Thought Leadership

As nonprofits continue to seek clarity about what lies ahead, the Giving USA Foundation published its annual report on philanthropy, which reported growth in giving in 2024. It’s easy to feel as though the trends and analysis of 2024 giving are detached from the current state of nonprofits, but the Giving USA data provides an anchor for nonprofits making decisions about how to navigate the rest of 2025 and the years ahead. This article helps fundraising leaders navigate their organization in uncertain moments.

BWF is pleased to share key findings and analysis from Giving USA 2025: The Annual Report on Philanthropy. Presented by the research team at the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy and fundraising professionals at Giving USA Foundation, the Giving USA report is the longest-running, most extensive report on philanthropy in the United States. BWF is proud to be a member of The Giving Institute.

This partnership helped GWU evolve with the market, the changing needs of the donor base, and the complexity of their annual giving programs. The past three years of collaboration between GW and BWF have yielded exciting results.

This guide will help you enhance prospect development through donor qualification, ethical practices, and tech tips to boost your fundraising success.

In recent years, we’ve seen an emergence of innovations to identify new prospects for giving to healthcare. And while AI is one of them, it is not the only one. Studies of donor breadth of connection, community building, social norming, and psychometrics have all opened up new possibilities. BWF’s Josh Birkholz share tools and innovations that are here today.

Across sectors—from higher education to healthcare to mission-driven nonprofits—leaders are looking for ways to close the growing revenue gaps. In a world of mounting complexity and volatility, resilience is no longer a luxury; it’s a strategic imperative. That’s why many organizations are shifting their mindset around philanthropy: from supplementary income to a core pillar of long-term financial health.

At the outbreak of COVID-19 in March of 2020, fundraising teams were confronted with empty offices and a sudden shift to Zoom meetings. Gift officers who had only ever met with donors face-to-face had to quickly transition their relationship building and solicitation to a video screen or phone. By 2024, it seemed hybrid working environments were here to stay. However, this new normal hadn’t been studied for its impact on fundraising. We decided to change that.

In today’s evolving philanthropic landscape, predictive AI has emerged as one of the most powerful opportunities to provide both scale and focus in fundraising. From predicting donor behavior to prioritizing outreach, from suggesting next-best-action to creating business simulations that align with a changing world, AI can transform how organizations build and sustain relationships with their supporters. Here are three key reasons why predictive AI is most effective when it can amplify human expertise and design thinking.

Healthcare fundraising is essential to continue delivering a high level of care and resources to your patients and community members. In this guide, we’ll cover strategies to improve your healthcare fundraising approach, better connect with donors, and serve your community more effectively.