant merger activity of organizations working on causes similar to their own over the next five years.
• Two-thirds say retaining top young talent is a challenge.
• 82 percent say they’re worried that increasing dependence on digital fundraising may make communicating with supporters less effective.