Blackbaud always produces some great insight and information. They recently released their Top 10 predictions for nonprofit trends. It was also highlighted in Fundraising Success magazine. Here they are:

  1. Donor pools will continue to change.
  2. Proving value will become more important.
  3. Fundraisers will acquire new skills and an entrepreneurial spirit to be successful.
  4. Social media will play an even more important role in engagement.
  5. Peer-to-peer fundraising will continue to grow.
  6. Donor stewardship will become even more important than it is now.
  7. Increased government regulations will have a greater impact on the industry.
  8. Nonprofits will move from a broad donor management system to a single support database.
  9. Relationships will still rule.
  10. Finding the right balance of online and offline presence will be critical in the coming years.

The one that really jumped out to me was #6: “Donor stewardship will become even more important than it is now.” I find myself talking with church leaders about this concept more and more. With increased competition for “share of mind and share of dollar,” churches will have to:

1. Tell givers that their gift was noticed and appreciated
2. Explain (in person) how their gift was used to make a measurable Kingdom impact
3. Leverage personal interaction native to “church life” to create a deeper emotional connection

The tactics and implementation of these three things will vary from church to church but must not be overlooked as essential to achieving the fully funded ministry budgets. When was the last time you personally told someone “thank you” for their gift?

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