First Time Post-Maddoff; Nonprofits Experience Material Increase in Donor Activity

BOCA RATON, Fla., March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time since the Bernie Maddoff scandal rocked the nonprofit world, a new poll has found that American nonprofit organizations have started to experience a material increase in donor activity over the last six months.  

(Logo: https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100924/CAMPUSLOGO )

According to the poll conducted by Campus Management Corp., provider of the Talisma® Fundraising donor management solution, of the 383 nonprofit groups polled, over three-quarters of the respondents (77.8 percent) reported seeing increased donor activity over the last six months, with nearly half (47.8 percent) reporting "moderate" to "significant" increases.  

When asked what kind of donor activity these organizations expect in 2011, almost all of the respondents believe there will be an increase (94.1 percent), with nearly 3 in 10 (29.7 percent) believing donations will "significantly increase" and 64.6 percent believing donations will "moderately increase."  Only 5.9 percent expect no increase in donor activity in 2011.  

"The last few years have been very tough times for nonprofits.  The double whammy of the Great Recession, coupled with the Maddoff factor has made fundraising nearly impossible for many deserving organizations," said Dan Germain, Director of Talisma North America for Campus Management.  "Our research revealed a significant sea-change both in sentiment and in actual results for many of these same organizations.  Where in the past people were worried and negative about their financial prospects, it seems the tide has turned, and turned for the better."

Talisma Fundraising is a cost-effective solution that empowers nonprofits and other organizations to work more strategically and efficiently.  The software allows organizations to raise funds online, manage volunteers, launch major gift or capital campaigns, hold special events, or set up honors and memorial funds.  

Mr. Germain continued, "While 2011 represents an opportunity for nonprofits to reconnect with potential donors, offerings like Talisma Fundraising will play a critical role in this process, enabling organizations to unite donor records and information across a variety of platforms, track communications and facilitate online payments so donors can make gifts on their timeline."

"We are extremely enthusiastic about the year ahead and are developing donor programs that combine technology with face-to-face activities that promote interest and stewardship," said Frankie M. Piccirilli, Major Gift Officer for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Through discussions with Talisma Fundraising users, Campus Management has compiled the following tips for cultivating donors:

• Identification:  All donors are different and therefore need to be communicated with differently.  Organizations should separate donors into subgroups in order to communicate more effectively.  
• Cultivation:  The more you know about a donor, and are able to showcase a connection to what's important specifically to them, the more likely they are to give major gifts.
• Evaluation:  Evaluate when, where, how, and your organization is communicating with donors.  Communicate with current and potential donors the way they want to be communicated and remember personalization is key.  
• Involvement:  Allow donors to get involved in your organizations through volunteering and events.  
• Stewardship:  Show donors that their gifts are appreciated and how they benefit the organization.  

About Campus Management Corp.

More than 1,700 colleges, universities, foundations and other organizations in 17 countries rely upon Campus Management Corp® enterprise software products and services. Talisma® is part of Campus Management's CampusVue® Ecosystem, a vision for a fully integrated, centralized administrative and e-Learning platform that unifies services, academic delivery, administrative management, and reporting for the range of public, private, and proprietary postsecondary institutions.

Campus Management's award-winning student information system is used by more than 75 percent of the largest U.S.-based proprietary and online colleges. Additional offerings include: fundraising software; financials; HR solutions; and Talisma CRM, a leading Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) solution for Higher Education and a range of other industries. Campus Management employs associates worldwide, providing clients with a full range of consulting implementation, support, training, and integration services. For more information, visit www.campusmanagement.com.

SOURCE Campus Management Corp.