Comments on: Total Giving Down; Online Up

By: Sarah A.

Sarah A. — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:46:02 +0000

Data is plural (datum is the singular). “These data”…; not “this data.”

By: Norm Potter

Norm Potter — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:35:59 +0000

I attended a recent cause marketing conference where many of the online giving sales folks were attempting to promote their tools. When asked if they could provide relevant peer specific data on results of implementing more robust online giving via social media tools, most only answered -”its where the donor is going now and in the future”. Most of my peers are not seeing meaningful, incremental growth in this area. I believe that it is a long-term bet which we must continue exploring and exchanging best practices openly.

By: Jay Goulart

Jay Goulart — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:07:53 +0000

I believe Paul’s perspective is very smart. Why didn’t Steve tell us if the data included nonprofits that added online giving options?

By: How To Write Product Reviews Which Convert Into Sales | Approach Marketing

How To Write Product Reviews Which Convert Into Sales | Approach Marketing — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:21:06 +0000

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By: Jay Goulart

Jay Goulart — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:49:00 +0000

I find Steve MacLaughlin’s conclusion of online giving silly unless that he can demonstrate that online giving has actually increased or has there been a shift in method of payment. Since Steve is someone that sells online transaction tools I would expect more disclosure of actual data to reach a conclusion that benefits the sale of his products.

Where is the beef?

By: Denny Meyer-Meyer Partners

Denny Meyer-Meyer Partners — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:31:31 +0000

Tom-

Agreed, online seems to be cannibalizing other channels for some organizations. It’s interesting that other reports seem to indicate that new online donors convert to giving via direct mail. So it’s a connundrum. The challenge for our clients is securing email addresses. Traditional donors seem reluctant, and acquisition is difficult in the online channel for charities without broad appeal and media exposure. As you say, it’s good news if you are working in the online arena, but troubling if you are responsible for the whole pie.

By: paul hayward

paul hayward — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:22:35 +0000

Steve often provides “data” but no substantiation or support. Does that growth in their customer base include dollars from orgs that were not using them last year? If you had one organization raise $100 last year and add a new customer and together they raise $168, you have an increase even though real dollars could be down. Just two months ago Blackbaud was quoted in a Forbes article saying “online fundraising hauled in $3 billion…over the last seven years…” The point is, let’s focus on credible data with substantiation.