Summer 2007
Giving Trends
Popularity of Giving Circles Skyrockets to Become
$100 Million Force
Five years ago, giving circles were under the radar. Two years ago, they were a trend just beginning to grow. Now, a new report finds that groups of people getting together and giving together are an established philanthropic force that has raised $100 million to support diverse charitable causes. Giving circles come in many different forms, but usually involve a group of friends who pool their charitable donations and decide together how to use the money to benefit the causes they care most about.
The new report from the New Ventures in Philanthropy Initiative at the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers finds that the number of giving circles in existence has more than doubled in the last two years to at least 400 giving circles nationwide. To examine the growth of giving circles, the Forum surveyed a sampling of 160 circles across the country. Findings include:
- Giving circles give a lot. In 2006 alone, the giving circles surveyed donated $13 million for community needs.
- Giving circle members number in the tens of thousands. Nearly 12,000
people participate in the 160 giving circles surveyed.
- Giving circles are diversifying. Once considered a women's philanthropy phenomenon, nearly half of circles now have male members. The popularity of giving circles is also growing among people of color and in the gay and lesbian community.
- Giving circles have staying power. Nearly a third of circles surveyed have been through more than five rounds of grantmaking.
- Giving circles are about more than just the money. The circles often open members' eyes to community needs and other opportunities for giving.
Find more at mcf.org/givingcircles.
Conference Board Issues Challenge Concerning Nonprofits, Older Workers
A report from The Conference Board found that while nonprofit growth outpaces other sectors, talent shortages are already affecting critical service areas, including healthcare and social services. As Baby Boomers continue to retire, the report stated, leadership shortages will worsen, threatening the sector's ability to carry out its social purpose mission.
"Action is needed now," said Jill Casner-Lotto, author of the report Boomers Are Ready for Nonprofits But Are Nonprofits Ready for Them? "Evidence suggests that nonprofits are seriously lagging behind the government and private sectors in efforts to retain skilled potential retirees within their organizations and actively recruit older hires from other sectors."
The report reviews major studies on nonprofit employment conducted over the past five years. It was released in conjunction with announcement of winners of a new award program, the BreakThrough Awards, for groups that have developed innovative programs to employ people who are at least 50 years old in public-interest jobs.
The Conference Board plans to create a new research group in the fall, with money from Atlantic Philanthropies, to study additional questions related to nonprofit groups and older workers.
Report Shows Nonprofits Must Make
Better Use of Boomer Volunteers
The surge of Baby Boomers will increase volunteering by older adults by 50 percent by the year 2020, and double the number of older adult volunteers by the year 2036, according to a report (PDF) from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
The first-ever study to track volunteering among a large sample of Baby Boomers from year to year, Keeping Baby Boomers Volunteering found that Americans born between 1946 and 1964 want higher-skill assignments to keep them engaged, and it advised nonprofit organizations to re-imagine roles for that emerging crop of volunteers. The report also found that Boomers are volunteering at higher rates than their predecessors — including the Greatest Generation — and that those who volunteer 12 weeks or more annually are most likely to serve year after year.
"The Boomer wave signals one of the largest opportunities the nonprofit sector has ever had to expand its pool of resources," said David Eisner, the organization's CEO. "Only the nonprofits that retool their ability to engage citizens will reap that reward."
The report, which used Current Population Survey data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau in 1974, 1989 and from 2002-2006, found that three of every 10 Boomers who volunteer today leave their organizations each year.
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