Spirit of giving drops off after holidays

Many charities are facing a January dry spell following the burst of giving and volunteering that marked the holiday season. “Households recovering from their holiday excesses” are less likely to give at the start of the new year, said Patrick Rooney, executive director of Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy.

Full text article by Judy Keen is available via USA Today, 1/11/10.

A Flurry of Last-Minute Giving Lifted Charities' Holiday Appeals

Eleventh-hour giving brought a happy ending to 2009 for some charities, but others will have to make deeper cuts in their services because of a large drop in donations. Of 181 charities The Chronicle polled in early January, 48 percent said giving rose this holiday season.

Full text article by Caroline Preston and Chris Thompson is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1/7/10.

Salvation Army charity's bright red kettles will soon take credit cards

The Salvation Army is augmenting its traditional holiday red-kettle collections with an electronic option for seasonal givers. The “plastic kettles” are in use in 120 U.S. cities and will be rolled out in New York over the next two weeks. The charity tested the credit-card option last year in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Colorado Springs and found that electronic givers contributed an average of $15, compared to $2 for those giving cash.

Full text article by Katie Nelson is available via the New York Daily News, 12/10/09.

Donors Are Expected to Give $4-Billion Online During Holidays

Nearly two-thirds of Americans plan to give online to charities in November and December, and their donations could exceed $4-billion, $1-billion more than they donated during the holiday season last year, according to a new survey.

Full text article by Holly Hall is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 12/2/09.

Top 10 Ways to Boost Online Giving at Year-End

The most important, and most critical, giving season is upon us. And for many nonprofits, one out of every two gifts comes in the last three months of the year. Fundraising consultants offer advice to fundraisers on how to ramp up online giving in the final months of the year.

Full text article by Gail Perry is available via the Association of Fundraising Professionals, 12/1/09.

Are Holiday Gift Guides Worthwhile?

Newspapers and magazines will soon start preparing holiday gift guides, and not all nonprofit groups think it is worth the time and energy it takes to participate.

Full-text article by Brennen Jensen is available via the Chronicle's Prospecting Blog, 7.5.09.

Bargain Hunting on Bleak Friday

There were no Christmas miracles for retailers yesterday as the holiday shopping season officially got underway.

Full-text article by Ylan Q. Mui is available via the Washington Post, 11.29.08.

Americans Rate Charity Gifts a Priority This Holiday Season

Amid widespread concerns about the economy, Americans are planning to cut their holiday spending but not their charitable giving, according to a new study. In fact, some Americans may actually increase their year-end giving, as they make donations on behalf of friends and family members in lieu of purchasing presents.

Full-text post available via the Chronicle's Prospecting blog, 11.18.08.