Special Reports

M&L Minute #7 – Giving to Education: The Past, Present and Future

As the effects of the recent recession now enter their third year, Marts & Lundy briefly reviews some trends and issues in giving at fifty institutions (selection based on highest total overall gifts) in five sectors: public and private research universities, private liberal arts colleges and universities, boarding schools and day schools.
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M&L Minute #6 – What’s Up, What’s Down? Trends in Giving FY 2009 vs. FY 2008

As anticipated, the economic recession has significantly affected philanthropic giving totals when comparing FY 2008 to FY 2009. One interesting point is that "on average" the changes in giving totals are somewhat predictable when looking at historical patterns.
To view the full report, click here.
To view the detailed survey results, click here.

M&L Minute #5 – Budget Adjustments

During these recent tumultuous months, the economic recession has affected philanthropic giving across all sectors. Many of Marts & Lundy’s clients are undergoing changes in their development programs as a result of shrinking endowments and unexpected budget pressures. The question organizations are asked often by their boards, management, and donors is how to do more with less.
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M&L Minute #4 – Staffing and the Economy

With our nation in a recession, Marts & Lundy continues its analysis of how economic conditions are affecting the advancement staffs at our client institutions. In mid-November, Marts & Lundy asked clients about the actions their organizations were taking to adjust to economic conditions. Specifically, we were concerned with how the economic climate might be affecting staffing levels, other personnel issues, and campaign plans and what our clients were doing in response.
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M&L Minute #3 – Economic Climate and Giving

The following report provides details on responses to our survey related to the impact of the current economic climate on philanthropic support, as well as additional analysis of fundraising results during historic economic downturns. To date, data suggests that the economic climate is affecting gifts toward the lower end of the gift pyramid and that some donors are looking for alternative gift methods to support institutions.
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M&L Minute #2 – Board Giving

Marts & Lundy invited 345 institutions andorganizations, which represent a broad range of philanthropic segments, to participate in the second M&L Minute. The objective of the survey was to examine trends in board fundraising involvement, expectations for board contributions, and board giving patterns, specifically during campaigns.

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M&L Minute #1 – Campaign Conversion Ratios

The first in a quarterly series of short surveys about important issues facing our industry today. This survey examined whether relationships exist between prospect-to-donor conversion rates and campaign goal, stage of the campaign, or philanthropic segment. To view the full report, click here or on the title above.

To view a complete set of survey data charted by industry segment, click here.

For a follow-up commentary on campaign conversation rates by Dan Boyer, senior consultant, click here.