TS: Has the profile of the typical philanthropist changed in recent years?
CB: We know that the wealth profile has changed in recent years with more and more fortunes being self-made. This has an obvious impact on philanthropy. There are increasing numbers of people who are new to giving and want to do more than write a cheque. They want to be engaged with their giving in ways similar to their businesses; they want fast results and they want to see tangible results for their charitable ‘investment’.
TS: In your view, what are the common barriers (real or perceived) that not-for-profit (NFP) organisations are facing when it comes to attracting and retaining donors?
CB: One of the most common complaints I hear from donors about their interaction with NFPs is that they weren’t asked in a professional enough way, they were hounded, or that they weren’t even thanked for their donation.
The other barrier is when donors don’t get the level of information they want on the difference their funding is making but at the same time they want to make sure that virtually every cent of their donation gets to the end user. The drive for more data on NFP performance is going to continue, but NFPs aren’t necessarily supported well enough by donors to capture the right kind of data that’s going to help them articulate their case or implement positive change and innovation.