Not that I have that kind of money but I always fall back on GiveWell as a trusted evaluator of effective charitable giving. Thoughts?

I've seen people refer to studies showing that it takes about 5000 dollars to save a human life through malaria prevention charities or that someone can save the life of over 6000 animals by donating one thousand dollars https://animalcharityevaluators.org/charity-review/the-humane-league/2018-nov/#rf1-4-24548

I'm curious exactly how true this is. Does individual donation actually make a difference? If a single person chooses to either donate a thousand dollars or 5000 dollars or chooses to donate nothing will that actually be the difference between an extra person dying of malaria or an extra 6000 animals being bred into existence, tortured and killed that would have otherwise never been bred into existence?

Or do donations only make an actual difference when enough people do them sort of like how it makes zero difference in whether or not I personally vote in an election or just stay home.

If anyone has any evidence that a relatively small amount of money like less than 10 thousand can actually save a life of a human or farm animal I would love to see it as I think I'd find it very motivating !

I'm curious how everyone is approaching fundraising/development planning for 2025. There are a lot of potential changes on the horizon. Are you changing anything up or keeping events and campaigns the same for the coming year? Any changes to communications? I want to make some changes, but don't want to dedicate too much time to anything new in a year that could have a lot of changes.

What are you struggling with? What are you excited about? I want to hear it all!

Fundamentals of Fundraising - Online Course

An excellent course for early-career fundraisers. Fundamentals provides a comprehensive overview of fundraising principles.  The course content covers the roles and responsibilities of fundraisers, with emphasis on responsibilities you are likely to encounter at the beginning of your career.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Fundamentals of Fundraising eCourse is composed of seven modules that have been designed by experienced fundraising professionals to meet the real-world needs and challenges nonprofit organizations face every day.

This course includes case studies and video segments, making the learning experience both substantive and enjoyable. The AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising eCourse offers a complete overview of the development function, featuring the most current information and techniques.

• Learn at your own pace and convenience.
• Start and stop the program at any time and resume where you left off.

Modules are also available for purchase individually.

Module 1: Overview of Fundraising

Module 2: Developing an Integrated Fundraising Program

Module 3: Marketing for Ongoing Success

Module 4: Building and Sustaining Relationships

Module 5: Securing the Gift

Module 6: Partners in Fundraising

Module 7: Management & Accountability

https://afpglobal.org/afp-fundamentals-fundraising-ecourse-20-here

Registration is open for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)'s international conference in Seattle in April 2025. It will bring together thousands of fundraising professionals from around the globe. Immerse yourself in cutting-edge strategies, inspiring keynotes, and unparalleled networking opportunities designed to elevate your mission and drive impact.

For 60 years, AFP - formerly NSFRE - has been the standard-bearer for professionalism in fundraising. The Association of Fundraising Professionals empowers individuals and organizations to practice ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research and advocacy.

https://afpglobal.org/

How Charities Can Boost Likelihood of Donations Via Smartphone Users

Whether you’re passionate about rescuing puppies, feeding hungry people, or helping victims of a natural disaster, you’re considerably less likely to respond to a charity’s appeal for help if you receive it on your smartphone.

And, yet, most people accessing your web site are doing so via a Smartphone.

https://today.uconn.edu/2024/03/uconn-business-researchers-discover-how-charities-can-boost-likelihood-of-donations-via-smartphone-users/

https://myscp.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcpy.1418 (behind a paywall - your local library can help)

Thousands of charities are asking us to donate. And this year, disasters, wars and conflict are all adding to the world's humanitarian needs. How do you ensure that your donations will do the most good?

These are the guidelines suggested by experts in humanitarian aid.

From Goats & Soda:

https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/10/11/g-s1-27239/giving-tuesday-charity-donations-effectiveness

Your airline points and miles can do a great many things, and one of those things is to give back to causes you care about or to help someone in dire need of those points or miles. Even small contributions can make a huge difference in another person's life. Here are some opportunities to put your points or miles to work to help with charitable causes.

More from The Points Guy:

https://thepointsguy.com/loyalty-programs/donate-points-miles-charity/

The Santa Clara County (California) District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday that six former Apple employees have been charged for tricking the tech company into matching donations that went right back into the suspects' pockets.

The district attorney's office has charged them with multiple felonies including grand theft, perjury and tax fraud.

https://abc7news.com/post/former-apple-employees-arrested-fraud-donation-program-hop4kids/15620902/

So I have decided to pursue my higher studies in sociology and go into philanthropy. In particular "Corporate social responsibility specialist". How much do you guys know about this profession? What are your views? Is there scope in the field?

There are many donations campaigns to send money directly to families (in gaza for example), but I am afraid that giving money directly does more harm than good. It creates a cash influx which will contribute to rise prices. The donations could indeed benefit individuals with better access to the market or available goods, but penalize those who are already marginalized and create more devastating inequalities. What do you think about that ? Are there other alternatives to help them considering charities are limited by blockades ?

Scammers posing as youth basketball fundraisers have targeted victims in Downtown Brooklyn, New York using mobile payment apps to steal thousands of dollars. Authorities warn residents to exercise caution when approached for donations.

https://www.brooklynpaper.com/brooklyn-youth-basketball-donation-scam/

Tuesday, Dec. 3, is giving Tuesday in the USA. And I hate it because I get probably 30 emails with the subject line "Giving Tuesday", and all begging for money.

I think the day has created a frenzy with very little return on investment for nonprofits.

And here's the reality: if you haven't created a really strong relationship with people through your programming and outreach activities, you ain't getting much/any money on Giving Tuesday.

Harumph.

Your thoughts, as a donor or a nonprofit trying to get money?

I have been doing as much research as I can, but wanted to seek out any advice on starting a scholarship. I’ve worked in college access and seen the award process, but never been the one to create the award.

I’d like to make it a local scholarship for high school seniors, with a one-time award of $500. I don’t have a large amount of funding to establish, so it’s something I would like to add into annually. Should I look into nonprofits to assist with this? I’m still unsure of the legalities with all of this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

From Hurricane Milton to world hunger: How to make your donations count - from Goats and Soda

https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/10/11/g-s1-27239/hurricane-milton-helene-humanitarian-donations-charity-effectiveness

With revenues down and costs rising, a growing number of nonprofits are cutting budgets, laying off staff, and even closing their doors.

https://www.philanthropy.com/article/where-did-the-funding-go?sra=true

You have to create an account to read, but it's free to create an account (though there is a limit on how many articles you can read in a month).

As grant makers, we need to be as clear as possible about our values, the world we’re trying to build, and the transformational role that resources can play in accelerating progress. The dread, the fear, the grief of these times are all real. What’s also real is that as funders we have a set of consequential choices to make. Here are a few questions to guide the work ahead:

https://www.philanthropy.com/article/for-philanthropy-this-actually-isnt-2016-all-over-again

( you have to sign up to read, but it's free)

Collaborative philanthropy has surged in the past decade, moving billions of dollars to high-impact ventures. It’s time to dream bigger and reimagine what’s possible. By improving how we unite funders, we can make faster, bolder decisions, raise more resources, and share knowledge—while easing the burden on ventures. While we’ve seen incredible progress, there’s room to refine and strengthen this approach for the long haul. Here’s what we’ve learned and where we believe collaborative philanthropy can go next.

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/reimagining-collaborative-philanthropy

Black philanthropy stands as a transformative force for addressing racial and economic inequities.

It is about providing more than monetary support. It redefines narratives and empowers individuals to create systemic change through education, wealth redistribution, and economic development.

https://ctmirror.org/2024/11/22/closing-the-gap-the-impact-of-black-philanthropy-on-community-empowerment-orsella/

Founder of a Utah-based anti-human-trafficking nonprofit Exitus sentenced to prison for several felonies, including fraud. She used her nonprofit to trick people out of money & the judge emphasized that millions of dollars & a large number of victims were involved.

https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/utah-nonprofit-founder-sentenced/

"ProPublica’s new 527 Explorer database delves into the shadowy world of political cash facilitated by nonprofits called 527s. In this webinar, we will show users how to follow the money."

https://www.propublica.org/events/investigating-political-nonprofits-scam-pacs-and-more

San Francisco nonprofit Providence Foundation is being accused of fraud. The nonprofit is meant to help unhoused community and is accused of fraud after $100K 'disappeared.'
Always type the name of the nonprofit you are about to donate to into GoogleNews!

https://abc7news.com/san-francisco-nonprofit-providence-foundation-meant-to-help-homeless-community-accused-of-fraud-after-100k-disappeared/14776480/

Fake charity tycoon pleads guilty to siphoning millions from veterans and cancer patients.

https://fortune.com/2024/09/10/fake-charity-tycoon-pleads-guilty-to-siphoning-millions-from-veterans-and-cancer-patients/

A veteran who spread a false story blaming White House immigration policies for harming homeless veterans was charged with stolen valor and fraud this week after months of investigation into her charity, Yerik Israel Toney Foundation by the FBI.

https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2024/05/02/charity-founder-in-homeless-vets-hoax-charged-with-fraud-stolen-valor/

Daughter & son-in-law of UK NHS charities fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore personally benefited from the charity set up in his name thru lucrative deals worth more than £1m & culpable of “serious and repeated” instances of misconduct & mismanagement.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/21/captain-tom-family-personally-benefited-from-charity-they-founded-report-finds

Despite their commitment to social good, many nonprofit workers continue to face low and even poverty-level wages.

Inside Philanthropy examines recent studies highlighting the financial challenges of the nonprofit sector workforce and the urgent need for funders and leaders to address these issues.

Dawn Wolfe Reports**:** https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/nonprofit-sector-workforce-still-struggling-with-low-and-poverty-wages-studies-show

The persistent issue of low wages in the nonprofit workforce

How funders and leaders can support fair wages and better working conditions

The broader impact of improving financial stability for nonprofit staff

Related IP Resources:

IP Explainer: Multi-year General Operating Support vs. Project Support - https://ishortn.ink/0IY8VSJUj

IP Explainer: What is Capacity-Building Support? - https://ishortn.ink/dJ7hbmaX4

IP Explainer: What is Program or Project Support? - https://ishortn.ink/MtfiPObWZ

#NonprofitWorkforce #LowWages #SupportNonprofits #WorkplaceEquity #FairWages #EmployeeWellbeing #BurnoutPrevention #SustainableNonprofits #SectorImprovement #Philanthropy #SocialImpact #InsidePhilanthropy #EquitableWages #WorkforceDevelopment #FairPay #NonprofitSector

What is something you wish that public and private grant reviewers/funders knew? Something you want to tell them about the application process? Questions? Conditions?

A story from 2015 talked about how many people are annoyed by it. A lot of numbers get tossed around about how much money it raises - but I have heard from a lot of small nonprofits that get nothing significant out of it, hate doing it, say it confuses their donors who don't understand if this is the annual appeal or something they need to give to additionally, etc.

Does your nonprofit benefit significantly from Giving Tuesday? What work do you put into it to make that happen?